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Abstract

The Urban Institute, along with its subcontractor, International Communications Research, conducted the 2008 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (HIS) for the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy to obtain information on health insurance coverage and access to and use of health care for the non-institutionalized population in Massachusetts. This report summarizes the results of that new survey, including the finding that more than 97 percent of Massachusetts residents have health insurance, with only 2.6 percent of state residents remaining uninsured.

Introduction

Nearly all Massachusetts residents had health insurance coverage in 2008. Only 2.6% were uninsured this past summer, when the 2008 Massachusetts Health Insurance Survey (HIS) was conducted.

Who are the Uninsured?

Those most likely to be uninsured were non-elderly adults, Hispanic residents, and residents with family income less than 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). The uninsurance rate for non-elderly adults was 3.7%, compared to only 1.2% for children and 0% for elderly adults. Among Hispanic residents, 7.2% were uninsured, a rate more than twice that of non-Hispanic residents (less than 3%). Some 5% of residents with family income less than 300% of the FPL were uninsured, compared to about 2% of those with family incomes between 300 and 500% of the FPL, and less than 1% of those with family income at 500% of the FPL or higher.

Changes in Uninsurance Since 2007

These estimates suggest that uninsurance has continued to drop in Massachusetts since 2007. Estimates based on the 2007 HIS and the Current Population Survey put the uninsurance rate in Massachusetts in 2007 at just over 5% for the total population, at between 2 and 3% for children, and at 7 to 8% for non-elderly adults. The 2007 Massachusetts Health Reform Survey1 also estimated a 7% uninsurance rate for non-elderly adults in fall 2007. (For more information on the different sources of estimates of health insurance coverage in Massachusetts, see http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dhcfp/r/pubs/08/est_of_unins ur_rate.pdf.)

Type of Insurance Coverage

Among Massachusetts residents with insurance coverage, the majority of children (70%) and non-elderly adults (81%) had employer-sponsored coverage, while 89% of elderly adults were covered by Medicare. Children were twice as likely as non-elderly adults to be enrolled in public or other coverage (29% versus 15%).

Massachusetts residents who were in fair or poor health or who had activity limitations because of health problems were more likely to be enrolled in Medicare, public, or other coverage than were those who were in better health and without limitations.

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