Fewer children in the
United States lacked health insurance in the first half of 2001 than at
any other time in the past four years, according to the latest survey of
insurance coverage from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Overall, some 11.2 percent of children under 18 years of age were without
health insurance coverage based on data collected from January to June
2001, down from 13.9 in 1997.
"Insurance
coverage means healthier children and healthier families, and we are
working hard to expand access to insurance for those in need around the
country," HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson said. "Through the
State Children’s Health Insurance Program and Medicaid, we are giving
states greater flexibility to provide health care to low-income children
and families, helping Americans who otherwise would lack access to the
health care that they need."
The CDC survey also
found that the percent of children with public coverage rose from 20
percent in 1998 to 23.1 percent by January - June 2001. Children were more
than twice as likely as adults aged 18-64 years to have public coverage.
Overall,
14.1 percent of the population--some 38.9 million Americans of all
ages--was without health insurance coverage in the first half of 2001,
down from 15.4 percent in 1997, meaning about 2 million fewer Americans
lacked health insurance by early 2001. Working-age adults were more likely
than seniors or children to lack health insurance coverage, with 17.9
percent of those aged 18-64 without coverage.
In early 2001 about one
in three Hispanics lacked health insurance, a far greater percent than the
non-Hispanic black population (18.8 percent) and non-Hispanic whites at 10
percent.
In August 2001,
Secretary Thompson launched an initiative to encourage states to expand
access to health care coverage for low-income individuals through the
Medicaid and SCHIP program, which HHS’ Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services administers. The initiative gives states more
flexibility to coordinate these companion programs and offers a simpler
application for states that commit to reducing the number of people
without health insurance.
Lack of health
insurance coverage is one of the 11 health indicators covered by the Early
Release Program of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), a
household interview survey conducted annually by CDC’s National Center
for Health Statistics. Results from 1997 through the first half of 2001
are now available electronically. Findings for January - June 2001 should
be considered preliminary. Other indicators include influenza vaccination,
pneumococcal vaccination, obesity, leisure time physical activity, health
status, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, HIV testing, having a
usual source of medical care and failing to obtain needed medical care.
Adult Vaccination
Coverage
The survey shows that
the percentage of adults aged 65 and older who received influenza vaccine
in the past year climbed steadily in the past few years, dropped in the
last quarter of 2000--reflecting the delay in the availability of vaccine
for the 2000-2001 flu season–and rebounded somewhat in the first half of
2001. However, vaccination levels in the first half of 2001 (64.3 percent)
were still lower than in 2000 (68.1 percent).
For those aged 65 and
over, the percent who had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination
increased from 1997 to 2001. Non-Hispanic whites were more likely to have
ever received pneumococcal vaccinations than non-Hispanic black and
Hispanic groups.
"Vaccinations are
one of the most effective means of preventing disease," said Dr.
Jeffrey P. Koplan, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. "We need to do all that’s necessary to have vaccines
available for all those who can benefit from their use," he said.
Other data
highlights from January - June 2001
About
a third of U.S. adults reported participating in regular leisure-time
physical activity.
The
prevalence of obesity based on self-reported weight and height among U.S.
adults has increased over time from 19.4 percent in 1997 to 22.5 percent
in 2001.
About
two thirds of Americans classify their health as excellent or very good.
Some
22.3 percent of adults were current smokers, indicating a continued
decline in smoking.
About
one in ten American adults (ages 18-64) consumed alcohol excessively. For
both men and women, younger adults were more likely to drink excessively
than older adults.
The
percent of adults who have a usual source of medical care remained
relatively constant at about 85 percent from 1997 to 2001. During this
same time period, about 93 percent of children had a usual source of care.
In
2001, 4.8 percent of the population--up slightly over the past four
years-- was unable to obtain needed medical care in the past year due to
financial barriers.
"Early Release of
Selected Estimates Based on Data from the January - June 2001 National
Health Interview Survey" can be viewed or downloaded from the NCHS
Web site. CDC plans to periodically release updated findings
on these and additional indicators on the Internet to track important
health measures.
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