Health Insurance

Highlights: 2011

• In 2011, the percentage of people without health insurance decreased to 15.7 percent from 16.3 percent in 2010. The number of uninsured people also decreased, to 48.6 million, down from 50.0 million in 2010.
• Both the percentage and number of people with health insurance increased in 2011, to 84.3 percent and 260.2 million, up from 83.7 percent and 256.6 million in 2010.
• The percentage of people covered by private health insurance in 2011 was not statistically different from 2010, at 63.9 percent. The number of people covered by private health insurance in 2011 was not statistically different from 2010, at 197.3 million.
• The percentage and number of people covered by government health insurance increased to 32.2 percent and 99.5 million in 2011 from 31.2 percent and 95.5 million in 2010.
• The percentage and number of people covered by employment-based health insurance in 2011 was not statistically different from 2010, at 55.1 percent and 170.1 million.
• The percentage and number of people covered by Medicaid in 2011 increased to 16.5 percent and 50.8 million, up from 15.8 percent and 48.5 million. The percentage and number of people covered by Medicare increased in 2011 to 15.2 percent and 46.9 million from 14.6 percent and 44.9 million.
• In 2011, 9.4 percent of children under age 18 (7.0 million) were without health insurance, not statistically different from the 2010 estimate. The uninsured rate for children in poverty, 13.8 percent, was higher than the rate for all children, 9.4 percent.
• The rate and number of uninsured for non-Hispanic Whites decreased in 2011 to 11.1 percent and 21.7 million from 11.6 percent and 22.5 million in 2010. The uninsured rate and the number of uninsured for Blacks also decreased in 2011 to 19.5 percent and 7.7 million from 20.8 percent and 8.2 million in 2010.
• The percentage and number of uninsured Hispanics in 2011 were not statistically different from 2010, at 30.1 percent and 15.8 million.