Going bare: trends in health insurance coverage, 1989 through 1996.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Going bare: trends in health insurance coverage, 1989 through 1996.
Authors: Carrasquillo O (AUTHOR), Himmelstein DU (AUTHOR), Woolhandler S (AUTHOR), Bor DH (AUTHOR)
Source: American Journal of Public Health. Jan1999, Vol. 89 Issue 1, p36-42. 7p.
Subjects: Health insurance, Health insurance reimbursement, Economic trends, Medically uninsured persons, Income, National health insurance, Household surveys
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed trends in health insurance coverage in the United States from 1989 through 1996. METHODS: Data from annual cross-sectional surveys by the US Census Bureau were analyzed. RESULTS: Between 1989 and 1996, the number of uninsured persons increased by 8.3 million (90% confidence interval [CI] = 7.7, 8.9 million). In 1996, 41.7 million (90% CI = 40.9, 42.5 million) lacked insurance. From 1989 to 1993, the proportion with Medicaid increased by 3.6 percentage points (90% CI = 3.1, 4.0), while the proportion with private insurance declined by 4.2 percentage points (90% CI = 3.7, 4.7). From 1993 to 1996 private coverage rates stabilized but did not reverse earlier declines. Consequently, the number uninsured continued to increase. The greatest increase in the population of uninsured [corrected] was among young adults aged 18 to 39 years; rates among children also rose steeply after 1992. While Blacks had the largest percentage increase, Hispanics accounted for 36.4% (90% CI = 32.3%, 40.5%) of the increase in the number uninsured. From 1989 to 1993, the majority of the increase was among poor families. Since then, middle-income families have incurred the largest increase. Northcentral and northeastern states had the largest increases in percent uninsured. CONCLUSIONS: Despite economic prosperity, the numbers and rates of the uninsured continued to rise. Principally affected were children and young adults, poor and middle income families, blacks, and Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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Abstract:OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed trends in health insurance coverage in the United States from 1989 through 1996. METHODS: Data from annual cross-sectional surveys by the US Census Bureau were analyzed. RESULTS: Between 1989 and 1996, the number of uninsured persons increased by 8.3 million (90% confidence interval [CI] = 7.7, 8.9 million). In 1996, 41.7 million (90% CI = 40.9, 42.5 million) lacked insurance. From 1989 to 1993, the proportion with Medicaid increased by 3.6 percentage points (90% CI = 3.1, 4.0), while the proportion with private insurance declined by 4.2 percentage points (90% CI = 3.7, 4.7). From 1993 to 1996 private coverage rates stabilized but did not reverse earlier declines. Consequently, the number uninsured continued to increase. The greatest increase in the population of uninsured [corrected] was among young adults aged 18 to 39 years; rates among children also rose steeply after 1992. While Blacks had the largest percentage increase, Hispanics accounted for 36.4% (90% CI = 32.3%, 40.5%) of the increase in the number uninsured. From 1989 to 1993, the majority of the increase was among poor families. Since then, middle-income families have incurred the largest increase. Northcentral and northeastern states had the largest increases in percent uninsured. CONCLUSIONS: Despite economic prosperity, the numbers and rates of the uninsured continued to rise. Principally affected were children and young adults, poor and middle income families, blacks, and Hispanics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00900036
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.89.1.36