About 89.9 million non-elderly Americans, roughly one third of the country’s population, were at some point uninsured during the period 2006-2007, says a report published by Families USA. The report’s data is focused mainly on information gathered from the Census Bureau.

The report revealed that the majority of these people did not have health insurance coverage for extensive periods. 63.9% of them were without coverage for over six months, while 50.2% were without cover for at least nine months.

The report shows that the figure has doubled for the number of states with non-elderly uninsured individuals totaling at least one third of the state’s population in less than a decade – in 1999 there were 9 states as well as the District of Columbia, the figure now stands at 20 states.

Percentage of non-elderly uninsured:

— Texas – 45.7%
— New Mexico -44.3%
— Arizona – 41.8%
— California – 40.5%
— Florida – 40.1%
— Mississippi – 38.7%
— Nevada – 38.4%
— Louisiana – 38.1%
— Oklahoma – 37.7%
— Georgia – 37.6%
— South Carolina – 37.4%
— Arkansas – 37.2%
— Utah – 35.2%
— Alabama – 35.1%
— The District of Columbia – 35.1%
— West Virginia – 35.1%
— Alaska – 34.8%
— North Carolina – 34.6%
— Oregon – 34.6%
— Colorado – 34.2%
— Montana – 33.9%

Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA, said “The huge number of people without health coverage over the past two years helps to explain why health care has become the top domestic issue in the 2008 presidential campaign. The expansion of health coverage in America is no longer simply a matter of altruism about other people but a matter of intense self-interest.”

According to the report, 79.3% of the uninsured were in working families, 70.6% were in full-time employment, while 8.7% worked part-time. 64.2 million uninsured people were within the 18-64 year-old age group, 34.9% were aged 25-44.

Pollack added “These trends document the consequences of inaction. The number of uninsured has reached crisis proportions that must be addressed by the President and Congress to ensure that health coverage is available and affordable for all.”

States with people uninsured for some/all of 2006-2007 period, total numbers (Families USA report):

California – 13,000,000 people
Texas – 9,300,000 people
Florida – 6,000,000 people
New York – 5,500,000 people
Illinois – 3,600,000 people
Georgia – 3,100,000 people
Ohio – 2,900,000 people
Pennsylvania – 2,900,000 people
North Carolina – 2,600,000 people
Michigan – 2,500,000 people
New Jersey – 2,400,000 people

About half the total consist of non-Hispanic whites, says the report. Rates vary considerably according to race and ethnicity. 44.5% of non-Hispanic blacks and 60.7% of Hispanics were uninsured.

Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI), said “This report shows just how many working families are struggling with the skyrocketing costs of health care. It is simply unacceptable that in the greatest country in the world, a third of Americans have had to go without health insurance at some point over the last two years. Health care should be a right, not a privilege in our country, and I will continue my fight to make that a reality.”

Click here to view the FULL REPORT

Written by: Christian Nordqvist