Nine million uninsured due to job loss in 2010
Some 9 million working-age U.S. adults became uninsured in the last two years--or 57 percent of people who had health insurance through their employer, according to the Commonwealth Fund 2010 Biennial Health Insurance Survey
The survey, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 14 to Nov. 30, 2010, consisted of 25-minute telephone interviews conducted among a nationally representative randomized sample of 4,005 adults living in the continental U.S.
Only 25 percent of people who lost employer health insurance were able to find another source of health insurance coverage, and 14 percent continued their job-based coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) plan, the survey found.
An estimated 52 million American adults were uninsured for at least part of 2010. Adults in families with low and moderate incomes were the most likely to be uninsured--54 percent of lower-income adults (under $22,050 for a family of four) and 41 percent of moderate-income adults ($22,050 to $44,100 for a family of four) were uninsured for some time during the year, compared with 13 percent of adults with higher incomes, according to the New York City-based private healthcare research foundation.
In addition, 31 percent of adults who were insured for the entire year went without the healthcare they needed because of costs, compared with 21 percent in 2001. Thirty-one percent of adults insured for all of 2010 spent 10 percent or more of their income on healthcare costs in 2010.
According to the survey, an estimated 44 million people were paying medical debt in 2010.
The survey, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 14 to Nov. 30, 2010, consisted of 25-minute telephone interviews conducted among a nationally representative randomized sample of 4,005 adults living in the continental U.S.
Only 25 percent of people who lost employer health insurance were able to find another source of health insurance coverage, and 14 percent continued their job-based coverage through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) plan, the survey found.
An estimated 52 million American adults were uninsured for at least part of 2010. Adults in families with low and moderate incomes were the most likely to be uninsured--54 percent of lower-income adults (under $22,050 for a family of four) and 41 percent of moderate-income adults ($22,050 to $44,100 for a family of four) were uninsured for some time during the year, compared with 13 percent of adults with higher incomes, according to the New York City-based private healthcare research foundation.
In addition, 31 percent of adults who were insured for the entire year went without the healthcare they needed because of costs, compared with 21 percent in 2001. Thirty-one percent of adults insured for all of 2010 spent 10 percent or more of their income on healthcare costs in 2010.
According to the survey, an estimated 44 million people were paying medical debt in 2010.