The
California HealthCare Foundation released its annual
"Snapshot: California's Uninsured" today and it's grim.
Middle-income families are becoming uninsured faster than any other income-bracket in the state, the report says. Since the beginning of the decade, the number of families earning between $50,000-$75,000 and are uninsured has increased by 3.1%.
This is a really important point because $75,000 is between 350% to 450% of poverty (depending on family size) -- the level at which policymakers are discussing cutting off eligibility for tax credits to help keep the cost of health care affordable. The guv wants he cut-off at 350%, the Democrat leaders want it at 450%. This latest information, to me, makes a convincing argument for the higher threshhold. If the trend continues, as we expect it to, we can only expect more and more middle-income people to be uninsured in future years if something is not done.
Other interesting -- and sobering factoids:
- Since the beginning of the decade, 5.9% fewer Californains are getting their health coverage through work. Instead, they're getting it primarily from really expensive individual policies (up 2.6%), Medi-Cal (up 2.1%), Medicare or are uninsured.
- Young adults -- ages 25-34 -- experienced the biggest jump in uninsurance since 2000.
- Latinos are three ties as likely as whites to be uninsured.
Labels: Uninsured, YearOfReform
posted by Hanh Kim Quach |
Permalink |
12:03 PM
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