• At 400% of poverty, the outer limit of an income that could qualify for subsidies in California (under last year's health reform discussions), only 25% of family purchased coverage on the individual market.
• At 1000% of poverty, fewer than half (49%) of families purchased coverage.

Self-employed families, who receive tax credits on the premiums took up coverage at ever-so-slightly higher rates:

• At 400% of poverty, about 30% purchased coverage
• At 1000% of poverty, 58% took up coverage

The study, however, did not take into consideration the regulatory atmosphere -- whether individuals *wanted* to buy coverage, but were denied because of pre-existing conditions, or priced out because of their health histories -- all important factors as we go forward.

So the upshot is this: health coverage on the individual market isn't that attractive to lots of people and policymakers are going to have to find a way to make it more so, including subsidies that "may need to extend higher up the income scale than some policymakers may prefer.''

Labels: Affordability, Insurers, Research, Uninsured, YearOfReform