Review
Nonelderly Uninsured
by Family Work Status, 2005
About 81 percent of those uninsured and under age 65 are from working families. Most—68 percent—of these families include at least one full-time employee.
Nonelderly Uninsured
by Citizenship Status, 2005
More than one in five uninsured people under age 65 are not U.S. citizens. Of these, only a small fraction are believed to be undocumented (“illegal”). Non-U.S. citizens are almost three-and-a-half times more likely to be uninsured as U.S. citizens, chiefly because their incomes are more likely to be low.
Who are the Uninsured? (They Could be You)
- People who lack health insurance come from all social and economic groups.
- Of the approximately 500,000 uninsured “nonelderly” in Massachusetts (those who, being under age 65, are not yet eligible for Medicare coverage):
- The majority—59 percent—are white, non-Hispanic. About 19 percent are Hispanic; 11 percent black, non-Hispanic; and 11 percent “other”
- The large majority—81 percent—are low-income, earning under 300 percent of the federal poverty level (that is, less than $31,000 a year for an individual and less than $62,000 for a family of four)
- Many are young (37 percent under age 27; 10 percent under 19)
- About 53 percent of those who work are self-employed or with small firms with fewer than 25 employees.
Source
Health Insurance Coverage and the Uninsured in Massachusetts: An Update Based on 2005 Current Population Survey Data, Urban Institute 2007
Related Links
Key Elements of the Law
For the full text of the Massachusetts law known as Chapter 58 of the Acts of 2006, see
www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw06/sl060058.htm.Consumer information on finding insurance plans is on the Commonwealth Connector site at
www.mahealthconnector.org.Health Care for All supports Massachusetts’ most vulnerable residents as leaders in public policy, advocacy, education, and consumer service.
Visit www.hcfama.org and see the group’s blog at http://blog.hcfama.org/.