State-specific prevalence estimates of uninsured and underinsured persons--Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 1995

MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1998 Jan 30;47(3):51-5.

Abstract

In the United States, cost of health-care services is a barrier to accessibility of health care, and persons often do not seek medical care because of concerns about cost, regardless of whether they have health insurance. In addition, three fourths of persons in the United States who have difficulties paying their medical bills have some type of health insurance. Although the affordability of health care among persons without health insurance has been described, characterization of affordability among persons who are underinsured is limited. To determine state-specific estimates of the prevalence of persons aged 18-64 years who are either uninsured or underinsured using an experiential definition of underinsurance, CDC analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which document variations in state-specific rates for adequate insurance coverage.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Employment / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Medically Uninsured / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prevalence
  • United States / epidemiology