Online NewsHour: The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer/Kaiser Family Foundation Partnership



	SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS: PART I

April 2000
		The following text hightlights some of the major findings of the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation joint survey about the uninsured in America. Click here to view to the second half of Survey Hightlights. Click here to go to Uninsured in America.

A new survey by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Kaiser Family Foundation provides the first data for 2000 on the problem of the uninsured. The survey reveals the problems people without health insurance experience and shows continuing difficulty reaching a public consensus on the best way to solve the problem. The survey finds that the majority of the uninsured have been without health insurance for more than two years and that the uninsured are much less likely to get care than people with health insurance. The uninsured were also seven times less likely than the insured to report that they did not receive care for a "serious" problem in the past year. The survey is part of the ongoing partnership between The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Kaiser Family Foundation to provide in-depth information on health issues to the public.

I. Americans’ Perceptions of the Uninsured and Problems They Face

The majority of the public does not have a good understanding of who the uninsured are. Fifty-seven percent of Americans incorrectly say that the majority of the uninsured are unemployed or from families where no one works (39%). In fact, more than 8 in 10 of the uninsured are workers or their dependents (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured). Over 6 in 10 (61%) uninsured adults under age 65 work full or part time. (Charts 1 and 3)

But Americans do recognize many of the troubles the uninsured have getting care. (Chart 2)

More than 6 in 10 Americans know that:

the uninsured are less likely than the insured to have had a recent physician visit (74%)

the uninsured are less likely than the insured to have a regular source where they get medical care (68%)

the uninsured are more likely than the insured to put off or postpone seeking medical care (65%)

the uninsured are less likely than the insured to get needed medical care (64%)

the uninsured are less likely than the insured to use preventive health services (62%)

But less than half of Americans know that:

the uninsured are more likely than the insured to have hospital or emergency room visits that could have been avoided (45%). (Thirty percent mistakenly said "less likely" and 22% mistakenly thought it was "about the same").

the uninsured are more likely than the insured to have health problems (43%). (Eight percent mistakenly said "less likely" and 47% said it was "about the same.

II. Who Are Uninsured Adults and Why Are They Not Insured?

Because Medicare covers many older Americans, most of America’s uninsured are under age 65.

Uninsured adults under age 65 tend to be employed and have low incomes. Over 6 in 10 (61%) uninsured adults say they are currently working full or part time. Over half (52%) make less than $20,000 per year. (Chart 3)

Members of minority groups are disproportionately represented among the uninsured. Almost 4 in 10 uninsured adults are Latino (23%) or African-American (16%), even though only 10% of the total population is Latino and 11% is African-American. (Chart 3)

The majority of the uninsured have been without insurance for a long time. Nearly 6 in 10 uninsured adults (59%) have been without insurance for over 2 years. (Chart 4)

The majority of the uninsured say they do not have health insurance because it is too expensive. The most common reasons given by uninsured adults when asked why they don’t have insurance is that it is too expensive (74%) and their job doesn’t offer coverage (48%). Other reasons include being unemployed or between jobs (36%), another family member having insurance that does not cover the respondent (25%), not being able to get coverage or being refused coverage (23%), thinking no one will sell them coverage (17%), and not knowing how to get insurance (16%). Only 19% say they don’t think they need coverage. When forced to rank the most significant factor, the uninsured are most likely to pick health insurance being too expensive as the most important reason (48%). (Chart 5)

Most working uninsured are not offered coverage and even many who are offered coverage turn it down because of cost. A majority of the uninsured (59%) say their employer does not offer a health plan. (Chart 6)

Click here to view to the second half of Survey Hightlights.

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	A new survey by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Kaiser Family Foundation provides the first data for 2000 on the problem of the uninsured. The survey reveals the problems people without health insurance experience and shows continuing difficulty reaching a public consensus on the best way to solve the problem. The survey finds that the majority of the uninsured have been without health insurance for more than two years and that the uninsured are much less likely to get care than people with health insurance. The uninsured were also seven times less likely than the insured to report that they did not receive care for a "serious" problem in the past year. The survey is part of the ongoing partnership between The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Kaiser Family Foundation to provide in-depth information on health issues to the public.
	I. Americans’ Perceptions of the Uninsured and Problems They Face
	The majority of the public does not have a good understanding of who the uninsured are. Fifty-seven percent of Americans incorrectly say that the majority of the uninsured are unemployed or from families where no one works (39%). In fact, more than 8 in 10 of the uninsured are workers or their dependents (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured). Over 6 in 10 (61%) uninsured adults under age 65 work full or part time. (Charts 1 and 3) But Americans do recognize many of the troubles the uninsured have getting care. (Chart 2) More than 6 in 10 Americans know that: the uninsured are less likely than the insured to have had a recent physician visit (74%) the uninsured are less likely than the insured to have a regular source where they get medical care (68%) the uninsured are more likely than the insured to put off or postpone seeking medical care (65%) the uninsured are less likely than the insured to get needed medical care (64%) the uninsured are less likely than the insured to use preventive health services (62%) But less than half of Americans know that: the uninsured are more likely than the insured to have hospital or emergency room visits that could have been avoided (45%). (Thirty percent mistakenly said "less likely" and 22% mistakenly thought it was "about the same"). the uninsured are more likely than the insured to have health problems (43%). (Eight percent mistakenly said "less likely" and 47% said it was "about the same.
	II. Who Are Uninsured Adults and Why Are They Not Insured?
	*Because Medicare covers many older Americans, most of America’s uninsured are under age 65.* Uninsured adults under age 65 tend to be employed and have low incomes. Over 6 in 10 (61%) uninsured adults say they are currently working full or part time. Over half (52%) make less than $20,000 per year. (Chart 3) Members of minority groups are disproportionately represented among the uninsured. Almost 4 in 10 uninsured adults are Latino (23%) or African-American (16%), even though only 10% of the total population is Latino and 11% is African-American. (Chart 3) The majority of the uninsured have been without insurance for a long time. Nearly 6 in 10 uninsured adults (59%) have been without insurance for over 2 years. (Chart 4) The majority of the uninsured say they do not have health insurance because it is too expensive. The most common reasons given by uninsured adults when asked why they don’t have insurance is that it is too expensive (74%) and their job doesn’t offer coverage (48%). Other reasons include being unemployed or between jobs (36%), another family member having insurance that does not cover the respondent (25%), not being able to get coverage or being refused coverage (23%), thinking no one will sell them coverage (17%), and not knowing how to get insurance (16%). Only 19% say they don’t think they need coverage. When forced to rank the most significant factor, the uninsured are most likely to pick health insurance being too expensive as the most important reason (48%). (Chart 5) Most working uninsured are not offered coverage and even many who are offered coverage turn it down because of cost. A majority of the uninsured (59%) say their employer does not offer a health plan. (Chart 6) Click here to view to the second half of Survey Hightlights.