Latest CPS Data Released on Health Insurance

On August 30, the Census Bureau released its annual Current Population Survey (CPS) poverty and health insurance data for 2004. The data show continued trends since 2000 with one notable exception: although the national poverty rate increased in 2004, the overall uninsurance rate remained steady at 15.7 percent. The overall number of uninsured increased by 800,000 to 45.8 million Americans. The data indicated a continuing trend of further erosion in the private insurance market and continued growth in public coverage programs.

Overall, the percentage of citizens covered by private insurance dropped to 68.1 percent (down from 68.6 percent) with the employer-sponsored coverage (ESI) rate dropping to 59.8 percent (down from 60.4 percent).  The ESI reduction reflects a statistically significant increase in the number of part-time employees without coverage. The continued reduction of private coverage remains a vital concern for state policymakers.

The 0.5 percentage point reduction in private insurance was offset by increased enrollment in government coverage programs.  According to 2004 data, 79.1 million people (27.2 percent) are covered by a government coverage program. That figure grew from 2003 when 76.8 million people (26.6 percent) received health insurance from the government.

• Medicaid/State Children’s Health Insurance Program enrollment grew from 12.4 percent to 12.9 percent.
• Coverage through military programs grew from 3.5 percent to 3.7 percent.
• Medicare enrollment remained steady.

State-Level Uninsurance Information: Thirty-nine states plus the District of Columbia did not experience statistically significant changes in their respective uninsurance rates between 2002 – 2003 and 2003 – 2004.  Highlights of state-level data include:

• The highest uninsurance rate belonged to Texas at 25.1 percent.
• The lowest uninsurance rate went to Minnesota at 8.5 percent.
• Three states (WY, ID, NY) experienced statistically significant reductions in their uninsurance rates.
• Eight states (MA, NH, DE, MT, OK, SC, FL, TN) experienced statistically significant increases in their uninsurance rates.

Regionally, the Midwest has the lowest uninsurance rate overall (11.9 percent) followed by New England (13.2 percent), the West (17.4 percent), and the South (18.3 percent).