Insured But Poorly Protected: Number Up 60 Percent in 4 Years

The number of underinsured adults—those with health insurance all year, but also very high medical expenses relative to their incomes—rose by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007, from 16 million to more than 25 million, according to a new Commonwealth Fund study released June 10, 2008 as a Health Affairs Web Exclusive. Middle and higher income families were hit the hardest by the steep increase: underinsured rates nearly tripled for those with incomes above 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is an annual income of $40,000 or higher for a family.

In "How Many Are Underinsured? Trends Among U.S. Adults, 2003 and 2007," Commonwealth Fund authors Cathy Schoen, Sara Collins, Jennifer Kriss, and Michelle Doty use 2007 national survey data to provide a national estimate of the number of adults who are underinsured, updating a 2003 study. The analysis finds that 25.2 million insured adults ages 19-64 were underinsured based on their out-of-pocket health care costs relative to their incomes. Underinsured rates have now reached double-digit levels for families with incomes in the 200-400 percent of poverty range, solidly in the middle class.

For more information on this study, visit The Commonwealth Fund Web site at www.commonwealthfund.org

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• health
• underinsured
• insurance
• uninsured
• healthcare
• policy
• equity
• costs
• affordability