PERCENT OF POPULATION UNDER 65 WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE

June 4, 2019

Health insurance coverage increases an individual’s likelihood of receiving quality medical care.^[i] Health insurance is important for preventive care as well as timely treatment of illnesses or injuries.^[ii] Those who lack health insurance often do not get timely treatment for chronic illnesses.^[iii] When insurance coverage is low, costs to society are often high in the form of emergency room visits and lost worker productivity.^[iv] Examining insurance rates for the nonelderly is particularly important, because most adults, age 65 and older, have high rates of health insurance coverage due to Medicare.^[v] While health insurance coverage is very important, insurance coverage does not guarantee availability of care nor access to health care services.^[vi]