Publications: The Uninsured
Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers takes a closer look at the 2007 uninsured data. The number of uninsured was considerably higher in 2007 than it was in 2000, and communities of color continue to bear the brunt of this crisis. This fact sheet looks at who is uninsured, where people get their health insurance, and why public programs are vital to communities of color. 4 pp. Free (September 2008)
Still Too Many Uninsured Children examines the new Census Bureau data about children's health coverage in 2007. It describes the importance of Medicaid and CHIP for children's health coverage, how the President's harmful policies are hurting children, and what Congress and the next President should do to help. 2 pp. Free (August 2008)
Empty Promise: Searching for Health Insurance in an Unfair Market discusses how the individual health insurance market differs from the employer market and examines what happens to consumers who seek coverage in the individual market. Problems in the individual market include policies that don't provide quality coverage; policies that are very expensive or that cost more than advertised; and the fact that many applicants cannot obtain a policy at any price. 8 pp. Free (August 2008)
Detour on the Road to Kids Coverage: Administration Creates Roadblocks, So States Seek Alternative Routes examines the current state of children's coverage and finds that, while the Administration's new directive has created roadblocks that stymied state efforts to expand eligibility, it has not stopped states from making progress. 10 pp. Free (July 2008)
Five Good Reasons to Increase Health Coverage for Parents discusses the reasons why states should strengthen the health and economic security of families by expanding health coverage for parents. 4 pp. Free (July 2008)
America's Health Care Crisis: Cities on the Front Lines Families USA surveyed a sample of mayors from across the country on the topics of health care and the uninsured. We found that cities are profoundly affected by the rising number of uninsured and the rising cost of providing coverage for their own employees. This report presents the results of our survey and examines cities’ role in the health care safety net, the impact of the growing number of uninsured on city services, and the ways that state and federal leaders might come together with city leaders to improve health coverage and access for all Americans. 20 pp. $15.00 (June 2008)
Failing Grades: State Consumer Protections in the Individual Health Insurance Market Laws protecting consumers purchasing health coverage in the individual market vary across the country. In many states, insurance companies can deny coverage, raise premiums significantly, refuse to cover treatment for certain conditions, and even revoke the coverage of policyholders who have been paying premiums for years. 36 pp. $10.00 (June 2008)
Identifying and Evaluating Equity Provisions in State Health Care Reform explores how states can increase health equity by expanding health coverage and addressing issues of access to care, quality of care, social determinants of health, and infrastructure reforms. The report also evaluates existing health equity laws, regulations, and reform proposals in five states. From The Opportunity Agenda, Families USA, and The Commonwealth Fund. 56 pp. Free (April 2008>
Reinsurance: A Primer aims to help policymakers and advocates better understand what reinsurance is and how it can make coverage easier to obtain and more affordable. It also identifies some of the benefits of reinsurance to aid lawmakers as they design reinsurance programs to meet the needs of their states. 20 pp. Free (April 2008)
Dying for Coverage: For the more than 47 million Americans who are uninsured, lack of health insurance can have dire consequences—medical debt, missed care, and even premature death. We've created the first-ever state reports on the number of deaths due to lack of health insurance. 4 pp. Free (March 2008)
9 Million Children and Counting: The Administration's Attack on Health Coverage for America's Children examines how the President's two vetoes of CHIP reauthorization legislation, combined with the August 2007 CMS directive, will jeopardize health care for thousands of children. And the President's proposed fiscal year 2009 budget would hurt children's coverage even more. 8 pp. Free (February 2008)
Universal and Equal: Ensuring Equity in State Health Care Reform States across the country are looking for ways to expand affordable, quality health coverage to more people, but few states have focused specifically on the problem of inequality in health care. This piece presents strategies advocates can use to integrate health equity into larger health reform efforts, as well as a checklist they can use to evaluate their states' proposed expansions. From The Opportunity Agenda and Families USA. 8 pp. Free (January 2008)
Insure Missouri: Too Little, Too Late examines Governor Blunt's proposal to provide health coverage to uninsured Missourians. It finds that the plan's eligibility criteria leave out many low-income uninsured adults, the coverage offered is missing key benefits, the cost-sharing is too high, and the plan is built on shaky financing mechanisms. 10 pp. Free (January 2008)
Maine's Dirigo Health Reform of 2003 is a thorough examination of the state's health care expansion. It discusses program eligibility, how much people pay for the different types of coverage, what benefits they receive, how the expansion is financed, how it reforms the state's insurance regulations, lessons learned so far, and the future of health reform in Maine. 16 pp. Free (November 2007)
Healthy Maryland: A Building Block for Maryland's Economy examines the Healthy Maryland Initiative, which will boost the state's economy and extend coverage to more than 100,000 Marylanders who are currently uninsured. 10 pp. Free (October 2007)
Wrong Direction: One Out of Three Americans Are Uninsured presents new data showing that 89.6 million Americans were uninsured for some portion of 2006-2007, an increase of 17 million from the 1999-2000 period. The report provides a detailed analysis of who these uninsured people are, where they live, how long they have been without coverage, and their demographic characteristics. 37 pp. $15.00 (September 2007)
Kids Waiting for Coverage: How Many Are in Your State? provides national and state-by-state estimates of the numbers of uninsured children who could be covered under the House and Senate CHIP reauthorization bills, as well as a discussion of how successful CHIP has been since its enactment in 1997. 16 pp. Free (September 2007)
Massachusetts Health Reform of 2006 is a thorough examination of the state's far-reaching expansion in health coverage. The report discusses who is eligible, how much enrollees pay for the different types of coverage available, what benefits they receive, who is providing coverage, the individual mandate, and how the reform is being financed. It also discusses what lessons state advocates have learned from the process of getting the legislation passed. 14 pp. Free (August 2007)
Retail Medical Clinics: Okay in a Pinch, but No Substitute for Real Health Coverage provides an overview of the growing trend of clinics popping up in stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and CVS. While their convenience is appealing, the tradeoff may be piecemeal services that lack appropriate oversight. Consumers should use such clinics only to supplement care from their regular primary care physician. 6 pp. Free (August 2007)
Pennsylvania's 2007 Health Care Proposal: Prescription for Pennsylvania examines the governor's plan for comprehensive health reform. This report looks at who is eligible for new coverage, how much they'll pay, what benefits they'll get, and how the state will finance the expansion. It also discusses strengths of the plan, as well as areas of concern. 10 pp. Free (July 2007)
Healthy Wisconsin: Good Medicine for Wisconsin's Economy analyzes the economic benefits that will accrue to the state if it enacts the "Healthy Wisconsin" proposal, now pending in the legislature. Building on the proposed expansion of BadgerCare Plus, Healthy Wisconsin is designed to provide health coverage to everyone in the state. 6 pp. Free (July 2007)
Wisconsin's 2007 Health Care Proposal: BadgerCare Plus is a thorough examination of the BadgerCare Plus proposal to expand health coverage. The report discusses who would be eligible, how much enrollees would pay, what benefits enrollees would receive, and how the expansion would be financed. 12 pp. Free (July 2007)
Confronting Disparities while Reforming Health Care: A Look at Massachusetts examines how state advocates were able to build on expansion efforts and address the host of issues that affect disparities in health and health care. Includes an extensive discussion of lessons that can be learned from the Massachusetts experience. 10 pp. Free (June 2007)
New Jersey's Path Toward Universal Coverage analyzes the state's blueprint for providing health coverage to all of its uninsured residents. 2 pp. Free (May 2007)
Illinois Covered Proposal examines the state's most recent coverage expansion effort, which focuses on adults between the ages of 19 and 64. 6 pp. Free (May 2007)
Unwilling Volunteers: Tennesseans Forced Out of Health Care Tennessee should serve as a cautionary tale for what can happen when a state tries to reduce the cost of programs that provide health coverage to its residents. Personal stories and photographs of Tennessee's unwilling voluteers. 80 pp. $15.00 (April 2007)
Getting "Illinois Covered"—It Makes Fiscal Sense discusses why expanding health coverage through Governor Blagojevich's proposed program is a sound investment for the state. 2 pp. Free (April 2007)
The Healthy Maryland Initiative: Good for Maryland's Economy discusses how this new initiative will expand coverage to uninsured Marylanders and stimulate the state's economy. 2 pp. Free (March 2007)
State Guides to Finding Health Insurance If you are looking for health coverage, Families USA has created a guide for each state that can help point the way. Whether you have recently lost your job, are an early retiree, or have a serious medical condition, these guides include numerous resources that may help you find the coverage you need. (updated March 2007)
A Pound of Flesh: Hospital Billing, Debt Collection, and Patients' Rights provides an overview of some of the progressive reform measures that state policymakers have implemented to help families struggling with medical debt. 8 pp. Free (March 2007)
The Great Divide: When Kids Get Sick, Insurance Matters presents ground-breaking data that show that, when kids get sick or hurt, insurance matters. Children without health insurance receive less and inferior care, and, for those uninsured children with severe illnesses or injuries, this can lead to most severe and tragic consequences. 21 pp. Free (February 2007)
Vermont's Health Reform Laws discusses the basics of the state's two new laws, known as "Catamount Health." The piece also examines how Catamount Health will be financed, how the laws build on existing health coverage programs, and pros and cons of the laws. 6 pp. Free (December 2006)
SCHIP 101: What Is the State Children's Health Insurance Program, and How Does It Work? explains the basics about SCHIP, including who qualifies for SCHIP, how SCHIP is financed, and whether eligible are children getting enrolled. 4 pp. Free (November 2006)
SCHIP and Children's Health Coverage: Fitting the Pieces Together examines where children, including low-income children, get their health coverage, as well as how SCHIP and Medicaid have reduced the number of uninsured children. 4 pp. Free (November 2006)
Illinois' All Kids: A Step in the Right Direction discusses this new children's coverage program, including eligibility, benefits, cost-sharing, and how the program is financed. 8 pp. Free (October 2006)
Employers Should Pay Their Fair Share for Health Care explains what employer responsibility legislation is and discusses its benefits and potential drawbacks using examples of states that have implemented such legislation. 7 pp. Free (September 2006)
H.R. 2355, The Health Care Choice Act: The Wrong Prescription for America's Health Care Needs discusses how this legislation, sponsored by Rep. Shadegg and favored by the Administration, would undermine state laws designed to protect health care consumers. 2 pp. Free (August 2006)
TABOR: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing examines the effects that so-called "Taxpayer Bill of Rights" (TABOR) state amendments will have on health care. It finds that these anti-consumer conservative initiatives will cripple a state's ability to respond to residents' needs or unforeseen disasters and will result in cuts to essential health care programs, including Medicaid. 6 pp. Free (August 2006)
Making History: Maryland's Fair Share Health Care Law discusses how the law works, who it affects, and the key strategies advocates used to get the law passed. It also includes a timeline of critical events. 8 pp. Free (May 2006)
President Bush's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions Includes discussion and commentary on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Medicaid, and Medicare. 13pp. (February 22, 2006)
High-Risk Health Insurance Pools provides answers to key questions about high-risk pools, including who they help and how they are financed. The report also includes a list of questions consumers should ask if they are considering joining a high-risk pool, as well as a checklist for advocates. 12 pp. Free (May 2006)
Proposed Health Reform in Massachusetts: Net Gain for the Business Community examines the health reform bill passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives, which is designed to expand coverage to the state's uninsured. It finds that, overall, the bill would result in a net benefit for the state's business community. 15 pp. Free (January 2006)
Stop Bad Ideas—AHPs: Bad Medicine for Small Employers Association Health Plans (AHPs) are a major part of the President's package of health care proposals aimed at reducing the growing number of uninsured Americans. This fact sheet finds that AHPs are not a solution for the number of uninsured, are not an effective way to control costs, and provide fertile ground for fraud and abuse. 5 pp. Free (December 2005)
Stop Bad Ideas—HSAs: Missing the Target This fact sheet examines the effects that health savings accounts (HSAs) will have on the uninsured and on the health care system overall. It finds that HSAs won't reduce the number of uninsured, are not an effective way to control costs, are inequitable, and are a radical threat to our current health insurance system. 7 pp. Free (December 2005)
Stop Bad Ideas—Too Little, Too Late: Why a $1,000 Tax Credit Won’t Help the Uninsured Every year since 2001, President Bush has proposed a $1,000 tax credit to help uninsured people purchase health insurance in the individual market. This fact sheet finds that his tax credit is justified by questionable studies, is tied to the flawed individual market, and wouldn't make insurance affordable. 4 pp. Free (December 2005)
Good for Kids, Good for the Economy: Health Coverage for All Kids in Illinois
A discussion of how Governor Blagojevich's All Kids proposal would expand health coverage for the state's children while helping the economy, bringing federal dollars to the state and generating significant economic activity. 8 pp. Free. (October 2005)
Paying a Premium: The Added Cost of Care for the Uninsured
This report quantifies, for the first time, the dollar impact on private health insurance premiums of care provided to the uninsured. 35 pp. $15.00 (June 2005)
A 10-Foot Rope for a 40-Foot Hole: Tax Credits for the Uninsured, 2004 Update
Several policy makers have proposed the enactment of tax credits to help the uninsured purchase coverage. To find out what such a tax credit would mean for uninsured, low-income people, Families USA gathered and analyzed information about insurance plans offered in 50 states and DC. 35 pp. $15.00 (November 2004)
Ideas that Work: Expanding Health Coverage for Workers
A tool kit for those who want to build a state-based health coverage initiative based on employer-provided insurance. Includes case studies of California and Hawaii, a "decision guide," and tables with state-by-state data about employment and insurance coverage. $20.00 (October 2004)
Health Care: Are you better off today than you were four years ago?
Health care has emerged as one of the top concerns of Americans in recent years. To understand what forces are driving this change, Families USA posed a variation of a question raised by Ronald Reagan more than two decades ago: When it comes to health care, are we better off today than we were four years ago? The results of our analysis show that the answer is a clear no. | en espanol 52 pp. $15.00 (September 2004)
The Health Care Crisis in America addresses Medicare changes, rising prescription drug costs, the growing number of uninsured, and increasingly unaffordable health care costs. 8 pp. (July 2004)
One in Three: Non-Elderly Americans Without Health Insurance, 2002-2003
How many people under age 65 were without health insurance for all or part of 2002 and 2003? The report includes national- and state-level data, including data broken down according to work status, income level, race and Hispanic origin, age, and region of the country. The findings are based exclusively on data projections drawn from Census Bureau information. l en español | Individual State Fact Sheets 39 pp. $15.00 (June 2004)
Working without a Net: The Health Care Safety Net Still Leaves Millions of Low-Income Workers Uninsured | en español
For millions of low-income Americans, the health care safety net is a myth -- nearly 14 million low-income adults are uninsured and ineligible for public health insurance programs. This Special Report provides national and state-by-state data on the numbers of low-income parents and adults without children who are falling through the holes in our nation's health care safety net. 11 pp. $5.00 (April 2004)
What's Wrong with Tax-Free Savings Accounts for Health Care?
Tax-free personal savings accounts for health care have become the latest cure-all for the problems facing our health care system. This Issue Brief uses a hypothetical company to examine how such accounts undermine the pooling of risk--the basis for insurance. 6 pp. Free (November 2003)
A Shelter in the Storm: How a Subsidy Could Help Unemployed Workers Get Health Insurance
The rise in unemployment over the past three years has contributed to a substantial increase in the the number of uninsured Americans. This Issue Brief discusses the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 (TAARA) health insurance subsidy as one possible model for providing financial assistance to unemployed workers for the purchase of health coverage. 12 pp. Free (October 2003)
Tax-Free Savings Accounts for Medical Expenses: A Tax Cut Masquerading as Help to the Uninsured
This issue brief discusses Health Savings Accounts and Health Savings Security Accounts, two kinds of personal savings accounts that were created by a bill attached to the House Republican Medicare prescription drug legislation. 4 pp. Free (July 2003)
Individual Tax Credits Do Not Work
This fact sheet discusses why the tax credits proposed by the Bush Administration wouldn't help people purchase health coverage in the individual market. 2 pp. Free (May 2003)
Going Without Health Insurance: Nearly One in Three Non-Elderly Americans
This report found that 74.7 million Americans-nearly one out of three of those under the age of 65-were without health coverage for all or part of 2001-2002. Of these, almost two-thirds were uninsured for six months or more. The report provides national and state-by-state estimates of how many people were uninsured during all or part of the 2001-2002 two-year period. 53 pp. $15.00. (March 2003)
The Bush Administration's Fiscal Year 2004 Budget: Analysis of Key Health Care Provisions
4 pp. Free. (February 7, 2003)
Increasing Health Coverage Within African American Communities: What's the problem and what can you do about it?
2 pp. Free. (updated December 2002)
Increasing Health Coverage Within Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities: What's the problem and what can you do about it?
2 pp. Free. (updated December 2002)
Increasing Health Coverage Within Latino Communities: What's the problem and what can you do about it?
2 pp. Free. (updated December 2002)
More than 725,000 Laid-off Workers Have Lost Health Coverage Since the Recession Began in March
A Special Report. 4 pp. Free. (December 2001)
Health Insurance for Newly Unemployed Workers in Montana.
A Health Policy Memo. 2pp. Free. (October 30, 2001)
Key Facts on Providing Health Insurance for Newly Unemployed Workers.
A Health Policy Memo. 2 pp. Free. (October 15, 2001)
A 10-Foot Rope for a 40-Foot Hole: Tax Credits for the Uninsured
In response to mounting concern about the number of Americans without health insurance, several policymakers have proposed the enactment of tax credits to help the uninsured purchase coverage. To find out what such a tax credit would mean to low-income people who are uninsured, Families USA gathered and analyzed information about insurance plans offered in 25 states. 56 pp. $15.00. (September 2001)
The Health Care Safety Net: Millions of Low-Income People Left Uninsured
A Special Report. 8 pp. $2.00. (July 2001)
Key Facts About the Uninsured
2 pp. Free. (April 2001)
Five Good Reasons for States to Expand Family Coverage
This fact sheet outlines reasons to expand the Medicaid and CHIP programs to include working parents and adults. (April, 2001)
Getting Less Care: The Uninsured with Chronic Health Conditions
Uninsured people with serious health problems are less likely to see doctors regularly and more likely to postpone needed care or go without it altogether. This report compares the health care of insured and uninsured non-elderly people with five common health conditions: heart disease, hypertension, high blood cholesterol, arthritis, and chronic back pain. 47 pp. $15.00. (February 2001)
The Federal Budget: Funds for Uninsured Working Families
A Health Policy Memo. 2 pp. Free. (February 2001)
Go to Work, Do Not Collect Health Insurance: Low Income Parents Lose Medicaid
Nearly one million low-income parents in 15 states lost Medicaid coverage over the past four years, due largely to flaws in state implementation of welfare reform. While states have liberalized eligibility levels so more children can qualify for coverage, few states have done so for parents. 41 pp. $15.00. (June 2000)
Uninsured in Michigan: Working Parents Lose Health Coverage
Parents moving from welfare to work often find low-paying jobs that pay enough to make them ineligible for Medicaid, but do not provide affordable health insurance. This Families USA study found that the number of parents on Michigan's Medicaid rolls dropped 25 percent between January 1996 and December 1999. 15 pp. $5.00. (May 2000)
Clouds Over the Sunshine State: Florida's Working Parents Lose Health Coverage
The number of parents on Florida's Medicaid rolls dropped by more than one-third between January 1996 and December 1999. This Families USA study also found that 41 percent of Florida's lower income adults are uninsured. 21 pp. $5.00. (March 2000)
Losing Health Insurance: The Unintended Consequences of Welfare Reform
A 45-page report showing that 675,000 people--most of them children--lost Medicaid coverage and became uninsured as a result of welfare reform. The report explains that this troubling trend is likely to accelerate in the years ahead. 45 pp. $15.00. (May 1999)
Deep in the Heart of Texas: Uninsured Children in the Lone Star State
A report on uninsured children in Texas: how many are uninsured; who they are; and what can be done to help them. 30-pp. $5.00. (February 1999)
Unmet Needs: The Large Differences in Health Care Between Uninsured and Insured Children
This special report, based on interview data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics, shows that children who are uninsured for a year or more make half as many visits to the doctor and have less than half as many inpatient days in the hospital as insured children. 8 pp. $5.00. (June 1997)
One Out of Three: Kids Without Health Insurance, 1995-1996
This report looks at the number of children who went without health insurance for one month or more, at how long they were uninsured, and at other characteristics, such as race and family income. 41 pp. $15.00. (March 1997)
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