More than 44 million Americans uninsured
December 1, 1997 less than 1 minute read
More than 44 million Americans uninsured
Forty-four and one-half million nonelderly Americans (19%) were uninsured during the first half of 1996, according to the Washington, DC-based Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). EBRI’s numbers were derived from the 1996 Panel Round 1 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The current population survey, or CPS, estimates that 40.3 million nonelderly Americans, or 17.4%, were uninsured in calendar year 1995.
"You should be careful when interpreting these numbers because there are certain structural differences between MEPS and CPS," notes Paul Fronstin, a research associate at EBRI. "Since MEPS uses a shorter time frame, there’s a greater chance someone will be uninsured."
The MEPS report also showed that during the first half of 1996, 145.1 million nonelderly Americans (62.6%) were covered by an employment-based health insurance plan, compared with 147.9 million (63.8%) reported by CPS.
For more information, contact: EBRI, 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20037-1896.
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