MHA Press Room

Census releases insurance coverage by state

Texas had the highest percentage of uninsured residents last year while Massachusetts had the lowest, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

More than 24% of Texans were uninsured in 2008, compared with just 4.1% in Massachusetts, according to the American Community Survey Data. Massachusetts, which enacted universal health coverage in 2006, also had the lowest percentage of uninsured children, at 2.1%. Nevada had the most uninsured children, with 20.2% of kids uninsured, the survey found.

The survey was based on detailed interviews with 3 million households nationwide in areas with populations of 65,000 or more on 40 topics, including education, marital status and family income. Health insurance was a new topic added to the survey in 2008.

Health Plan Premiums Vary Widely by State

A new set of tables from the federal government shows a wide state-by-state variation in what Americans paid in premiums for employer based health coverage in 2008. Not only does the total amount of premium cost vary, but also the share paid by the employer versus the share paid by the employee.

Older Women Have More Difficulty Obtaining Health Insurance

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a new report on health insurance reforms related to older women (ages 55 to 64) and senior women (ages 65 and older). The report's message: The current health insurance market "does not work for older women."

AHRQ: Family premium cost average worker $3,400

Workers enrolled in family health coverage through their employer contributed an average of $3,394 toward the cost of their premiums last year, according to a new report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Florida workers contributed the most for family coverage ($4,412) while Indiana workers contributed the least ($2,472).

Almost 20 million of the 62.5 million workers enrolled in employer-based insurance in 2008 had family coverage. The data are from the insurance component of the agency’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Additional MEPS summary data on employer-based health insurance can be found online.

CDC: 17% of privately insured have high-deductible health plan

An estimated 17% of Americans under age 65 with private health insurance had a high-deductible health plan in 2007, according to a report released March 4 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A high-deductible health plan was defined as an individual plan with an annual deductible of $1,100 or more or a family plan with a deductible of $2,200 or more.

An estimated 5% of privately insured Americans under age 65 had a consumer-directed health plan in 2007, defined as a high-deductible plan with an account to pay for medical expenses. Roughly 15% of privately insured adults under 65 had a flexible spending account for medical expenses.

Employed adults and those with employer-sponsored health insurance were less likely than other persons to have a high-deductible plan. Highly educated and affluent persons were more likely than others to have a consumer-directed health plan.

The estimates are from the 2007 National Health Interview Survey.

Reports examine rising health insurance premiums by state

Families USA has released a series of state-specific reports showing the rising cost of health insurance premiums compared with median family income. In Alabama, for example, annual premiums for employer-sponsored family coverage rose 79% between 2000 and 20007, while median worker earnings rose 17%. The reports’ findings are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and departments of Labor and Health and Human Services.

BCBS: Consumer-driven health plan enrollment up 25%

Enrollment in consumer-directed health plans grew 25% in 2007 to 12.5 million people, according to data reported Oct. 20 by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. CDHPs were defined as high-deductible health plans that include a health reimbursement arrangement or health savings account option.

A BCBS survey of adults under age 65 with private health coverage found enrollees with HSA-eligible plans were 30% more likely to track their health expenses than those in more traditional health insurance plans, and 27% more likely to ask their doctors about the cost of treatment. They also were more likely to participate in health or wellness programs, and slightly more likely to have regular check ups and preventive screenings. Collectively, the 39 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies served 4.4 million CDHP members in 2007, up 50% from 2006.

Survey: Enrollment in consumer-driven health plans remains low

Only 2% of privately insured adults were enrolled in a consumer-driven health plan in 2007, according to a new survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Commonwealth Fund. The survey defines consumer-driven health plans as those that combine a deductible of $1,000 or more with a tax-advantaged health savings account or health reimbursement arrangement, which the individual can use to pay for medical expenses or take with them when they change jobs.

“So far there is little evidence that the tax benefits of consumer-driven health plans have the potential to help change the trajectory of health care cost growth, are leading health plans or providers to provide more information about the quality and price of services to patients, or are decreasing the number of people without health insurance,” the authors conclude. About 11% of privately insured adults in 2007 had a high-deductible health plan without an HSA or HRA, the survey found.

BCBSA issues plan to expand access to coverage

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association on Jan. 23 proposed a five-point plan to improve quality and value in health care and expand health insurance coverage. The proposal calls on the government to create an independent institute to support research on the comparative effectiveness of medical procedures, drugs and devices, which would be funded by assessments on private and public health coverage.

The plan also calls for the government to: use the Medicare Advantage program to promote management of chronic illness; enact reforms to encourage employee wellness programs; provide tax assistance for employers and families to purchase health coverage; reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to cover all currently eligible children; and allow states to pay the employee premium for Medicaid- and SCHIP-eligible children of working parents.

[ via AHA News Now ]

A different kind of insurance policy for the uninsured

In an attempt to help people obtain health insurance, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), a national trade association representing insurance companies, presented a proposal last month that is designed to provide insurance for individuals who may have been denied health coverage in the past due to health risks and complications.

Drafted by a group of insurance executives, the proposal aims to make it more difficult for insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing medical problems and to limit the cost of premiums. The proposal also calls for states to provide coverage for any patient whose medical costs are twice the average.

According to a related AHIP survey, 11% of all people who currently apply for health care are not offered a policy after their medical status is reviewed by insurers. Furthermore, 30% of all applicants in their 60s who do not yet qualify for Medicare are denied coverage.