Most Americans still get health insurance through their jobs, but employment-based health coverage has been steadily shrinking since 1994, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
In 2010, 58.7 percent of the nonelderly population (under Age 65) had employment-based health benefits, down from 69.3 percent in 2000. Meanwhile, public program health coverage expanded to account for 21.6 percent of the nonelderly population.
Enrollment in Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program increased, covering 16.9 percent of the nonelderly population in 2010, a sharp increase from the 10.2 percent level in 1999.
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EBRI notes the change in the number of nonelderly Americans with health insurance in 2010 wasn't significant. Uninsured nonelderly individuals accounted for 18.5 percent in 2010, up from 18.3 percent in 2009.
"These trends clearly reflect job losses from the 2007-2009 recession and continuing slow economic recovery," said Paul Fronstin, director of EBRI's Health Research and Education Program. "As a result, the nation is likely to see continued erosion of employment-based health benefits when the data for 2011 are released in 2012. Fewer working individuals translates into fewer individuals with access to health benefits in the work place."
Other findings:
Shifting composition of employment-based coverage: Between 2007 and 2010, the percentage of individuals under age 65 with employment-based coverage in their own name has dropped. In 2007, 54.2 percent had coverage in their own name. By 2010, it was down to 51.5 percent. Dependent coverage during this time fell slightly from 17.5 percent to 17.1 percent, and increased slightly from 16.8 percent to 17.1 percent between 2009 and 2010.
Individual coverage stable: Individually purchased health coverage was unchanged in 2010 and has basically hovered in the 6 to 7 percent range since 1994.
What to expect in 2011: 2010 is the most recent year for data on sources of health coverage. Unemployment in 2011 has been about 9 percent since the beginning of the year. While down from the 2010 average of 9.6 percent, it remains high and there is a continued threat of a double-dip recession increasing it even further. As a result, the nation is likely to see continued erosion of employment-based health benefits when the data for 2011 are released in 2012. Fewer working individuals translates into fewer individuals with access to health benefits in the work place, especially after COBRA subsidies have been exhausted.
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