Health Insurance Status of U.S. Workers, 2003: Estimates for Civilian Noninstitutionalized Workers Ages 16-64. Statistical Brief Number 71

摘要

For most Americans, health insurance obtained through the workplace is the primary source of private coverage, whether as a policyholder or as a dependent on a family members plan. Data from the Household Component of the 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC) indicate that nearly two-thirds (63.4 percent) of Americans under 65 years of age had job-related health insurance during the first half of 2003. However, employment does not necessarily lead to health insurance coverage for many working Americans. Nearly a fifth (18.6 percent) of working Americans ages 1664 were uninsured during the first half of 2003 (approximately 25 million people). These workers represented 53.7 percent of the total uninsured population. MEPS data also indicate that certain job characteristics, such as self-employment, size of business, hourly wages, and weekly hours of work, are strongly associated with workers health insurance status.