6.5 Million Californians Lack Health Insurance, Study Finds
One in five Californians do not have health insurance, according to a study released Thursday by the University of California-Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research, the Orange County Register reports. The study estimates that about 6.5 million Californians are uninsured.
According to the study, 56.2% of California adults received health insurance through their employers in 2005, compared with 55.1% in 2003 and 57% in 2001. Researchers say increases in the number of employers who offer coverage to workers likely will not continue as the costs of employment-based insurance rise.
The study also finds that about 10.7% of children in the state were uninsured for part or all of last year, compared with 14.8% in 2001. The report notes that about half of the California children who are uninsured could be eligible for public health programs.
In addition, the study advocates Proposition 86 -- a measure on the November ballot that would increase the state cigarette tax to $2.60 per pack to fund health programs -- saying it would provide insurance to as many as 400,000 uninsured children who are ineligible for other health programs (Orange County Register, 10/5).
KPBS' "KPBS News" on Thursday reported on the study. The segment includes comments from Richard Brown, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research (Goldberg, "KPBS News," KPBS, 10/5). The complete transcript is available online. The complete segment is available online in Windows Media.
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