Report: Individual Coverage Often Challenging To Obtain

Nearly three-quarters of the estimated 26 million U.S. residents who sought medical insurance in the individual market during the last three years had difficulty purchasing it, and about 35% said they were turned down or charged a higher rate because of pre-existing conditions, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund. The report found that about 52 million U.S. residents lacked health insurance for a portion of 2010, compared with 38 million people in 2001.

• "Health Coverage Still Tough To Get for Individuals" (Smith, Reuters, 3/16).
• "Economic Crisis Meant Loss of Coverage for Millions, Commonwealth Report Says" (Vesely, Modern Healthcare, 3/16).