Economy Causing Health Insurance Woes for Many

12/23/2009

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide some new insight into the problems many Americans have had finding health insurance, in part because of a nationwide unemployment reach that remains at 10 percent.

According to the CDC, 15.1 percent of all Americans were uninsured between the months of January and June, or 45.4 million. A total of 58.4 million reported that they had been uninsured for at least part of the year leading up the survey, while 31.9 million said they had already been without coverage for more than a year.

The CDC also noted that 8.2 percent of children under age 18 were lacking coverage, while 60.6 percent of unemployed adults and 21.8 percent of employed people were going without insurance.

Some people who find themselves without coverage can choose to purchase a high deductible health plan (HDHP), which largely protects them in the event of a major medical emergency. The CDC found that 22.7 percent of people under age 65 with private insurance plans had HDHP policies.

Overall, whether a person is employed or not, there are a variety of options and strategies to consider on the private health insurance market when it comes to securing a sufficient plan.

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