Falling Through the Cracks: LowIncome Women and Their Health Insurance Coverage

1
Falling Through the Cracks Low-Income Women
and Their Health Insurance Coverage

• Roberta Wyn, Ph.D.
• Beatriz M. Solís , M.P.H.
• Victoria Ojeda, M.P.H.
• Nadereh Pourat, Ph.D.Washington, DC
• February 7, 2001

2
Uninsured Low-Income Women by Poverty Level, Ages
18-64, 1998
Figure 1
100 of poverty was 10,972 for a family of two
and 16,660 for a family of four in 1998.
Source March 1999 Current Population Survey.
3
Characteristics of Adult Low-Income Women,1998
Figure 2
Percent Reporting
Source March 1999 Current Population Survey.
4
Low-Income Women Are More Likely to Be Uninsured
Figure 3
Source March 1999 Current Population Survey.
5
Low-Income Women at Greatest Risk for Lacking
Coverage
Figure 4
Percent Uninsured
AGE
EDUCATION
FAMILY TYPE
NoteLow-income is defined as lt200 of poverty,
21,944 for a family of two and 33,360 for a
family of four in 1998. SOURCE March 1999
Current Population Survey.
6
Low-Income Women at Greatest Risk for Lacking
Coverage
Figure 5
Percent Uninsured
RACE/ETHNICITY
Latina
Asian American/ Pacific Islander
African American
White
IMMIGRATION STATUS
NoteLow-income is defined as lt200 of poverty,
21,944 for a family of two and 33,360 for a
family of four in 1998. SOURCE March 1999
Current Population Survey.
7
Health Insurance Coverage of Low-Income Women by
Womens Work Status, 1998
Figure 6
Individual/Other includes individually-purchased
insurance and other public coverage, such as
Medicare, CHAMPUS, and Indian Health Service.
Note Low-income is defined as lt200 of poverty,
21,944 for a family of 2 and 33,360 for a
family of four in 1998. Source March 1999
Current Population Survey.
8
Uninsured Low-Income (lt200 FPL) Women by Their
Family Work Status, Ages 18-64, 1998
Figure 7
Note Low-income is defined as lt200 of poverty,
21,944 for a family of 2 and 33,360 for a
family of four in 1998. Source March 1999
Current Population Survey.
9
Changes in Health Insurance Coverage of
Low-Income Women, Ages 18-64, 1994 and 1998
Figure 8
Note Low-income is defined as lt200 of poverty,
21,944 for a family of 2 and 33,360 for a
family of four in 1998. Source March 1995 and
1999 Current Population Surveys.
10
Changes in Low-Income Womens Health Coverage,
1994 and 1998
Figure 9
Percent Uninsured
(lt100 of Poverty)
Note Low-income is lt200 of poverty. 100 of
poverty was 10,972 for a family of two and
16,660 for a family of four in 1998. Includes
women ages 18-64. Source March 1995 and 1999
Current Population Surveys.
11
Conclusions
Figure 10

• Access to health coverage is a challenge for
  low-income women.
• Opportunities to obtain job-based coverage are
  limited.
• Medicaid is important, but not-all low-income
  women qualify.
• One-third of low-income women are uninsured.
• Health coverage for low-income women has eroded
  in recent years.
• Public and private efforts are necessary to
  improve coverage for low-income women.