Ranks Of Uninsured Still Increasing.

According to The Media Audit, the 85 markets have an aggregate population of more than 131 million and the number of uninsured exceeds 32 million. These numbers do not include uninsured children. The Media Audit surveys only adults, age 18 plus. Although The Media Audit is not a national survey, its aggregate numbers generally track national survey results.

Among the 85 metro markets surveyed, the Houston and Miami areas have the largest percentage of adults without health insurance at 34 percent; Dallas/Ft Worth is next with 33.3 percent. The percentages vary significantly from market to market. See list further down in this story.

Income & Insurance

“As you would expect, there is a direct correlation between income and health insurance,” says Bob Jordan, president of International Demographics, Inc., a 33-year-old research firm which produces The Media Audit. “Just 53.7 percent of those households with annual income of less than $25,000 have health insurance compared to 87.3 percent of those with household incomes of $50,000 plus,” he says.

The most puzzling figures, says Jordan, “show that many affluent households are not carrying any health insurance. Approximately 9 percent of households with annual incomes of $100,000 plus do not have health insurance.”

There is also a relationship between race and health insurance. Among Caucasians, 80.5 percent have health insurance compared to 73.7 percent of Asians, 68.5 percent of African-Americans and 58.6 percent of Hispanics.

HMO Coverage Declining

Participation in Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) is also declining. In 2001 24.4 percent of adults were covered by an HMO, in 2002 it was 21.3 percent and in 2003 it was 19.6 percent.

“The decline in HMO coverage,” says Jordan, “appears to be just part of the overall decline. The less affluent are less likely to be covered by an HMO and the more affluent are more likely to be covered by an HMO. Just 12.5 percent of households with annual incomes of less than $25,000 have HMO coverage while 26.3 percent of those with incomes of $50,000 plus have HMO coverage.”

To view charts CLICK above on ‘More Images’.