Order Code 96-979 EPW
Updated January 11, 2002
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Health Insurance: Uninsured by State, 2000
Paulette C. Morgan
Analyst in Social Legislation
Domestic Science Policy Division
Summary
An estimated 14.0% of the U.S. population lacked health insurance coverage in
2000, down from 14.3% in 1999. When examined by state, estimates of the percent
uninsured ranged from a low of 5.9% in Rhode Island to a high of 23.8% in New
Mexico. Generally, states in the Midwest and New England have lower rates of
uninsured, while states in the Southwestern portion of the nation have higher shares of
their populations without coverage.
These state-level estimates are based on the March 2001 Current Population Survey
(CPS), and must be interpreted with caution because they are based on survey samples.
When sampling variation is taken into account, to allow one to say with 90% reliability
that the percent uninsured in the state lies between specified low and high estimates, the
uninsured rate in 14 states and the District of Columbia is not different statistically from
the uninsured rate nationwide. The uninsured rate is statistically lower than the national
rate in 24 states, and statistically higher in the remaining 12 states.
State-level analysis is only one way to examine data about health insurance
coverage. Some factors related to the percent of a state’s population that is uninsured
may be affected by the state, such as eligibility criteria for the state’s Medicaid and State
Children’s Health Insurance programs or other programs for those lacking health
insurance. Other factors may be beyond the state’s direct control, such as the willingness
of employers to offer coverage and the financial resources of the state’s population to
purchase coverage.
This report will be updated annually, when new data become available. For related
information, see CRS Report 96-891, Health Insurance Coverage: Characteristics of
Insured and Uninsured in 2000, and CRS Report 97-310, Health Insurance: Uninsured
Children by State, 1998-2000.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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CRS-2
Estimates of The Uninsured by State
An estimated 14.0% of the U.S. population lack health insurance coverage in 2000,
down from 14.3% in 1999.1 Table 1 shows that the estimated percent of each state’s
population that lacked health insurance2 coverage in 2000 ranged from a low of 5.9% in
Rhode Island to a high of 23.8% in New Mexico. Eleven states3 had estimated uninsured
rates less than 10% and 2 states4 had estimated rates greater than 20%. Generally, states
with the lowest rates of uninsurance were located in the upper Midwest and Northeast;
states with the highest rates were in the Southwest (Figure 1).
These estimates of the percent of the state population without health insurance
coverage are based on data from the March 2001 Current Population Survey (CPS). The
CPS is representative of the civilian, noninstitutionalized population, and is designed to
produce reliable estimates at the national, regional and state level.
The small sample sizes available from the CPS for many states make it prudent to
consider state-level estimates in terms of a range of values. This range is based on
sampling theory, and takes into account the size of the sample. Table 1 shows the best
point estimates, or single values, for the numbers of people covered and not covered by
health insurance, and the percent uninsured by state.5 The table also reports a range in
values for these numbers and percentages. The size of the range depends primarily upon
the sample size. Table 1 shows ranges based on a 90% confidence interval. A 90%
confidence interval means that given repeated sampling of health insurance coverage in a
state, 9 out of 10 times, the estimate of the percent uninsured (or number covered or not
covered) will lie within the range set by the low and high estimates. For example, if one
surveys people in Rhode Island about health insurance coverage, in 9 out of 10 sample
surveys, on average, the percent uninsured in Rhode Island will be between 4.9% and
6.9%.6
1 Due to a change in the way the number of uninsured are calculated, rates of uninsured in this
report are not comparable to any previous version of this report.
2 Health insurance includes, but is not limited to: Medicare; Medicaid; S-CHIP; TRICARE or the
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS); the Civilian Health
and Medical Program of the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (CHAMPVA); Veteran’s
Administration health care; military health care; other government provided health care;
employer/union-provided insurance; and privately purchased insurance.
3 Rhode Island (5.9%), New Hampshire (6.9%), Wisconsin (7.1%), Pennsylvania (7.6%),
Connecticut (7.9%), Iowa (8.7%), Minnesota (9.0%), Massachusetts (9.5%), Maryland (9.8%),
Michigan (9.9%), and Nebraska (9.9%).
4 Texas (21.5%), and New Mexico (23.8%).
5 Table 1 shows states sorted by the percent uninsured. Table 2 reports the same data but sorts
states alphabetically.
6 Note that there is no way to determine if the results for Rhode Island in Table 1 are the 1 time out
of 10 that a different result is obtained, where the real percent uninsured is outside the confidence
interval (i.e., less than 4.9% or greater than 6.9%).

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CRS-3
Because of the uncertainty about state-level estimates of the percent uninsured, a
more statistically conservative comparison across states takes ranges of values into
account. This is done in Figure 2, which groups states according to differences from the
nationwide percent uninsured, considering the estimated ranges in the percent uninsured
by state. When statistical variation is taken into account, 14 states and the District of
Columbia have percents uninsured that are not statistically different from the nationwide
rate of 14.0%. (The nationwide percent uninsured has a range in estimates of between
13.8% and 14.1%.) These 14 states and the District of Columbia have percents uninsured
ranging from a low point estimate of 12.7% in Virginia (with a range in estimates between
11.5% and 13.9%) to a high point estimate of 14.6% in Georgia (with a range in estimates
between 13.4% and 15.8%.) Twenty-four states have percents uninsured that are
statistically lower than the nationwide rate. These states include all states in New England,
most states in the Midwest, a few states in the eastern United States, and South Carolina.
The remaining 12 states, arrayed across the South and Southwest from Louisiana to
California, as well as Florida, Idaho, Montana, and New York, have uninsured rates that
are statistically higher than the nationwide rate.
Reasons for Differences in the Percent Uninsured
Figures 1 and 2 indicate that residents of the Southwestern United States are more
likely to lack health insurance and residents of the Midwest and New England are more
likely to be covered. Various state characteristics may account for these differences.
Nationwide, the percent uninsured is related to employment by industry, with workers in
mining, manufacturing of durable goods, professional services, finance/insurance, and
public administration industries most often covered by health insurance and those
employed in agriculture, and personal services least often covered. Employees who work
for large firms, and their dependents, are more likely to be covered than those who work
for small firms. Union members are more likely to be covered. The prevalence of
particular industries, firm sizes, or unionization may account for some of the regional or
state variation in percents uninsured.7
Some factors related to the percent of a state’s population that is uninsured may be
affected by state’s policies, such as eligibility criteria for the state’s Medicaid program or
the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. Other factors may be beyond the state’s
direct control, such as the willingness of employers to offer coverage and the financial
resources of the state’s population to purchase coverage. Only Hawaii has implemented
state legislation mandating that an employer offer coverage, which is augmented with a
health insurance program for the unemployed.8
7 For additional information, see CRS Report 96-891, Health Insurance Coverage:
Characteristics of the Insured and Uninsured Populations in 2000, by Chris Peterson.
8 Hawaii received a congressional exemption from the Federal Employee Retirement and Income
Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to permit the employer mandate. No other state has received a
similar exemption.

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CRS-4
Table 1. Number of People Covered and Not Covered by Health Insurance,
and Percent Not Covered, By State, 2000
Sorted by Percent Uninsured (numbers in thousands)
Number covered
Number not covered
Percent not covered
Point
Range
Point
Range
Point
Range
estimate
Low
High
estimate
Low
High
estimate
Low
High
Rhode Island
881
841
921
55
45
65
5.9% *
4.9%
6.9%
New Hampshire
1,155
1,104
1,206
85
71
99
6.9% *
5.8%
7.9%
Wisconsin
5,032
4,842
5,222
386
333
439
7.1% *
6.2%
8.1%
Pennsylvania
11,063
10,817
11,309
905
833
977
7.6% *
7.0%
8.1%
Connecticut
3,056
2,922
3,190
263
224
302
7.9% *
6.8%
9.1%
Iowa
2,615
2,511
2,719
248
216
280
8.7% *
7.6%
9.7%
Minnesota
4,354
4,186
4,522
430
377
483
9.0% *
7.9%
10.0%
Massachusetts
5,661
5,498
5,824
595
542
648
9.5% *
8.7%
10.3%
Maryland
4,618
4,425
4,811
501
437
565
9.8% *
8.6%
11.0%
Michigan
8,964
8,745
9,183
982
909
1,055
9.9% *
9.2%
10.6%
Nebraska
1,494
1,433
1,555
164
144
184
9.9% *
8.7%
11.0%
Hawaii
1,039
993
1,085
117
101
133
10.1% *
8.8%
11.4%
Tennessee
5,003
4,805
5,201
577
509
645
10.3% *
9.2%
11.5%
Delaware
705
675
735
82
72
92
10.4% *
9.2%
11.7%
Vermont
564
539
589
67
59
75
10.6% *
9.4%
11.9%
Missouri
4,930
4,732
5,128
586
517
655
10.6% *
9.4%
11.8%
Ohio
10,284
10,039
10,529
1,255
1,168
1,342
10.9% *
10.2%
11.6%
North Dakota
538
515
561
69
61
77
11.4% *
10.1%
12.6%
Maine
1,121
1,072
1,170
145
127
163
11.5% *
10.1%
12.8%
Kansas
2,306
2,212
2,400
301
267
335
11.5% *
10.3%
12.8%
South Dakota
615
590
640
82
73
91
11.8% *
10.5%
13.0%
South Carolina
3,321
3,181
3,461
448
396
500
11.9% *
10.6%
13.2%
Indiana
5,117
4,914
5,320
701
625
777
12.0% *
10.8%
13.3%
New Jersey
7,257
7,072
7,442
1,049
978
1,120
12.6% *
11.8%
13.4%
Virginia
6,091
5,862
6,320
886
798
974
12.7%
11.5%
13.9%
Kentucky
3,462
3,325
3,599
513
460
566
12.9%
11.7%
14.1%
North Carolina
6,541
6,352
6,730
980
906
1,054
13.0%
12.1%
13.9%
Mississippi
2,425
2,330
2,520
364
327
401
13.1%
11.8%
14.3%
Colorado
3,665
3,524
3,806
563
507
619
13.3%
12.1%
14.5%
Washington
5,075
4,867
5,283
780
698
862
13.3%
12.0%
14.6%
Utah
1,913
1,843
1,983
296
269
323
13.4%
12.2%
14.6%
Alabama
3,851
3,700
4,002
600
540
660
13.5%
12.2%
14.7%
Illinois
10,627
10,381
10,873
1,659
1,560
1,758
13.5%
12.8%
14.3%
Oregon
2,935
2,813
3,057
465
416
514
13.7%
12.3%
15.0%
Arkansas
2,261
2,172
2,350
364
328
400
13.9%
12.6%
15.1%
West Virginia
1,524
1,465
1,583
254
230
278
14.3%
13.0%
15.5%
Wyoming
418
401
435
70
63
77
14.3%
13.0%
15.7%
D.C.
434
414
454
73
65
81
14.4%
12.9%
15.9%
Georgia
6,638
6,406
6,870
1,135
1,038
1,232
14.6%
13.4%
15.8%
New York
15,608
15,329
15,887
2,802
2,681
2,923
15.2% **
14.6%
15.8%
Idaho
1,061
1,020
1,102
196
178
214
15.6% **
14.3%
16.9%
Nevada
1,680
1,614
1,746
311
283
339
15.6% **
14.3%
16.9%
Arizona
4,124
3,971
4,277
793
726
860
16.1% **
14.9%
17.4%
Florida
12,537
12,275
12,799
2,620
2,498
2,742
17.3% **
16.5%
18.0%
California
28,454
28,012
28,896
6,281
6,064
6,498
18.1% **
17.5%
18.7%
Montana
714
685
743
162
148
176
18.5% **
17.1%
19.9%
Louisiana
3,423
3,285
3,561
810
743
877
19.1% **
17.7%
20.6%
Alaska
522
500
544
125
114
136
19.3% **
17.9%
20.8%
Oklahoma
2,651
2,544
2,758
636
584
688
19.3% **
17.9%
20.8%
Texas
16,167
15,837
16,497
4,425
4,248
4,602
21.5% **
20.7%
22.3%
New Mexico
1,366
1,309
1,423
427
395
459
23.8% **
22.3%
25.4%
U.S.
237,857
n/a
n/a
38,683
38,239
39,127
14.0%
13.8%
14.1%
Source: Bureau of the Census, based on the March 2001 Current Population Survey; ranges computed by the Congressional Research
Service.
Notes: * indicates percent uninsured is statistically lower than the national rate; ** indicates percent uninsured is statistically higher than
the national rate. Range represents low and high estimates given a 90% confidence interval. n/a indicates not applicable.

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CRS-5
Table 2. Number of People Covered and Not Covered by Health Insurance,
and Percent Not Covered, By State, 2000
Alphabetical by State (numbers in thousands)
Number covered
Number not covered
Percent not covered
Point
Range
Point
Range
Point
Range
estimate
Low
High
estimate
Low
High
estimate
Low
High
Alabama
3,851
3,700
4,002
600
540
660
13.5%
12.2%
14.7%
Alaska
522
500
544
125
114
136
19.3% **
17.9%
20.8%
Arizona
4,124
3,971
4,277
793
726
860
16.1% **
14.9%
17.4%
Arkansas
2,261
2,172
2,350
364
328
400
13.9%
12.6%
15.1%
California
28,454
28,012
28,896
6,281
6,064
6,498
18.1% **
17.5%
18.7%
Colorado
3,665
3,524
3,806
563
507
619
13.3%
12.1%
14.5%
Connecticut
3,056
2,922
3,190
263
224
302
7.9% *
6.8%
9.1%
Delaware
705
675
735
82
72
92
10.4% *
9.2%
11.7%
D.C.
434
414
454
73
65
81
14.4%
12.9%
15.9%
Florida
12,537
12,275
12,799
2,620
2,498
2,742
17.3% **
16.5%
18.0%
Georgia
6,638
6,406
6,870
1,135
1,038
1,232
14.6%
13.4%
15.8%
Hawaii
1,039
993
1,085
117
101
133
10.1% *
8.8%
11.4%
Idaho
1,061
1,020
1,102
196
178
214
15.6% **
14.3%
16.9%
Illinois
10,627
10,381
10,873
1,659
1,560
1,758
13.5%
12.8%
14.3%
Indiana
5,117
4,914
5,320
701
625
777
12.0% *
10.8%
13.3%
Iowa
2,615
2,511
2,719
248
216
280
8.7% *
7.6%
9.7%
Kansas
2,306
2,212
2,400
301
267
335
11.5% *
10.3%
12.8%
Kentucky
3,462
3,325
3,599
513
460
566
12.9%
11.7%
14.1%
Louisiana
3,423
3,285
3,561
810
743
877
19.1% **
17.7%
20.6%
Maine
1,121
1,072
1,170
145
127
163
11.5% *
10.1%
12.8%
Maryland
4,618
4,425
4,811
501
437
565
9.8% *
8.6%
11.0%
Massachusetts
5,661
5,498
5,824
595
542
648
9.5% *
8.7%
10.3%
Michigan
8,964
8,745
9,183
982
909
1,055
9.9% *
9.2%
10.6%
Minnesota
4,354
4,186
4,522
430
377
483
9.0% *
7.9%
10.0%
Mississippi
2,425
2,330
2,520
364
327
401
13.1%
11.8%
14.3%
Missouri
4,930
4,732
5,128
586
517
655
10.6% *
9.4%
11.8%
Montana
714
685
743
162
148
176
18.5% **
17.1%
19.9%
Nebraska
1,494
1,433
1,555
164
144
184
9.9% *
8.7%
11.0%
Nevada
1,680
1,614
1,746
311
283
339
15.6% **
14.3%
16.9%
New Hampshire
1,155
1,104
1,206
85
71
99
6.9% *
5.8%
7.9%
New Jersey
7,257
7,072
7,442
1,049
978
1,120
12.6% *
11.8%
13.4%
New Mexico
1,366
1,309
1,423
427
395
459
23.8% **
22.3%
25.4%
New York
15,608
15,329
15,887
2,802
2,681
2,923
15.2% **
14.6%
15.8%
North Carolina
6,541
6,352
6,730
980
906
1,054
13.0%
12.1%
13.9%
North Dakota
538
515
561
69
61
77
11.4% *
10.1%
12.6%
Ohio
10,284
10,039
10,529
1,255
1,168
1,342
10.9% *
10.2%
11.6%
Oklahoma
2,651
2,544
2,758
636
584
688
19.3% **
17.9%
20.8%
Oregon
2,935
2,813
3,057
465
416
514
13.7%
12.3%
15.0%
Pennsylvania
11,063
10,817
11,309
905
833
977
7.6% *
7.0%
8.1%
Rhode Island
881
841
921
55
45
65
5.9% *
4.9%
6.9%
South Carolina
3,321
3,181
3,461
448
396
500
11.9% *
10.6%
13.2%
South Dakota
615
590
640
82
73
91
11.8% *
10.5%
13.0%
Tennessee
5,003
4,805
5,201
577
509
645
10.3% *
9.2%
11.5%
Texas
16,167
15,837
16,497
4,425
4,248
4,602
21.5% **
20.7%
22.3%
Utah
1,913
1,843
1,983
296
269
323
13.4%
12.2%
14.6%
Vermont
564
539
589
67
59
75
10.6% *
9.4%
11.9%
Virginia
6,091
5,862
6,320
886
798
974
12.7%
11.5%
13.9%
Washington
5,075
4,867
5,283
780
698
862
13.3%
12.0%
14.6%
West Virginia
1,524
1,465
1,583
254
230
278
14.3%
13.0%
15.5%
Wisconsin
5,032
4,842
5,222
386
333
439
7.1% *
6.2%
8.1%
Wyoming
418
401
435
70
63
77
14.3%
13.0%
15.7%
U.S.
237,857
n/a
n/a
38,683
38,239
39,127
14.0%
13.8%
14.1%
Source: Bureau of the Census, based on the March 2001 Current Population Survey; ranges computed by the Congressional Research
Service.
Note: * indicates percent uninsured is statistically lower than the national rate; ** indicates percent uninsured is statistically higher
than the national rate. Range represents low and high estimates given a 90% confidence interval. n/a indicates not applicable.

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CRS-6
Figure 1. Percent Uninsured by State, 2000
US average is 14.0%
Percent uninsured
20% or more
(2)
15.0 to 19.9%
(10)
10.0 to 14.9%
(28)
Less than 10.0% (11)
Figure 2. Percent Uninsured by State, 2000
Accounting for Statistical Variation in Estimates
Percent uninsured
Greater than US average (12)
Same as US average
(15)
Less than US average
(24)

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