Order Code 96-891 EPW
Updated February 26, 2002
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Health Insurance Coverage:
Characteristics of the Insured and
Uninsured Populations in 2000
Chris L. Peterson
Analyst in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division
Summary
Nearly one of out seven Americans — 38.7 million people (14.0%) — were without
health insurance for all of 2000. This was the second consecutive annual decrease in the
percentage of uninsured. The largest gain in health insurance coverage was in
employment-based coverage. In 2000, approximately 3.7 million more Americans were
covered by employment-based health insurance than in 1999.1 Nationwide, there was no
significant change in the percentage of Americans covered by Medicare or by other
nonmilitary public health insurance, such as Medicaid. While employment-based health
insurance covers many Americans, more than half of the uninsured were full-time, full-
year workers or their dependents. This report examines characteristics of both the
insured and the uninsured populations in the United States. It will be updated annually.
Health Insurance Coverage and Selected Population
Characteristics
Age. Table 1 provides a breakdown of health insurance coverage by type of
insurance and age. In 2000, compared to other age groups, those under age 5 were most
likely (25%) to have coverage through Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance
Program (SCHIP), or some other program for low-income individuals. Young adults ages
19 to 24 were the most likely to have gone without health insurance for the entire year.
While many in this group (60%) were covered under an employment-based plan, 29% had
no health insurance. Young adults are often too old to be covered as dependents on their
1 Comparisons to 1999 are from unpublished numbers produced by CRS using revised CPS data.
The U.S. Census Bureau released revised data resulting from a verification question asked of those
who were initially categorized as uninsured. For more information on this and other issues
regarding estimates of the uninsured, see CRS Report RL31275, Health Insurance: Federal Data
Sources for Analyses of the Uninsured
, by Chris L. Peterson and Christine Devere.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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parents’ policies and, as entry-level workers, do not have strong ties to the work force.
In addition, some may choose to remain uninsured and spend their money on other items.
After age 25, the percentage of people with health insurance increases. Of those age 65
and over, 96% were covered by Medicare, and less than 1% were uninsured for the entire
year. The remainder of this report focuses on the population under age 65.
Table 1. Health Insurance Coverage by Type of Insurance
and Age, 2000
Type of insurancea
Medicaid
Population
Employment
Private
or other
Age
(in millions)
basedb
nongroup Medicare
publicc
Militaryd Uninsured
Under 5
19.8
64.0%
3.9%
0.8%
25.0%
3.1%
10.9%
5-18
56.9
68.5
5.1
0.7
18.2
2.9
12.3
19-24
22.9
60.0
5.7
0.6
8.0
2.8
28.8
25-34
37.4
69.1
5.3
1.1
6.3
2.2
21.2
35-54
82.8
75.9
6.5
2.6
5.2
2.8
13.9
55-61
17.8
69.9
10.7
6.6
6.6
3.3
13.8
62-64
6.0
61.3
14.9
14.8
7.3
5.1
13.3
65+
33.0
34.5
31.4
96.2
10.0
4.2
0.7
Total
276.6
65.6%
9.2%
13.4%
10.4%
3.0%
14.0%
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis of data from the March 2001 Current Population
Survey (CPS).
a People may have more than one source of health insurance; percentages may total to more than 100.
b Group health insurance through employer or union.
c Nonmilitary. Includes State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and other state programs for
low-income individuals.
d Military health care or veterans coverage.
Other Demographic Characteristics. Table 2 shows the rate of health
insurance coverage by type of insurance and selected demographic characteristics — race,
family type, region, poverty level and citizenship — for people under age 65. In 2000,
whites were most likely to have health insurance (89%) for some part of the year, while
Hispanics were least likely (66%). The rate of employment-based health coverage was
highest among whites (77%), and the rate of public coverage2 was highest among blacks
(22%).
People in male-headed or two-parent families with children were more likely to be
insured (87%) than those in female-headed families with children (80%) or in families with
no children (81%). The sources of coverage were quite different for male-present (one
or two parents) and female-headed (single parent) families with children: Coverage was
employment based for 76% of male-present families compared to 48% of female-headed
families; 9% of male-present families had public coverage compared to 34% of female-
headed families.
2 Includes Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), or some
other program for low-income individuals. Excludes military and veterans coverage.

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People were more likely to have insurance if they lived in the Midwest (88%) or the
Northeast (87%), than if they lived in the South (82%) or West (81%). More than 70%
of those living in the Northeast and Midwest had employment-based health insurance
compared to 67% in the South and 65% in the West. Among individuals with incomes at
least two times the poverty level, 90% had health insurance compared to 67% of the poor
(i.e., those with incomes below the poverty level). Only 23% of the poor received health
coverage through employment, and 43% had public coverage. More than 80% of people
with incomes at least two times the poverty level were covered through an employer, and
only 4% had public coverage.
Table 2. Health Insurance Coverage by Type of Insurance and
Demographic Characteristics for People Under Age 65, 2000
Type of insurancea
Population
Employment
(in millions)
basedb
Publicc
Otherd
Uninsured
Race/ethnicity
White
166.9
76.9%
8.4%
9.9%
11.3%
Black
32.1
58.4
22.0
7.9
19.6
Hispanic
32.0
47.2
19.0
4.5
33.6
Other
12.6
63.6
12.5
9.1
20.7
Family type
Female-headed
28.0
48.3
34.3
4.5
19.6
with children
Male or two
119.1
75.7
9.3
8.6
12.6
parent headed
w/children
No children
96.5
69.0
8.3
10.4
18.6
Region
Northeast
45.6
73.4
12.8
6.6
13.0
Midwest
56.3
75.6
10.1
8.1
12.1
South
84.9
67.3
11.5
10.0
17.9
West
56.9
65.2
13.0
9.7
18.5
Poverty leveld
Less than 100%
28.3
23.3
43.3
6.0
32.9
of poverty
100%-149%
20.0
41.3
27.6
7.7
30.1
of poverty
150%-199%
20.5
57.8
16.5
9.7
23.5
of poverty
200%+
174.7
82.1
4.3
9.4
10.5
of poverty
Citizenship
Native
216.9
72.0
12.1
9.1
13.4
Naturalized
9.0
67.1
8.2
10.4
19.7
Non-Citizens
17.6
45.3
9.9
5.1
42.8
Total
243.6
69.9%
11.8%
8.9%
15.8%
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis of data from the March 2001 CPS.
a People may have more than one source of coverage; percentages may total to more than 100.
b Group health insurance through employer or union.
c Includes Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and other state
programs for low-income individuals. Excludes military and veterans coverage.
d Private nongroup health insurance, veterans coverage, or military health care.

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e In 2000, the weighted average poverty threshold for a family of four was $17,603.
People born with U.S. citizenship (i.e., “native”) were more likely to have health
insurance than non-citizens — 87% versus 57%, respectively. Non-citizens accounted for
7% of the population under 65, but were 20% of the uninsured. About 45% of non-
citizens were covered through employment, compared to 72% of citizens.
Employment Characteristics. For the second year in a row, the increase in
employment-based coverage was statistically significant — from 69% in 1999 to 70% in
2000.3 Table 3 shows the rate of health insurance coverage by employment characteristics
for people under age 65 who were workers or their dependents. In 2000, about 92% of
workers and dependents of workers in large firms (1,000 or more employees) were insured
compared to 73% in small firms (less than 10 employees). People in small firms and their
dependents accounted for 16% of the under 65 population but 27% of the uninsured.
Insurance coverage varied according to industry, as well. Agriculture and personal
services had the highest proportion of uninsured workers and dependents — more than
30%; only 4% of those in public administration were uninsured. Among workers, 87%
of those employed full time, full year had health insurance, most often through their
employment (69%). More than 25% of workers with less than full time, full year
employment were uninsured for all of 2000. In fact, the percentage of uninsured
individuals among those who were not in the labor force (26%) was lower than for
workers with only part time or part year employment (27%).4
Table 3. Health Insurance Coverage by Employment
Characteristicsa for People Under Age 65, 2000
Type of insuranceb
Population
From
From
(in millions)
own jobc
other’s jobc
Otherd
Uninsured
Firm sizee
Under 10
38.6
18.0%
32.8%
26.8%
27.1%
10-24
19.3
28.6
34.0
17.6
24.2
25-99
28.6
35.2
37.7
15.4
16.7
100-499
30.1
42.3
39.8
12.9
10.9
500-999
11.7
45.0
38.6
11.6
9.7
1,000 +
90.5
44.1
39.9
14.0
8.4
Industrye
Agriculture
5.3
15.7%
26.9%
30.5%
31.8%
Mining
1.2
35.5
49.2
11.2
9.0
Construction
17.2
25.9
35.4
16.8
26.1
Durable goods
22.5
42.8
43.1
10.2
8.9
Nondurable goods
14.2
40.8
41.4
12.4
11.4
Transportation
17.6
41.4
42.1
11.3
10.6
Wholesale trade
9.4
38.3
42.7
11.8
12.1
Retail trade
30.9
28.4
32.8
21.0
22.7
Finance/insurance
14.5
40.6
42.1
14.8
8.0
3 At the 0.001 level of statistical significance.
4 At the 0.05 level of statistical significance.

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Type of insuranceb
Population
From
From
(in millions)
own jobc
other’s jobc
Otherd
Uninsured
Industrye
Business services
15.9
31.4
33.4
19.4
20.5
Personal services
6.0
22.9
25.9
24.5
31.7
Entertainment
3.3
35.0
34.5
16.4
19.1
Professional serv.
48.2
43.1
38.0
15.2
9.6
Public admin.
12.7
43.0
40.0
25.4
3.9
Labor force attachment
Workers

Full time, full year
98.4
68.9
12.7
9.8
13.3
Part time, full year
7.3
41.4
18.0
21.3
25.2
Full time, part year
15.6
52.0
9.4
17.9
27.3
Part time, part year
6.0
25.6
20.1
29.9
30.2
Dependentsa
Full time, full year
79.1
0.0
77.2
18.2
10.7
Part time, full year
3.1
0.0
45.3
40.5
21.6
Full time, part year
7.2
0.0
44.7
44.3
20.0
Part time, part year
2.2
0.0
25.8
63.9
18.4
Not in labor force
24.7
15.9 f
12.5 f
51.9
26.3
Total
243.6
34.6%
35.2%
20.1%
15.8%
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) analysis of data from the March 2001 CPS.
a For dependents, employment characteristics are for the person providing dependent coverage under
employment-based or private insurance. If other coverage, characteristics are from the head of
household or spouse if head not employed.
b People may have more than one source of health insurance.
c Group health insurance through employer or union.
d Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), nongroup health
insurance, veterans coverage, and other government coverage.
e For persons who worked and their dependents.
f Person was retired, disabled, or answered questions inconsistently.
Characteristics of the Uninsured Population under Age 65
People who lack health insurance differ from the population as a whole: They are
more likely to be young adults, poor, Hispanic, or employees in small firms. Figure 1
illustrates selected characteristics of those under age 65 who were uninsured for all of
2000. More than 17% of the uninsured were 19 to 24 years old, even though this age
group represents less than 9% of the under 65 population. For the first time since 1994,
when CRS first began this annual analysis, the percentage of the uninsured who are white
fell below 50%. Also for the first time since 1994, more than three-quarters of the
uninsured were above the poverty level. Still, the poor accounted for 12% of the under
65 population but represented 24% of the uninsured. About 76% of the uninsured were
native citizens, and 27% worked or were dependents of workers in small firms (less than
10 employees). More than half (56%) were full time, full year workers or their
dependents; 27% had less than full time attachment to the labor force; and 17% had no
labor force ties.

























































































































































































































































































































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