Order Code 96-891 EPW
Updated August 30, 2006
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Health Insurance Coverage:
Characteristics of the Insured and
Uninsured Populations in 2005
Chris L. Peterson
Specialist in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division
Summary
In 2005, 46.6 million people in the United States had no health insurance — an
increase of approximately 1.3 million people, compared to 2004. The percentage of
people covered by job-based coverage has dropped annually since 2000. Whether the
uninsurance rate rose in response depended on how much of the decrease in job-based
coverage was offset by increases in public coverage. Unlike some previous years, public
coverage rates did not increase significantly between 2004 and 2005, and the
uninsurance rate rose significantly, to 15.9% in 2005 from 15.6% in 2004. Mostly
because of Medicare, 1% of those 65 and older were uninsured in 2005; among the
nonelderly, 17.9% were uninsured. More than half of the nonelderly uninsured were
full-time, full-year workers or their family. Young adults were more likely to be
uninsured than any other age group. More than one of three of those who claimed
Hispanic ethnicity were uninsured, the highest of the racial/ethnic categories. This
report examines characteristics of insured and uninsured people. It will be updated in
fall of 2007.
Health Insurance and Population Characteristics
Age. Table 1 provides a breakdown of health insurance coverage by type of
insurance and age. In 2005, compared to other age groups, those under age 5 had the
highest rates of coverage in Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP), or some other program for low-income individuals (32%). Young adults ages
19 to 24 were the most likely to have gone without health insurance in 2005. While most
in this age group (53%) were covered under an employment-based plan, 33% had no
health insurance. Young adults are often too old to be covered as dependents on their
parents’ policies and, as entry-level workers, do not have strong ties to the work force.
Some may also feel that they are in good health and choose to remain uninsured, spending
their money on other items. Of those 65 and over, 95% were covered by Medicare, and
1% were uninsured. The remainder of this report focuses on the nonelderly population.
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

CRS-2
Table 1. Health Insurance Coverage by
Type of Insurance and Age, 2005
Type of Insurancea
Medicaid Military/
Uninsured
Population Employment Private
or Other Veterans
Age
(millions)
Basedb
Nongroup Medicare
Publicc
Coverage Percent
Millions
Under 5
20.4
57.0%
4.8%
0.9%
31.9%
3.3%
10.8%
2.2
5-18
57.5
63.5%
5.6%
0.7%
24.1%
3.0%
11.9%
6.8
19-24
24.0
53.1%
5.6%
0.7%
11.2%
3.1%
32.6%
7.8
25-34
39.5
60.7%
5.7%
1.4%
8.7%
2.7%
26.4%
10.4
35-54
85.9
70.3%
7.1%
2.9%
6.9%
2.9%
17.0%
14.6
55-61
23.3
69.1%
9.4%
7.0%
7.3%
5.9%
13.5%
3.2
62-64
7.7
61.6%
12.3%
14.0%
8.2%
7.1%
13.8%
1.1
65+
35.5
36.2%
27.2%
95.0%
9.6%
7.4%
1.3%
0.5
Total
293.8
60.9%
9.1%
13.7%
13.0%
3.8%
15.9%
46.6
Source: CRS analysis of data from the March 2006 Current Population Survey (CPS).
a. People may have more than one source of coverage; percentages may total to more than 100.
b. Group health insurance through current or former employer or union. Excludes military and veterans
coverage.
c. Nonmilitary. Includes State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and other state programs for
low-income individuals.
Other Demographic Characteristics. Table 2 shows the rate of health
insurance coverage by type of insurance and selected demographic characteristics —
race/ethnicity, family type, region, poverty level and citizenship — for people under age
65
. In 2005, whites were least likely to be uninsured (13%), while Hispanics were most
likely (34%). The rate of employment-based health coverage was highest among whites
(72%), and the rate of public coverage was highest among blacks (27%).1
People residing in two-parent families were most likely to have employment-based
health insurance (73%) and least likely to be uninsured (13%). People in a family headed
by a single mother were most likely to have public coverage (40%), compared to other
family types, while people in a family headed by a single father were most likely to be
uninsured (26%). Although people in single-father families were more likely to have
employment-sponsored health insurance than those in single-mother families, that
difference was eclipsed by the higher rates of public coverage in single-mother families.
People were less likely to be uninsured if they lived in the Midwest (14%) or the
Northeast (14%) than if they lived in the South (21%) or West (20%). Employment-based
health insurance covered 71% of people in the Midwest and 69% in the Northeast,
compared to 61% in the South and 60% in the West.
1 “Public coverage” includes Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP) and any other health insurance program for low-income individuals, but excludes
military and veterans coverage. Hispanics may be of any race. In this report, whites, blacks and
Asians are those who are non-Hispanic and report only one race. Among non-Hispanics,
individuals who report any other single race (e.g., American Indian) or multiple races are
categorized as “other.”

CRS-3
Among individuals with incomes at least two times the poverty level, 12% went
without health insurance compared to 34% of the poor (i.e., those with incomes below the
poverty level). Only 19% of the poor received health coverage through employment, and
47% had public coverage. Of people with incomes at least two times the poverty level,
79% were covered through an employer, and only 6% had public coverage.
Non-citizens were more likely to be uninsured than people born with U.S. citizenship
(i.e., “native”) — 45% versus 15%, respectively. Non-citizens accounted for 8% of the
population under 65 but were 20% of the uninsured. About 41% of non-citizens were
covered through employment, compared to 67% of native citizens.
Table 2. Health Insurance Coverage by Type of Insurance and
Demographic Characteristics for People Under Age 65, 2005
Type of Insurancea
Population
Employment
Uninsured
(millions)
Basedb
Publicc
Otherd
Percent
Millions
Race/ethnicity
White
167.2
72.1%
10.9%
11.0%
13.1%
22.0
Black
32.7
52.1%
27.3%
7.8%
20.8%
6.8
Hispanic
40.9
42.4%
22.4%
5.8%
34.3%
14.0
Asian
11.3
66.7%
9.1%
11.3%
19.2%
2.2
Other
6.3
57.0%
22.3%
10.7%
19.1%
1.2
Family type
Two parents
113.5
72.5%
12.1%
9.7%
12.8%
14.5
Single dad with
children
8.1
51.4%
21.5%
7.8%
25.9%
2.1
Single mom
with children
31.7
41.4%
39.8%
5.5%
20.4%
6.5
No children
105.0
63.4%
10.1%
11.2%
22.0%
23.0
Region
Northeast
47.1
69.4%
15.8%
7.1%
14.0%
6.6
Midwest
57.3
70.7%
13.9%
8.5%
13.5%
7.7
South
93.3
60.6%
15.1%
10.8%
21.1%
19.6
West
60.7
60.0%
15.2%
11.5%
20.1%
12.2
Income-to-poverty ratioe
Less than 100%
33.3
18.6%
46.6%
6.7%
34.0%
11.3
100%-149%
21.3
34.0%
33.0%
8.0%
31.9%
6.8
150%-199%
23.1
48.3%
21.4%
9.6%
28.3%
6.5
200%+
179.8
78.6%
6.0%
10.6%
11.8%
21.3
Citizenship
Native
226.6
66.5%
15.6%
10.0%
15.2%
34.4
Naturalized
11.1
64.4%
9.0%
10.4%
21.7%
2.4
Non-Citizens
20.6
40.5%
11.8%
6.3%
45.3%
9.4
Total
258.3
64.3%
15.0%
9.8%
17.9%
46.1
Source: CRS analysis of data from the March 2006 CPS.
a. People may have more than one source of coverage; percentages may total to more than 100.
b. Group health insurance through current or former 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, military or veterans’ coverage.
e. In 2005, the poverty threshold for a family with two adults and two children was $19,806. Approximately
700,000 children are excluded from CPS-based poverty analyses because they are living with a family
to which they are unrelated. These are usually foster children.

CRS-4
Employment Characteristics. For the fifth year in a row, the prevalence of job-
related health insurance fell, to 64% among the nonelderly in 2005. The rate of coverage
from individuals’ own job did not change, but coverage from a family member’s job
dropped significantly between 2004 and 2005. Table 3 shows the rate of health insurance
coverage by the employment characteristics of the primary worker in the family. In 2005,
only 9% of workers in large firms (1,000 or more employees) and their dependents were
uninsured, compared to 35% in small firms (less than 10 employees). People who
reported working in small firms and their dependents accounted for 15% of the under-65
population but 28% of the uninsured. Insurance coverage varied according to industry,
as well. The category of agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting had the highest
proportion of uninsured workers and dependents (35%). Four percent of those associated
with employment in public administration were uninsured, and none of those associated
with employment in the armed forces was uninsured.
Table 3. Health Insurance Coverage by Employment
Characteristicsa for People Under Age 65, 2005
Type of Insuranceb
Population
From
From
Uninsured
(millions)
Own Jobc
Other’s Jobc
Otherd
Percent
Millions
People in families with a
workere

220.3
35.5%
36.4%
19.6%
16.9%
37.3
Firm sizea, e
Under 10
37.9
19.4%
18.6%
33.0%
34.6%
13.1
10-24
19.3
29.3%
27.0%
22.0%
27.5%
5.3
25-99
28.0
36.1%
33.7%
18.8%
19.1%
5.4
100-499
30.1
39.4%
41.1%
15.4%
12.8%
3.9
500-999
13.1
40.8%
44.4%
13.4%
10.4%
1.4
1,000 +
91.9
41.3%
43.8%
16.1%
9.0%
8.3
Industrya, e
Agriculture, forestry,
fishing, and hunting
2.9
15.5%
20.1%
33.1%
35.0%
1.0
Arts, entertainment,
recreation, food
services, accomm.
14.4
25.0%
19.0%
27.7%
34.2%
4.9
Construction
20.1
23.8%
27.5%
21.3%
33.0%
6.6
Other services
8.9
25.6%
24.1%
27.6%
28.8%
2.6
Wholesale, retail trade
29.8
35.6%
32.6%
20.5%
19.0%
5.7
Professional,
management,
administrative services
21.3
33.4%
34.1%
21.0%
19.3%
4.1
Transportation, utilities
13.2
35.9%
41.5%
16.5%
14.5%
1.9
Manufacturing
30.9
38.9%
44.9%
13.4%
11.5%
3.6
Mining
1.4
35.1%
48.7%
12.1%
11.5%
0.2
Educational, health, and
social services
42.3
42.3%
39.1%
18.4%
10.0%
4.2
Finance, insurance, real
estate, rental, leasing
15.6
39.5%
42.0%
16.7%
9.7%
1.5
Information
5.6
42.3%
44.7%
12.1%
8.6%
0.5
Public administration
12.1
45.7%
49.4%
12.8%
4.0%
0.5
Armed forces, military
1.8
18.0%
32.0%
99.9%
0.0%
0.0

CRS-5
Type of Insuranceb
Population
From
From
Uninsured
(millions)
Own Jobc
Other’s Jobc
Otherd
Percent
Millions
Labor force attachmenta, e
Full time, full year
177.0
37.5%
39.8%
16.4%
14.6%
25.8
Full time, part year
23.7
30.5%
24.7%
29.2%
25.3%
6.0
Part time, full year
11.6
26.7%
23.3%
32.1%
26.1%
3.0
Part time, part year
8.0
20.2%
13.4%
44.1%
30.5%
2.4
People in families with
no worker or policy-

30.9
13.0%f
9.3%
56.0.%
28.7%
8.9
holder does not work e
People with coverage
outside the home

7.1
7.6%
100.0%
19.3%
0.0%
0.0
Total
258.3
32.1%
34.9%
24.0%
17.9%
46.1
Source: CRS analysis of data from the March 2006 CPS.
a. Firm size, industry and labor force attachment reflect the employment characteristics of the primary worker
in families where someone is working. Those characteristics were applied to those individuals’
“dependents” — their spouse and children.
b. People may have more than one source of coverage; percentages may total to more than 100.
c. Group health insurance through current or former employer or union. Excludes military and veterans coverage.
d. Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and other government coverage,
nongroup health insurance, and military and veterans coverage.
e. Excluding those persons with health insurance coverage from outside the home.
f. Nearly 90% of these policyholders (i.e., those who did not work during the year but had employment-based
coverage in their name) were retirees, were ill or disabled, or were at home with the family and probably
received coverage through their former employer.
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 2005.
Approximately 17% of the uninsured were 19 to 24 years old, even though this age group
represents only 9% of the under 65 population.
Although Hispanics were more likely to be uninsured than any other racial or ethnic
group, they made up 30% of the uninsured. Whites (non-Hispanics who report being only
white) were the most numerous racial or ethnic group among the uninsured. More than
half (56%) of the uninsured were full time, full year workers or their spouses and children.
Approximately 19% had no attachment to the labor force.
Three-quarters of the uninsured were above the poverty level. Even though the poor
accounted for only 13% of the under 65 population, they represented 25% of the uninsured.
For the fifth year in a row, more than a quarter of the uninsured were not native-born
citizens (that is, they were either not citizens or were naturalized citizens). To show money
income among the uninsured, the Census Bureau provides estimates of household income
(everyone in the household) and family income (all related people in the household). Many
health policy analysts create “health insurance units” (adults linked only to a spouse and
dependents in the household) for money income among the uninsured. By this measure,
59.1% of the uninsured had income below $25,000 in 2005; 25.4% with income between
$25,000 and $49,999; 8.4% with income between $50,000 and $74,999; 3.2% with income
between $75,000 and $99,999; and 3.9% with income of $100,000 or more.

CRS-6
Figure 1. Characteristics of the Uninsured U.S. Population Under Age 65, 2005 (46.1 million)
AGE
RACE/ETHNICITY
INCOME-TO-POVERTY RATIO
19 - 24
White
17.0%
47.6%
100%-149%
14.8%
Less than 100%
24.7%
25 - 34
5 - 18
22.6%
14.8%
150%-199%
14.2%
Other
Under 5
2.6%
4.8%
Black
Asian
14.8%
4.7%
55 - 64
9.1%
35 - 54
Hispanic
200% or more
31.7%
30.3%
46.3%
FIRM SIZE
TIES TO WORK FORCE
CITIZENSHIP
10 - 24
Less than 10
Native
11.5%
Part time or part year
28.4%
74.5%
24.8%
No worker in family
19.2%
25 - 99
11.6%
100 - 499
8.3%
No worker in family
Non-Citizen
500 - 999
19.2%
20.3%
3.0%
Naturalized
1,000+
Full time, full year
5.2%
18.0%
55.9%
Source: Congressional Research Service analysis of data from the March 2006 Current Population Survey.
Note: Totals may not sum to 100 percent due to rounding. Hispanics may be of any race. In this chart, whites, blacks and Asians are those who are non-Hispanic and report only one race. Among
non-Hispanics, individuals who report any other single race (e.g., American Indian) or multiple races are categorized as “other.” “Firm size” and “ties to work force” reflect the employment characteristics
of the primary worker in families where someone is working. Those characteristics were applied to those individuals’ “dependents” — their spouses and children. Employed policyholders of private
coverage are first to be assigned as primary workers. For those in families without private coverage, persons’ employment characteristics are those of the family head or, if the head is not employed and
the spouse is, the spouse.