Employer Health Insurance Levels Drop to Precipitous, Historic Lows
While the American health insurance system is considered the worst in the Western world, it used to be most people were eligible for some kind of coverage through their workplace, spouse or other circumstances.
Now it seems the most traditional form of coverage- employer health insurance- is dropping sharply and the trend of no-coverage jobs is only expected to increase as health insurance costs skyrocket. A Gallup poll indicates that employer health insurance coverage is becoming far less common than it was in the US in recent years, plummeting to 44.5% of Americans with employer health insurance in the third quarter of 2011.
Per the Gallup poll, a staggering 17.3% of Americans have no health insurance, while 25.1% are covered by a government insurance plan of some description. 11.4% of Americans reported “something else” as their health insurance situation. More than 48% of US citizens had employer health insurance as recently as 2008, while about 15% were uninsured and 23% were covered by the government.
One group of people has benefited from laws enacted to cover a greater swath of Americans at the start of President Obama’s term- the provision expanding coverage for adult children of insured parents up to the age of 26 means that fewer young adults are going without health insurance since the bill was passed. As none of the bill’s other major provisions have taken affect, people over the age of 26 are seeing less benefit so far. Gallup says:
“None of the other components of the health law that have already been implemented—tax credits to help small businesses provide health insurance to their employees and the establishment of a preexisting-condition insurance plan among several others—appear to be affecting coverage for older adults.”
The poll included more than 90,000 Americans in all of the 50 states as well as Washington, DC.
Tags : employer health insurance, employer health insurance coverage, employer health insurance drops, employer health insurance poll, gallup, washington dc
Posted: November 12, 2011
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Nov 13, 2011
Wow, only 44.5% of Americans with employer health insurance in the third quarter of 2011. So millions of americans are losing coverage since Obamacare Was enacted. So much for "reform".
Nov 13, 2011
Craig, Obamacare hasn't been put into place yet, hence the low level of insured people in America.
Nov 13, 2011
James Johnson Sorry bro you're wrong, many parts of Obamacare are already being implemented, mandatory coverage for 26 and under, mandatory coverage for children, health insurance premiums jumping 9% this year, Hospitals closing and insurers leaving states due to Obamacare.
Nov 13, 2011
There can be a difference between what you and a health insurance company consider healthy. Some insurers will say that you have a health condition if you smoke, are overweight, are taking prescriptions, or had a medical condition in the past. If this describes you, you may want to search and read "Penny Health" on the web.
Nov 13, 2011
Craig Casey Under the Bush administration the average family premium went from $5,791 in 1999 to $12,680 in 2009. It's not ObamaCare (which won't be mostly enacted until 2014 (checks and balance rules and base line rules have only been enacted. It's the horrible health system that has snowballed out of control. BTW, most states have required child healthcare for years and the 26-year-old rule you are talking about ALLOWS people up to 26-years-old to be covered under their parents plan it does not require them to have insurance at this time (because of the down economy it means masters students just getting out of school still have coverage until they find jobs along with college students.
Nov 13, 2011
I should say I'm not blaming Bush for the increases, again it's all the system and it's completely backwards setup. I had sinus surgery that cost $35,000 on paper, when I submitted my insurance the hospital dropped the amount requested to my insurance company to just $15,800 and I had to pay $2300 (or in that vicinity). How backwards is it that someone with insurance ends up with a much smaller bill ($15,800) but if I didn't have insurance they would want the full $35,000 that many people wouldn't be able to pay.
I'm sure we'll disagree on whether the plan will or won't work so that's pointless to argue (other than the child and 26-year-old aspect which I believe you just misread),but I think we can agree that reform needs to be undertaken in some way to fix our horrendously bad medical system.
Nov 13, 2011
James Johnson I agree the system needs REAL reform. Which is not Obamacare. Whatever happened under Bush is irrelevant. Bush did not promise: “my proposal would bring down the cost of health care for millions." Obama made that promise. But like many other lies, it was only spoken to get Obamacare passed. For profit hospitals do charge high negotiated rates, often 700% higher on the uninsured. That's Why it's important to avoid them if possible. Here is a timeline to show you what has been implemented in Obamacare, If you are unfamiliar with the law: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=36281