Available Data on Alaska’s Uninsured

December 2006

Health Planning & Systems Development UnitOffice of the Commissioner

Alaska Department of Health & Social ServicesPhone: 465-3091

www.hss.state.ak.us/commissioner/Healthplanning

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 2

Who are the Uninsured in Alaska?About 117,000 Alaskans (18% of the population)

have been counted as uninsured in 2005. Young adults, males, and Alaska Natives are

more likely to be uninsured. People who are self-employed, part-time

workers, seasonal workers, and people who work for small firms are most likely to be uninsured.

Most of the uninsured are employed; most uninsured who are not employed are children and others not in the workforce; only one in ten of the uninsured are unemployed people in the workforce.

*Current Population Survey (CPS), US Census Bureau

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 3

Age of the Uninsured in Alaska, 2003-2005 Average

20,000 Uninsured Alaskans are 0-17 21,000 Uninsured Alaskans are 18-24 46,000 Uninsured Alaskans are 25-44 30,000 Uninsured Alaskans are 45-64 800 Uninsured Alaskans are 65 and older

0.60%16.40%

18.60%

38%

26.30%

0-1718-2425-4445-6465+

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 4

Age and Sex of the Uninsured in Alaska, 2003-2005 average

Although 18-24 year olds are about 1/5 of the uninsured, a higher proportion of 18-24 year olds (about 1/3) are uninsured than for any other age group.Males are more likely to be uninsured – The CPS reports 16% of females and nearly 20% of males are uninsured.

05

10152025303540

0-17 18-24 25-44 45-64 65+Age Group

Perc

ent U

nins

ured

female

male

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 6

Percent of Uninsured Alaskans By Household Income level 2003-2005 average

< $5,000

$75,000+

$5,000-$14,999

$15,000-$34,999

$35,000-$74,999

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 7

Health Insurance Coverage of Alaskans, 2003-2004 (Source: www.statehealthfacts.org, Medicaid data from CMS/USDHHS Administrative Data, other from Current Population Survey, US Bureau of the Census)

Coverage Type Percent of Population

Employer 52%

Individual 4%

Medicaid 15%

Medicare 6%

Other Public 5%

Uninsured 18%

Total 100%

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 9

Uninsured Alaskans by Firm Size2004

Less than one-fourth of firms with less than 10 employees offer health insurance to their employees and nearly all firms with more than 100 employees offer some type of health insurance.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

< 10 10-24 25-99 100+

Number of Employees

Don't Offer Insurance

Offer Insurance

Source: MEPS, 2004

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 10

Percent of Private Sector Firms Offering Health Insurance by Industry, 2004

Less than one half of all employers in Alaska offer health insurance.

Professional Services

Mining, Manufacturing

Agriculture, Fishing,

Forestry, Construction

Retail

All Others

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Source: MEPS, 2004

December 2006 akdhss/hpsd 12

Where to Find Information

For links to information about insurance, links to data and research on the uninsured, and information about the State Planning Grant:

www.hss.state.ak.us/commissioner/healthplanning/

planninggrant/default.htm/

Email: infohealthplanning@health.state.ak.usWrite: Health Planning & Systems Development

PO Box 110601 Juneau AK 99811