Employment And Insurance Coverage In Virginia 2004 Facts At A Glance
In 2004, the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Health Policy and Planning commissioned the State Health Access Data Assistance Center (SHADAC) to conduct the Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, a telephone interview survey of over 4,000 representative households across the state. Results of the just released survey indicate the existence of significant differences in insurance coverage within and across employers for certain types of employees.
While employer-sponsored private insurance is the primary source of health care coverage for nearly three-quarters of Virginia’s adults under age 65, and about 69 percent of all employers in the state offered health insurance to their employees in 2004, significant concerns among uninsured workers and major differences in employee coverage across worker settings remain.
About a quarter of those currently with private insurance are worried they will lose their coverage, and nearly half of the privately insured are concerned they won’t be able to afford continued coverage.
Percentage of Virginians Somewhat or Very Worried about Insurance Status, 2004
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey
Individuals working in small businesses are more likely to be uninsured. Just under a third of very small employers (less than 11 employees) offer health insurance to their workers. Individuals working in companies with less than 50 employees are twice as likely to be uninsured as individuals working in companies with more than 50 employees and four times as likely to be uninsured as individuals working for companies with more than 101 employees.
Health Insurance Offer Rates by Employer Size, Virginia 2004
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey
Low-income employees, temporary and part-time workers, and those working in personal service, agriculture, and retail industries are much less likely to be offered health insurance.
Health Insurance Offer Rates by Employee Income (as % of FPL), 2004
| Federal Poverty Level (FPL) |
Income Range |
Offer Rate |
<100% |
< $18,661.50 |
40.3% |
100-133% |
$18,850-$25,070.50 |
45.8% |
134-150% |
$25,259-$28,275 |
47.6% |
151-200% |
$28,463.50-$37,700 |
64.2% |
201-250% |
$37,888.50-$47,125 |
60.4% |
251-300% |
$47,313.50-$56,550 |
65.2% |
| >300% (reference group) |
>$56,550 |
77.1% |
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey
Income ranges for FPL levels based on data from Federal Register, Vol.
69, No. 30 February 13, 2004 pp 7336-7338.
Health Insurance Offer Rates by Type of Employment and Hours Worked, 2004
| Type of Employment | Offer Rate |
| Permanent (reference group) | 71.6% |
| Temporary | 38.1% |
| Seasonal | 37.4% |
| Hours Worked | Offer Rate |
| <20 | 42.9% |
| 21-30 | 42.1% |
| 31-40 (reference group) | 75.1% |
| 41+ | 69.1% |
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey
Health Insurance Offer Rates by Industry Sector, 2004
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey
The Virginia Department of Health was awarded a State Planning Grant (SPG) in 2003 by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to examine the problem of the uninsured in Virginia, and explore alternatives for expanding health insurance coverage. The 2004 household survey of Virginians was funded by the HRSA SPG. For more information see the SPG project website at: www.insuremorevirginians.org
Lead Agency: Virginia Department of Health, Office of Policy and Planning.
Ms. Rene S. Cabral-Daniels, Director: 804-864-7434.
Technical consultants: Center for Health Policy, Research & Ethics,
George Mason University. Dr. P.J. Maddox: 703-993-1982
Return to The Uninsured in Virginia.
Last Updated: May 4, 2005