Household Income 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 by household income.
Much like the U.S. as a whole, the Commonwealth’s low-income population has one of the highest rates of uninsurance. The proportion of families without health insurance living at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is close to or exceeds 20%.
Table 1. ‘Point-in-Time’ Uninsurance Rates for Virginia by Household Income (2004)
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
While statewide ‘point-in-time’ uninsurance rates are significantly higher for Virginia adults than children, uninsurance rates of both adults and children are even higher for those living at or below 200% FPL.
Table 2. ‘Point-in-Time’ Estimate of Uninsurance Rates by Age and Household Income in Virginia (2004)
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, State Health Access Data Assistance Center.
Of both young and older adults who are uninsured, nearly 60 percent reside in lower income households.
Table 3: Uninsured Adults in Virginia by Age and Income
(2004)
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
Young adults can typically be insured at low-cost because they are relatively healthy and infrequently seek health care services. However, this same population is less inclined to purchase health insurance because of their good health and perception that they have a very low risk of being in poor health. This perception and inclination to purchase insurance is only exacerbated with lower income young adults.
Not surprisingly, a higher proportion of uninsured non-whites than uninsured whites are from low-income households.
Table 4: Uninsured in Virginia by Race/Ethnicity and Income (2004)
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
Employment as well as household income are the most influential characteristics in health insurance coverage. Working low-income families typically are uninsured because they have difficulty accessing and affording coverage. Employer health insurance offer rates in Virginia for workers at or below 150% FPL are significantly lower than offer rates for workers above 150% FPL.
Table 5. Employer Health Insurance Offer Rates in Virginia
by Employee Income (as % of FPL) (2004)
Source: 2004 Virginia Health Care Insurance and Access Survey, State Health Access Data Assistance Center
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 6, 2005