8.4 million Californians lack health coverage as the ranks of the uninsured swell, study finds

The number of Californians who lost jobs and health insurance probably increased in every county last year, according to a study released Monday by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

The new analysis found that 37 counties -- including Imperial, Kern and Shasta -- had uninsured rates above the statewide average of 24.3%.

"Different parts of the state were more adversely impacted than others, but really it is spread across the state," said one of the study's authors, Shana Alex Lavarreda, the center's director of health insurance studies.

"You have counties from Kern to Shasta that were hit very hard with averages over what we saw in Los Angeles," she added.

The report backs up the findings of a previous study the center released in March that showed nearly one in four Californians lack health insurance. According to the latest estimates, the state's uninsured population has reached 24.3%, or about 8.4 million, up from 6.4 million in 2007.

Among the hardest-hit areas were counties in Southern California, the San Joaquin Valley and the Northern Sierras, according to the report. In Los Angeles County, 28.9% of residents were uninsured for all or part of last year, the largest number of uninsured residents of any county in the state.

That is compared with 32.7% uninsured in Shasta County, 22.9% in San Diego County, 17.6% in Sacramento County and 15% in Alameda County, according to the report.

Researchers estimated the county uninsured rates based on data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, last year's county unemployment and household income data and county-level Medi-Cal and Healthy Families public health insurance enrollment data from 2007 to 2009.

Areas with high rates and numbers of uninsured tended to be those that experienced sharp increases in local unemployment and corresponding drops in both household income and job-based coverage, Lavarreda said.

On the flip side, areas that did not see a lot of massive layoffs, like the Bay Area, had fewer uninsured, she said.

"Our system is still based on job-based coverage and if you don't lose the jobs, you're a lot better off," Lavarreda said, adding that many areas that experienced unemployment increases did not see a corresponding increase in public insurance, even though many of those who lost their jobs became eligible for the public programs.

"Many people just don't understand how the system works if they don’t get coverage through their job," she said.

The study notes that the major elements of national healthcare reform legislation aimed at helping middle- and lower-income families will not take effect until 2014, including the expansion of Medi-Cal and federal subsidies for purchasing health insurance through a state-based exchange.

Lavarreda stressed that policymakers need to come up with solutions to caring for the uninsured in the interim.

"The depths of the recession outstripped healthcare policy," she said. "It felt like they were moving very quickly, but people need more help now."

-- Molly Hennessy-Fiske

Comments

[The Booger]

Healthcare legislation is a wash. Fix the economy first-worry about healthcare second.

[Wade]

And if "Meg" has her way, there will be 20T more uninsured. Does she really believe that the 20T State jobs she wants to eliminate will be replaced by better private sector jobs? But why should she care; she won't have to worry about medical insurance for the rest of her life.

[geez]

""Many people just don't understand how the system works if they don’t get coverage through their job," she said."

exactly opposite; why to pay for something if you can get IT for FREE!
recently my friend had emergency problem and need surgery in LA and "nice and friendly" people working at that hospital tried to help to him how to file fraudulent paperwork to get everything for free..he decided to pay

[Dan]

Illegal aliens don't have insurance. Why should they buy it when we pay for them?

[More to the Story]

"Lavarreda stressed that policymakers need to come up with solutions to caring for the uninsured in the interim."

Sorry, the Republicans won't let that happen. Just 'cause you're out of work, losing your house and can't afford healthcare is no reason for billionaires to give up the extra tax breaks they bought for themselves the last time Republicans were in power. There's only so much money to go around, and if we have to choose between letting working people die in the streets or updating the Bentley, well, c'mon, first things first.

[Joe]

And by a strange coincidence the majority of people who lack insurance also lack an American passport. And this one is a real head-scratcher: the majority of people who lack insurance also have 5 or more kids (the number of kids with the same last name as the mother is undetermined at this time).

[John Leddy]

It was always a tremendous policy mistake by Obama to put off the major benefits of health care reform until 2014. Americans need those benefits yesterday not 4 years from tomorrow. It was bad enough that the Democrats caved on the public option but they really shot themselves in the foot on this one.

[John]

For those who currently had health insurance may find themselves unable to afford it soon as premium are sky-rocketing.

[robert]

can we know how many of these 'californians' are legal citizens / residents and how many are undocumented illegal aliens ?

if i were a democrat politician in sacramento, having been in power as long as i have, i'd be ashamed of my record of driving up taxes, driving out business and driving up unemployment to the point where 23% of the population can't afford medical insurance or elect to not purchase coverage because they know they can just show up at emergency and the taxpayer will pick up the tab.

now that isn't just unfair...that's immoral...and certainly doesn't look like the party that is supposed to be the 'caring' party.

[Tigerloose]

Just because they lack insurance doesn't mean they don't get health care. It just means they don't have to pay for it. If they can't afford insurance they certainly can't afford health care.

[True Freedom]

@MoreToTheStory: A family with kids earning over $250K will get pounded by the tax increases, so this is hardly limited to "billionaires." Actually, I think we ought to require proof-of-medical insurance when buying a iPod, flatscreen, Escalade, etc. Sure, there are some people who are really hurting and lose their insurance, but if you had insurance and lost your job.. you can go on COBRA for something like two years and remain covered. I personally know a dozen people who are currently uninsured. ALL of them could be insured, but they choose to spend their money on other things.. hedging their bets with the knowledge that if something really bad happens, the state will pick up the bill or the hospital will chalk the non-payment up to a loss.

[gto]

@Dan Where does it mention illegal aliens? Stop trying to spread hatred, or at least take it to a relevant article.

[altalks21]

California still needs to follow Oregon's lead and pass a measure like their Measure 66, to help pay for state services and education.

[Bud Good]

8.4 million that's a is disgrace for a state that is considered the 8th strongest economic power of the world.
Next time , lets not elect the half wit with the cute smile & pretty face.
Perhaps someone with a plan would be a nice change.

[J.D. Marti]

Health Net raised my rates by 200.00 this month for no reason I can't afford it it and I'll soon be uninsured someone needs to regulate these guys. They are no better than the mortgage thieves or the enron thieves

[Prescott Bush]

This is why I will not vote for the US Representative to 44th District. He has been in DC for 6 years. High unemployment, High healthcar. Time to get a real Representative to Washington.

[Xenu]

@ True Freedom and others - You completely miss that point that basically anyone with a pre-existing condition cannot, for almost any amount of money, purchase an insurance plan in California right now. Only completely healthy people could affordably purchase any kind of coverage. Unlike Massachusetts, California does not currently have any law in place than bans private, for-profit insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. If you have something like Multiple Sclerosis, Type 1 (Juvenile onset) Diabetes, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chrons Disease, etc. then you cannot, in the state of California, independently purchase a private plan. None of these companies will sell you a policy for any price. So yes---people can afford an iPod. Why? Because Cigna, Wellpoint, Aetna et al. will absolutely refuse to cover anyone with a pre-existing condition. If you're already sick and are either unemployed or don't get coverage through your job in CA, you are screwed.

[kuruc]

the shasta county uninsured are mostly american citizens, the la county uninsured are mostly illegals. hey hospitals and doctors, send the bill to the mexican consulate. if the consulate wont pay, close it down. the same applies to el salvador, guatemala, honduras, et al.