Lack of health insurance plagues Montanans

Health care spending in Montana topped $4 billion in 2003, a spending level the represents 16% of the state's gross domestic product. In spite of this high level of health care spending, 19% of the state's population did not have any kind of health insurance - public or private. Lack of ad...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Montana business quarterly 2004-03, Vol.42 (1), p.26
Main Authors: Seninger, Stephen F, Herling, Daphne
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Disadvantages
Employees
Employers
Finance
Health care expenditures
Health insurance
Health insurance industry
Insurance coverage
Rates
Social conditions & trends
Statistical data
Statistics
User statistics
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Summary:Health care spending in Montana topped $4 billion in 2003, a spending level the represents 16% of the state's gross domestic product. In spite of this high level of health care spending, 19% of the state's population did not have any kind of health insurance - public or private. Lack of adequate health care represents a serious under-investment in Montana's most important asset: people, workers, families, and children. The 19% uninsured population is not necessarily by choice. Ninety percent of the uninsured reported being unable to buy health insurance after they paid for their food, clothing, and shelter. The uninsured rate for Montana's non-elderly population is 22% statewide and showed considerable variation over different regions. Young Montanans aged 19 to 25 are twice as likely to be uninsured as the average Monatanan, a serious deficiency for young people entering Montana's workforce.
ISSN:0026-9921