Indicator 12: Health Insurance
Rationale: Health insurance coverage is important because it increases the likelihood that people will get the preventive care and treatment they need to stay healthy. People without insurance may incur huge expenses if they need medical care.
About this indicator: The 2009 American Community Survey showed 91 percent of Minnesotans had some form of health insurance. 2008 was the first year health insurance coverage was included in the ACS. Overall coverage rates have not changed much, but with the slumping economy more people are using public health insurance.
Percent of Minnesotans with health insurance
| Year | Data |
|---|---|
| Percent of Minnesotans with health insurance, American Community Survey | |
| 2008 | 87% |
| 2009 | 91% |
For comparison: Minnesota had the seventh-highest rate of health insurance coverage in the American Community Survey, but differences among states are not always significant.
The Current Population Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau also asks about health insurance coverage. In 2009, 91.2 percent of Minnesotans had health insurance coverage, with a margin of error of 0.7 percent. The national average was 83.3 percent.
The Minnesota Health Care Access Survey conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health is an alternative measure of health insurance coverage. Preliminary results from the 2009 Health Care Access Survey found that 9.1 percent of Minnesotans did not have health care coverage.
Sources:
- U.S. Bureau of the Census, http://www.census.gov/
- Minnesota Health Care Access Survey, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hep/
Related 2002 Milestones indicator:
Local data:
Milestones is a product of the Minnesota State Demographic Center, a division of the Department of Administration