Health Insurance in America AUGUST 2009 Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. No part of this copyrighted work may be reproduced, modified, or distributed in any form or manner without the prior written permission of Experian Information Solutions, Inc.
Americans and Health Insurance Health insurance is a hot topic this summer. There is much discussion in Congress, in town hall meetings, on talk radio and in the press about various health insurance plans offered up by Congress and the Obama Administration. Experian Simmons examined who in the U.S. currently have and don t have health insurance to provide insight into the discussion. In addition, the types of health insurance a consumer owns were reviewed as well as their opinion on various health statements. Let s first review who currently has health insurance* in the United States. * Health insurance consists of health, dental, vision care, or loss of income insurances that are owned. Source: Experian Simmons National Consumer Study/National Hispanic Consumer Study Winter 2009 Full Year Reissue
Three Out of Four Americans are Insured Seventy-four percent (74%) of the American population has health insurance*. Of those who have health insurance, 76 percent are white non-hispanics. 1% 5% Ethnicity 9% 9% White NonHispanic Black NonHispanic Hispanic Asian NonHispanic White Non-Hispanic Black Non-Hispanic Hispanic 109 88 64 76% Other NonHispanic Asian Non-Hispanic 105 Other Non-Hispanic 88 * Health insurance consists of health, dental, vision care, or loss of income insurances that are owned.
Who has health insurance? These charts illustrate the age, employment and marital status of those who are and aren t most likely covered by health insurance. Overall, older and/or retired Americans are most likely to have insurance as they are covered, at minimum, by Medicaid/Medicare. In addition, Americans who are presently married or were widowed are more likely than other Americans to own health insurance. 120 80 60 110 109 Presently married 97 77 78 Widowed Divorced Separated Never married Has health insurance 120 110 90 80 120 80 60 40 91 108 87 Full-Time Part-Time 112 103 51 110 90 64 Retired Temporarily Homemaker Never Unemployed worked Has health insurance 115 Has insurance
Insurance Types Illustrated below are the types of health insurances the various age groups are likely or not likely to own. The chart on the right demonstrates that Americans between the ages of 34 and 54 take advantage of additional health insurance tools like health savings, health reimbursements and flexible spending accounts. 200 150 150 50 50 HMO PPO POS Traditional Coverage 0 Health savings account Health reimbursement account Flexible spending account
Gathering Health Information Unlike younger Americans who prefer to obtain health information from the Internet, older Americans aged 55+ are more likely to gather their health information from their doctor or newsletters. 140 120 80 60 40 I gather health information from my doctor I gather health information from websites I gather health information from newsletters I gather health information from the library
Health and Medicine Attitudinal Statements The age groups attitude towards the health and medicine-related statements vary greatly. However, for the most part, they agree on not seeking help from a doctor or nurse until they re very ill or injured. 150 50 I rarely get sick It's important to go to the doctor when I'm ill I frequently take preventive medicine I don't seek help from doctors or nurses until I'm very sick or injured
Attitudinal Insight to Additional Health and Medicine Statements Different age groups have widely differing attitudes about health. While American s are very likely to actively seek information about nutrition and healthy diet most are not actively eating a well-balanced diet nor exercising regularly suggesting Americans like be informed but don t necessarily put into practice what they learn. 150 50 I'll pay just about anything when it concerns my health I make sure I exercise regularly I am working at eating a wellbalanced diet I have regular medical check-ups even when I'm not ill I actively seek information about nutrition and healthy diet
Thank You! For more information, please email SimmonsMarketing@experian.com or call 212.471.2850 Experian and the marks used herein are service marks or registered trademarks of Experian Information Solutions, Inc. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. No part of this copyrighted work may be reproduced, modified, or distributed in any form or manner without the prior written permission of Experian Information Solutions, Inc.