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Access to Health Care in Washington
As costs continue to skyrocket, hard working Washington residents are losing their health care coverage at an alarming rate -- 79 percent of Washington's uninsured come from a working family. The number of people who don't have insurance in Washington has increased since 1999, from 12.8% of the population to 14.2% of the population.
 Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
Working Families
Nearly 8 out of 10 Washingtonians without insurance have at least one worker at home, largely because health care costs are increasing faster than wages, and have been since 1999. If this trend continues, as expected, more and more working families will be unable to afford coverage.
Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
Temporarily Unemployed
The unemployment rate in Washington has increased from an average of 5.2 percent in 2000 to 7.3 percent in December 2003-and Washington now ranks 49th in the nation. As policymakers consider how to help newly unemployed workers and reinvigorate the overall economy, it is important that policies be put in place to ensure that workers do not lose their health insurance as well as their jobs.
Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
Small Businesses and the Self-Employed
We are an economy that relies heavily on entrepreneurs and small businesses-96% of businesses in Washington are classified as small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. But since small businesses and the self-employed aren't able to purchase insurance as cheaply as large corporations, rising health costs are making it increasingly difficult for them to afford basic health coverage for their employees and their families.
Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
The Uninsured
More than 74 million Americans were uninsured for all or part of 2001-2002 -- that's nearly one-third of all Americans under age 65. In Washington, more than 850,000 residents, or 14.2% of the population went without health care for some part of the last year. Because the cost of health care keeps rising out of control, being uninsured can happen to any of us. And when it does happen, it means our families are more likely to either forego needed medical care, or experience severe financial hardship trying to afford it.
Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
Retirees and Seniors
Skyrocketing prescription drug costs, which are not covered under Medicare, are devastating to seniors living on a fixed income. In addition, while people over age 65 are covered through Medicare, many older Americans age 55-64 face difficulties accessing affordable insurance, especially when a spouse dies, retires or becomes eligible for Medicare.
Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
People of Color
People of color in the U.S., particularly Black and Hispanic Americans, are uninsured at higher rates than their white counterparts, are more likely to work for an employer that does not offer affordable health coverage, and as a result, generally have more health problems and die younger.
Get the Facts—The Health Insurance Crisis Impacts All of Us
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