Examining state-level variations in health insurance coverage, 2005-2006

This study analyzes the relationship between health characteristics, geographic indicators and percentage uninsured by state for the United States in 2005 and 2006. Health insurance data were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE), which provided information on health insurance coverage at the state level and for the District of Columbia (N=51 per year). These aggregated data included residents ages 65 and younger, and were broken down by race-ethnicity status and relationship to the poverty threshold. Data on health characteristics was compiled from the United Health Foundation's America's Health Rankings website. Health characteristics included self-reported current health status, average number of poor physical health days in past month, premature death rate, and public health funding. Geographic data included state population, Census region and Census division. Data were analyzed using spatial visualization, descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and analysis of variance. Preliminary analyses reveal that statistically significant differences in percent uninsured for everyone age 65 and under exist across census region and certain census divisions, and that health status, average number of ill days, and premature death rate are highly correlated with percent uninsured across both years. Similar results emerge when examining differences in race-ethnicity and at two times the poverty threshold. Findings indicate that these variables should be taken seriously when examining health insurance disparities. Future research is needed to aid policy makers in addressing these factors contributing to unequal access to health insurance across states.