One-Fifth of Nonelderly Californians Do Not Have Access to Job-Based Health Insurance Coverage

Publication Date: November 2010

Publisher: UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

Author(s): Shana Alex Lavarreda; Livier Cabezas

Research Area: Health

Keywords: california; Insurance; Coverage

Type: Report

Coverage: California

Abstract:

Lack of job-based health insurance does not affect just workers, but entire families who depend on job-based coverage for their health care. This policy brief shows that in 2007 one-fifth of all Californians ages 0-64 who lived in households where at least one family member was employed did not have access to job-based coverage. Among adults with no access to job-based coverage through their own or a spouse’s job, nearly two-thirds remained uninsured. In contrast, the majority of children with no access to health insurance through a parent obtained public health insurance, highlighting the importance of such programs. Low-income, Latino and small business employees were more likely to have no access to job-based insurance. Provisions enacted under national health care reform (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010) will aid some of these populations in accessing health insurance coverage.