Minorities more likely than others in California to be uninsured, families USA Survey finds

Minorities in California are more likely than others to be uninsured in the last two years, according to a Families USA survey released last week, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The survey found that 53% of Hispanics and 38% of blacks were uninsured between 2007 and 2008, compared with 25% of whites (Lin, Los Angeles Times, 4/3).

Families USA is releasing reports on all 50 states (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 3/31).

About 37% of non-senior Californians went without health insurance for at least one month between 2007 and 2008, and three-fourths of that group were uninsured for at least six months, the Sacramento Bee reports.

According to the survey, 80.2% of uninsured Californians were employed but did not receive health insurance through their jobs (Calvan, Sacramento Bee, 4/3).

Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, said, "Being uninsured is not something that happens to only some people in California," adding, "It is a condition that all of us are faced with the potential of, and that many of us face on a regular basis" (Los Angeles Times, 4/3).

The report is available online (.pdf).