Overview

The number of people without health insurance has increased steadily since the beginning of the century, now totaling about 47 million Americans.   Most Americans obtain health insurance coverage through their employers.  With the cost of health insurance outpacing inflation and wage increases, more employers are opting out of the market.  Family incomes have not kept pace with health care inflation making non-group coverage unaffordable for most low-income families.  Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program help to fill in the coverage gap for millions, especially children.

This public policy issue is getting the attention of legislatures across the country.  Medicaid and sky rocketing uncompensated care costs are straining state and federal budgets.  State policymakers are asking important questions: where does the burden of coverage lie?  Is health insurance a personal responsibility?  Should employers be the main source of America's coverage?  Or is access to health care a right of citizenship and the government's responsibility?  Can the health care safety net withstand the strain of the growing number of uninsured?  Policymakers are responding to these questions with varying kinds of legislation.

NCSL offer legislators information on the following Access to Health Care and the Uninsured topic areas:

• Increasing Access and Community Health Centers
• Health Disparities
• Health Reform
• Insuring Children
• Increasing Employer-Sponsored Insurance
• Medicaid
• And, other resources including Disease Management