Uninsured Americans with Chronic Health Conditions

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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) commissioned researchers Amy Davidoff of the Department of Public Policy of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and Genevieve Kenney, of the Health Policy Center at The Urban Institute, to document the prevalence and impact of selected chronic health conditions among the uninsured.¹ Using the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics' National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), the researchers quantified the number of uninsured adults with chronic conditions, overall and by race and ethnicity, and examined whether they experience gaps in their access to care. Researchers further examined access problems faced by uninsured adults with different chronic health problems. The results are startling. Some highlights:

• Nearly half of all uninsured, non-elderly adults report having a chronic condition.
• Many uninsured adults with chronic conditions do not have a usual source for health care.
• Almost half of uninsured adults with chronic conditions forgo needed medical care or prescription drugs, due to cost.
• Uninsured adults with chronic conditions forgo needed medical care and prescription drugs at much higher rates than their insured counterparts.
• Chronically ill, uninsured adults are far less likely to visit a health professional than their insured counterparts.
• Uninsured adults with common chronic conditions (diabetes, hypertension, arthritis-related conditions, high cholesterol, asthma, and heart disease) suffer serious, identifiable gaps in needed medical care.

This analysis is being released in conjunction with Cover the Uninsured Week 2005, the largest nonpartisan mobilization in history working to ensure affordable and reliable health care coverage for all Americans. The effort is co-chaired by Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and is endorsed by nine former U.S. Surgeons General and U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services, appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents.

RWJF and a diverse group representing some of the most influential organizations in the United States lead the effort. Information can be located at www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.

Notes from this section

1. We are grateful to Emerald Adams, a research assistant at The Urban Institute, who performed all of the tabulations with the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

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