The increased rate is at least
in part due to the use of improved survey methods that provided a better
estimate of the number of uninsured than did previous surveys. The change in
methods means it can’t be known for sure whether there has also been an actual
increase in the number of uninsured Utahns since 2011.
Prior to 2011, the Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey that measures key public
health indicators, was conducted with Utahns who own landline telephones. In 2011, the survey methodology was changed
to also include Utahns who use only cell phones. The survey also began utilizing an updated
methodology to weight the data in order for it to more accurately represent
Utah’s population.
Both of these methodology
changes account for the increasing number of Utah households without landline
phones, while also addressing an under-representation of males, adults with less
formal education or lower household income, and racial and ethnic
minorities.
Key findings from the new data
include:
• 56,500 children ages 0-18 years were
uninsured and living below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL),
making them eligible for Utah’s CHIP program.
• 7.9 percent of Utah children ages 0-17 years
(69,600) were without health insurance coverage in 2011.
• Younger adults ages 19-26 years and 27-34
years had the lowest rates of insurance coverage in 2011 than any other age
group.
• Among adults ages 19-64 years who were
employed full time, 13.2 percent were uninsured in 2011, while 26.3 percent of
adults who were employed only part time went without health care
coverage.
• Among self-employed Utahns, 29.1 percent
reported being uninsured in 2011.
“It’s particularly
discouraging to see 56,500 Utah children went without health care coverage last
year when the state’s CHIP program could have helped them,” said UDOH Executive
Director David Patton. “My goal is to help Utahns become the healthiest people
in the nation, and addressing the rate of uninsured Utahns is an important part
of achieving that goal.”
The BRFSS is a household health
survey overseen by the CDC and conducted by individual state health
departments. Additional data on the
estimated number of uninsured Utahns broken down by demographic characteristics
can be found at http://health.utah.gov/opha/publications/2011brfss/Highlights_2011.pdf.
Media
Contact:
Tom Hudachko
Public Information
Officer
(801) 538-6232
(801) 560-4649
