Higher Uninsured Rates in Smaller Cities, Rural Pa., Census Data Show
September 24, 2009
Urban centers and rural communities are home to some of the highest uninsured rates in Pennsylvania, according to data released by the Census Bureau today.
For the first time, the Census released local and regional data on health insurance coverage as part of its American Community Survey. Data was released today only for counties and municipalities with populations of at least 65,000.
Among the state’s largest cities, Reading and Allentown had the highest uninsured rates – even higher than Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In terms of sheer numbers, Philadelphia was home to the largest number of uninsured people in the state – with one in six uninsured Pennsylvanians coming from the city.
|
Municipality |
Uninsured |
% Uninsured |
Host County |
Uninsured |
% Uninsured |
|
Allentown |
19,229 |
17.1% |
Lehigh |
36,272 |
10.9% |
|
Erie |
13,141 |
13.4% |
Erie |
27,280 |
10.0% |
|
Philadelphia |
200,243 |
14.1% |
Philadelphia |
200,243 |
14.1% |
|
Pittsburgh |
30,127 |
10.3% |
Allegheny |
92,384 |
7.7% |
|
Reading |
14,020 |
17.5% |
Berks |
32,276 |
8.1% |
|
Scranton |
8,153 |
11.7% |
Lackawanna |
17,833 |
8.7% |
|
Upper Darby Township |
11,084 |
13.8% |
Delaware |
43,615 |
8.0% |
Source. U.S. Census, American Community Survey, 2008
Insurance Coverage by Age Group: Access a table detailing insurance coverage in the above municipalities by age group.Among the 39 counties in Pennsylvania for which data was released, several rural communities saw high uninsured rates, as well. Crawford, Lawrence and Lancaster counties were home to some of the highest uninsured rates in 2008 – after Philadelphia County – while suburban Bucks, Montgomery, Butler and Northampton counties had among the lowest rates.
|
Insurance Coverage in Selected Pennsylvania Counties, 2008 |
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|
Geography |
Number of Uninsured |
% of Population Uninsured |
Number with Private Health Insurance |
% of Population with Private Coverage |
Number with Public Health Insurance |
% of Population with Public Coverage |
|
United States |
45,080,009 |
15.1% |
207,809,342 |
69.6% |
76,193,967 |
25.5% |
|
Pennsylvania |
1,151,611 |
9.4% |
9,349,635 |
76.6% |
3,309,958 |
27.1% |
|
Adams County |
8,842 |
8.9% |
79,121 |
79.5% |
25,123 |
25.2% |
|
Allegheny County |
92,384 |
7.7% |
949,198 |
79.0% |
330,295 |
27.5% |
|
Armstrong County |
7,124 |
10.5% |
48,348 |
71.2% |
25,179 |
37.1% |
|
Beaver County |
13,532 |
7.9% |
129,866 |
76.2% |
53,335 |
31.3% |
|
Berks County |
32,276 |
8.1% |
312,447 |
78.4% |
103,433 |
26.0% |
|
Blair County |
10,235 |
8.4% |
89,784 |
73.4% |
42,034 |
34.3% |
|
Bucks County |
36,354 |
5.9% |
528,862 |
86.5% |
117,596 |
19.2% |
|
Butler County |
11,935 |
6.6% |
150,546 |
83.6% |
41,929 |
23.3% |
|
Cambria County |
12,179 |
8.7% |
103,589 |
73.8% |
49,482 |
35.3% |
|
Centre County |
9,837 |
7.0% |
121,091 |
85.9% |
25,604 |
18.2% |
|
Chester County |
33,838 |
7.0% |
423,198 |
87.0% |
80,698 |
16.6% |
|
Clearfield County |
9,457 |
12.3% |
51,126 |
66.3% |
26,995 |
35.0% |
|
Columbia County |
6,349 |
9.8% |
49,416 |
76.6% |
17,617 |
27.3% |
|
Crawford County |
12,425 |
14.4% |
57,594 |
66.7% |
28,761 |
33.3% |
|
Cumberland County |
18,018 |
8.1% |
187,921 |
84.4% |
49,415 |
22.2% |
|
Dauphin County |
24,238 |
9.6% |
197,035 |
77.7% |
65,621 |
25.9% |
|
Delaware County |
43,615 |
8.0% |
444,262 |
81.7% |
117,433 |
21.6% |
|
Erie County |
27,280 |
10.0% |
193,562 |
70.9% |
87,435 |
32.0% |
|
Fayette County |
17,233 |
12.4% |
87,304 |
62.8% |
55,508 |
39.9% |
|
Franklin County |
16,867 |
12.1% |
107,372 |
77.1% |
36,055 |
25.9% |
|
Indiana County |
8,676 |
10.1% |
67,321 |
78.4% |
23,030 |
26.8% |
|
Lackawanna County |
17,833 |
8.7% |
157,493 |
76.9% |
61,140 |
29.8% |
|
Lancaster County |
65,138 |
13.1% |
375,112 |
75.6% |
114,876 |
23.2% |
|
Lawrence County |
11,521 |
13.0% |
61,336 |
69.3% |
29,184 |
33.0% |
|
Lebanon County |
12,145 |
9.6% |
98,189 |
77.8% |
32,992 |
26.1% |
|
Lehigh County |
36,272 |
10.9% |
249,250 |
74.6% |
90,206 |
27.0% |
|
Luzerne County |
26,089 |
8.5% |
231,560 |
75.8% |
96,076 |
31.4% |
|
Lycoming County |
9,301 |
8.2% |
86,175 |
76.0% |
34,927 |
30.8% |
|
Mercer County |
10,291 |
9.1% |
83,557 |
74.0% |
37,053 |
32.8% |
|
Monroe County |
19,016 |
11.6% |
124,934 |
76.1% |
37,870 |
23.1% |
|
Montgomery County |
48,247 |
6.3% |
658,264 |
86.5% |
139,586 |
18.3% |
|
Northampton County |
19,743 |
6.8% |
241,121 |
83.3% |
66,319 |
22.9% |
|
Northumberland County |
9,268 |
10.6% |
63,963 |
73.1% |
28,035 |
32.0% |
|
Philadelphia County |
200,243 |
14.1% |
874,837 |
61.4% |
492,846 |
34.6% |
|
Schuylkill County |
11,939 |
8.5% |
108,439 |
77.1% |
43,362 |
30.8% |
|
Somerset County |
8,376 |
11.3% |
52,704 |
71.3% |
25,027 |
33.9% |
|
Washington County |
18,944 |
9.3% |
158,261 |
77.8% |
57,159 |
28.1% |
|
Westmoreland County |
28,655 |
8.2% |
274,317 |
78.1% |
103,754 |
29.5% |
|
York County |
37,545 |
9.0% |
337,353 |
80.7% |
94,939 |
22.7% |
|
Data Source. U.S. Census, American Community Survey (ACS), 2008 |
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|
Note: Only counties with 65,000 or more people are currently available from ACS. Data for smaller counties will be made available in October 2009. |
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More Specific County-Level Data
Under Age 18: Access a table detailing county-level insurance coverage for Pennsylvanians under age 18 Adults Age 18-64: Access a table detailing county-level insurance coverage for adult Pennsylvanians age 18 to 64
Seniors Age 65 & Older: Access a table detailing county-level insurance coverage for Pennsylvanian seniors 65 and older
The numbers underscore the failure of our health insurance system and the urgent need for Congress to enact health care reform.
Statewide, 1.15 million Pennsylvanians, or 9.4% of the population, lacked health insurance in 2008, according to the data. The state has a smaller share of uninsured people than the Northeastern United States (10.2%) and the nation as a whole (15.1%).
One reason Pennsylvania does better than the nation and the region is because the state is home to a large population of senior citizens who receive health coverage through Medicare. Pennsylvania’s comprehensive Children’s Health Insurance Program also provides a health care option for children from low- and middle-income families who might go uninsured in other states.
Additionally, Pennsylvania has a high rate of employer-provided health insurance, although the rate has been steadily declining over the past decade. Pennsylvania’s long history of unionization has made it more likely that workers will get good health benefits here compared to similar jobs in other states.
Today’s Census release provided data for Pennsylvania’s 39 largest counties and the seven largest municipalities. Data on health insurance are also available by congressional district and metropolitan statistical area, among other geographies. Additional data for cities and counties with populations less than 65,000 will be released on October 27.
