Health Insurance Profile Indicates Need to Expand Coverage in Rural Areas (Policy Brief)

Date
07/2009
Description

Rural residents-particularly in the most remote rural communities-are in greater need of health reform, as demonstrated by an uninsured rate higher than that of urban residents. The rural-urban disparity in coverage is driven by higher uninsured rates among rural adults, a group that should be part of any strategic effort to improve coverage. This brief provides information on the health insurance status of rural Americans, summarized from a more detailed chartbook. Analyses are based on the 2004-05 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Center
Maine Rural Health Research Center
Authors
Jennifer Lenardson, Erika Ziller, Andrew Coburn, Nathaniel Anderson