Facts to Consider

In 2003, half of uninsured adults were ages 19 to 34, according to both all-year and point-in-time measures.

• Among non-elderly adults uninsured for an entire year, 23.0 percent were ages 19 to 24 and 27.0 percent were ages 25 to 34.
• Among non-elderly adults uninsured at the time they were surveyed, 22.4 percent were ages 19 to 24 and 27.7 percent were ages 25 to 34.

These statistics about the ages of uninsured adults come from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 2003, with data about those uninsured all year in this table and those uninsured at the time they were surveyed in this table.

This is an example of what is available in ERIU's "fast facts" about the uninsured. While statistics about the ages of the uninsured are available elsewhere, ERIU's "fast facts" offer unique tabulations of characteristics that vary within groups that are uninsured for different lengths of time. Consider adults in households with two or more full-time workers. What share of these adults are uninsured all year? (Answer: 10.8 percent). At a point in time? (Answer: 14.3 percent). Any time at all over a year (Answer: 18.9 percent).

In addition to MEPS, data that compares those uninsured for different periods of the year is available from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP).

ERIU's more detailed "second level" looks at the uninsured include tables on education level, income, and family status for uninsured immigrants, children, adults, and workers.

For more on ERIU's "fast facts": ERIU Fast Facts