Facts to Consider

In 2003, the uninsured rate was higher for single adults without children than for single adults living with children (22.7 percent vs. 8.6 percent).

• Married adults with children account for a larger share of uninsured adults than married adults without children (24.9 percent vs. 15.7 percent).
• Among adults living in households with children, those with two married adults make up a larger share of uninsured adults than those with one adult (24.9 percent vs. 8.6 percent of uninsured adults.)

These statistics about the family status of uninsured adults come from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 2003, found in this table.

This is an example of what is available in ERIU's "fast facts" about the uninsured. ERIU's "fast facts" offer unique tabulations of characteristics of the uninsured, looking at characteristics within groups and among those uninsured for different lengths of time. Among adults uninsured at the time they were surveyed, what share have two or more adults working full-time in their families? (Answer: 17.4 percent.) And among adults uninsured at the time they were surveyed, what share earned no wages or had no primary wage earner in their families? (Answer: 27.9 percent.)

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. Data is available for different data sources: Current Population Survey (CPS) and Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP, in addition to MEPS), as well as for different time periods (all year, part year, point in time).

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