Healthcare Facts and Figures

Ohio’s health care system is not working for too many Ohioans. Consider the following facts:

1.3 million Ohioans—or 12%—are uninsured¹

Most uninsured Ohioans are living in working households.

78% of uninsured Ohioans live in families with at least one full-time or part-time worker—63% live in a household with at least one full time worker; 15% live in a household with at least one part time worker²

People in fair to poor health or with chronic conditions are more likely to be uninsured.

24% of uninsured Ohioans are in fair to poor condition. They have trouble getting comprehensive coverage because of their pre-existing conditions³

People who are independently employed or work at small businesses are more likely to be uninsured.

• Usually small businesses and the independently employed cannot negotiate similar employer sponsored insurance rates like large employers
• About 132,000 uninsured Ohioans work at employers that don’t offer any coverage to workers. An additional 82,000 uninsured Ohioans are self-employed⁴

Ohioans without coverage:

• Delay medical care
• Use the emergency room which is more expensive and less efficient
• Are burdened with medical debt—40% of personal bankruptcies are driven by medical debt
• Have a 25% greater mortality rate – 2 Ohioans die each day because of lack of coverage
• Earn 10-30% less because of poor health

¹2004 Family Health Survey

²Source: Urban Institute and Kaiser Commission on Medicaid; Census Bureau’s March 2005 and 2006 Current Population Survey; Health Policy Institute of Ohio, 2004 Ohio Family Health Survey.

³Ohio Family Health Survey, 2004.

⁴Ohio Family Health Survey, 2004