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April 27, 2006
Many uninsured qualify for existing programs
LOS ANGELES - New data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research pinpoints specific communities in Los Angeles County where residents are deeply affected by a lack of health insurance. High concentrations of uninsured residents were found in areas near downtown Los Angeles such as City Council districts 1 and 13; South L.A. in areas such as City Council District 9 and Florence-Graham; and East L.A. communities such as Cudahy and Maywood. While the overall county uninsured rate is approximately 24 percent, communities in the most affected communities have uninsured rates among persons under age 65 as high as 50 percent.
"While lack of health insurance is a problem throughout Los Angeles County and the state, it is at crisis levels in some of these communities where as many as half of the residents may be uninsured and not have access to health care," said E. Richard Brown, Ph.D., director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and professor in the School of Public Health.
Many uninsured are eligible for government sponsored health insurance, but they are not enrolled for a variety of reasons. Cultural and language barriers make it difficult for some to apply while others simply do not know that they qualify for free and low-cost health insurance through programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families. Approximately 220,000 people in Los Angeles County fall into the category of uninsured that qualify for government sponsored health insurance but are not enrolled.
"With over 2 million uninsured, Los Angeles County is the poster child for the uninsured problem," said Howard Kahn, CEO of L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest public health plan in America. "Rising health care costs and the erosion of employer-based health insurance are making matters more desperate. Public programs can't solve the problem; we must bring stakeholders together to develop a creative solution to address the twin problems of rising uninsured and rising costs."
Los Angeles County residents can call L.A. Care Health Plan at 1-888-452-5437 for more information on health care programs and eligibility requirements. L.A. Care Health Plan is available to handle inquiries about available programs in over 30 languages.
Using data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, researchers were able to map the county's highest concentrations of uninsured and issue a list of those communities where the uninsurance rate was at or above 24 percent. This new study offers the most detailed look available to date on the distribution of uninsurance in Los Angeles County. Funding for this project was provided by The California Endowment and the California Wellness Foundation.
The California Health Interview Survey - the state's largest health survey and one of the largest in the United States - is a unique source of information about how HMOs are serving their clients. Since it was first conducted in 2001, the California Health Interview Survey has been an essential tool for policy makers, researchers and health advocates at every level needing a detailed snapshot of the complex health needs of California's diverse population.
About UCLA Center for Health Policy Research
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research was established in 1994 and is one of the nation's leading health policy research centers. It is also the premier source of key health policy information for California. The Center is based in the UCLA School of Public Health and is affiliated with the UCLA School of Public Affairs.
About L.A. Care Health Plan
L.A. Care Health Plan (Local Initiative Health Authority of Los Angeles County) is a local public agency and health plan serving residents of Los Angeles County through a variety of programs including Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and Healthy Kids. With nearly 800,000 enrolled members, L.A. Care is one of the largest health plans in California and is the nation's largest public health plan. L.A. Care is a leader in developing new programs through innovative coalitions and partnerships designed to support public health, the safety net, and health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations. For more information, please visit www.lacare.org.
View the study findings:
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