As the Pandemic Eases, What Is the State of Health Care Coverage and Affordability in the U.S.?
Sara Collins, et. al. – The Commonwealth Fund 7/16/2021
Summary & Highlights
. . . early Commonwealth Fund survey research . . . suggested that coverage losses were relatively small.8 . . . about 6 percent of working-age adults lost job-based coverage — whether through their own or that of a spouse, partner, or parent — since the pandemic began. Of these individuals, 67 percent gained coverage elsewhere. One of five who lost coverage got insured through another employer plan and the same percentage elected COBRA.
- About 10 percent of adults ages 19 to 64 were uninsured during the first half of 2021. Rates were higher among Latinx/Hispanic and Black adults compared to white adults.
- Six percent of working-age adults reported they lost their employer health coverage because of job loss related to the pandemic; of those, 67 percent gained other coverage.
- Just under half of respondents reported they had been directly affected by the pandemic in at least one of three ways: getting COVID-19, losing income, or losing employer coverage. One-third reported lost income.
- More than one-third of insured adults and half of uninsured adults reported they had problems paying medical bills or were paying off medical debt during the prior year. These rates were similar to those found in Commonwealth Fund surveys fielded prior to the pandemic.
- People directly affected by the pandemic reported having medical bill and debt problems at higher rates than those not directly affected.
- Among respondents with medical bill and debt problems, 35 percent used up all or most of their savings, 35 percent took on credit card debt, 27 percent had been unable to pay for basic necessities like food or rent, and 23 percent delayed education or career plans.
