2011 a record year of uninsured

More and more Americans lack health insurance, and the percentage of those uninsured rose faster last year than in 2010, according to a survey released Tuesday.

A Gallup poll indicates that 17.1 percent of Americans were uninsured in 2011, up from 16.4 percent in 2010. Last December had the highest monthly percentage of uninsured adults at 17.7 percent, reported LifeHealthPro.

The rate of uninsured has increased for the last four years. During that time, the most uninsured people have been Asians (4.2 percent), individuals earning less than $36,000 (4.1 percent), individuals aged 26 to 64 (3.8 percent) and Hispanics (3.7 percent), Politico reported.

The good news for insurers is that the Gallup figures support other conclusions that young adults have more insurance coverage under the health reform law. About 25 percent of 18- to 25-year olds were uninsured in 2011, compared to 28 percent uninsured in 2008, according to The Hill's Healthwatch.

"Although this group is still among the most likely to be uninsured, it is the only group Gallup tracks that has seen a significant decline in the percentage of uninsured in 2011," Gallop analyst Elizabeth Mendes told LifeHealthPro.

To learn more:
- see the Gallup survey
- check out the Politico article
- read The Hill's Healthwatch article
- see the LifeHealthPro article

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