Nearly 1 in 4 Minnesotans were uninsured for part of 2007-2008

Photo by Sarah606

A new Families USA report says that 1.1 million Minnesotans went without health insurance at some point in 2007 and 2008. That equals 24.1 percent of the state's population under 65.

About 68 percent of those who went uninsured lacked coverage for six months or more. The numbers aren't good, but we're looking better than the national average.

Nationwide, about 1 in 3 people under the age of 65 were uninsured during the same time period.

Facts from Families USA:

More than four out of five of Minnesota's uninsured, or 82.4 percent, were in working families, working full- or part-time.

Almost half, or 46.6 percent, of those individuals and families in Minnesota with incomes below twice the poverty level--$42,400 of annual income for a family of four in 2008--went without health insurance at some point in 2007-2008.

In addition, 17.1 percent of those individuals and families in Minnesota with incomes at or above twice the poverty level--$42,400 of annual income for a family of four in 2008--went without health insurance at some point in 2007-2008.

While whites accounted for the largest number of uninsured in Minnesota, Hispanics/Latinos and African Americans were much more likely to be uninsured than whites: 51.7 percent of Hispanics/Latinos and 39.5 percent of African Americans went without health insurance in 2007-2008, compared to 21 percent of whites.

Read the full report (PDF) here.