Facts to Consider

Hospital stays are both expensive and uncommon. In 2003, 5.8 percent of the non-elderly were hospitalized, and among the non-elderly uninsured, 5.0 percent were hospitalized.

• Among the non-elderly who were uninsured at any time during the year, 4.3 percent were discharged from the hospital once, and 0.7 percent were discharged more often.
• Of the total population, 4.8 percent were discharged from the hospital once during the year, and 1.0 percent were discharged more often.

These statistics about the uninsured come from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 2003, found in this table.

This is an example of what is available in ERIU's "fast facts" about the uninsured. While statistics about who is uninsured are available elsewhere, ERIU's "fast facts" look at total health expenditures, out-of-pocket spending, hospital use, doctor visits and emergency department use for the uninsured and the overall population. What share of the nonelderly who are uninsured for any part of the year have medical expenditures that exceed $5,000 in a year? (Answer: 6.1 percent.) What portion of the nonelderly who are uninsured for any part of the year do not visit a doctor's office in a year? (Answer 45.7 percent.) Among all the nonelderly who do not visit a doctor's office in a year, what share are uninsured for some part of the year? (Answer: 40.7 percent.)

ERIU's more detailed "second level" looks at the uninsured include tables on education level, income, and family status for uninsured immigrants, children, adults, and workers. Data is available for different data sources: Current Population Survey (CPS) and Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP in addition to MEPS), as well as for different time periods (all year, part year, point in time).

For more on ERIU's "fast facts": ERIU Fast Facts