Health Affairs, 28, no. 3 (2009): 887-896 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.3.887 © 2009 by Project HOPE	New Online   House Health Reform Bill   Paying for Reform   Vetting AHIP's Report   HIV/AIDS Costs   Brief: Insurance Reform   HA Blog Top 10

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DataWatch

Wealth, Income, And The Affordability Of Health Insurance

There have been debates over how many uninsured people can afford insurance but refuse to purchase it. Examining the difference in asset holdings between the privately insured and the uninsured, we found that the difference in purchasing power is not fully revealed by income comparisons. Median income among the privately insured is 2.9 times that of the uninsured, but median wealth among those with private insurance is 23.2 times that of the uninsured. Our results suggest that assets are an important determinant of effective affordability, undermining the notion that many people are uninsured by choice.

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