Affordable Health Insurance Elusive In Rural U.S

Fast Facts On Rural Health Insurance - June 12, 2009 ·

* Percentage of noncorporate farmers and ranchers with health insurance: 95
* Percentage of all Americans with health insurance: 84.7
* The likely rate of underinsurance in rural areas compared with cities and suburbs: double
* Percentage of the rural poor covered by Medicaid: 45
* Percentage of the urban poor covered by Medicaid: 49
* Percentage of all Americans dependent on individual health insurance policies with reduced benefits and high deductibles: 8
* Percentage of farmers and ranchers dependent on individual health insurance policies: 33
* Percentage of farmers and ranchers carrying medical debt: 20
* Percentage of all Americans carrying medical debt: 28
* Percentage of rural workers who have jobs with small businesses: 50
* Percentage of urban workers who have jobs with small business: 37
* The likely rate of having no insurance for small-business workers compared with all workers: double
* Percentage of non-elderly urban workers insured at work: 72
* Percentage of non-elderly rural workers insured at work: 61
* Percentage of U.S. physicians working in rural America: 10
* Percentage of U.S. population defined as rural: 25
* Number of dentists practicing in urban areas per 100,000 people: 60
* Number of dentists practicing in rural areas per 100,000 people: 40

Sources: National Rural Health Association, The Access Project, Office of Rural Health Policy, U.S. Census Bureau, The Commonwealth Fund and Center for Rural Affairs

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