13.4% (42 million) had no health insurance coverage for all of 2013

According to a report from the United States Census Bureau:

• 86.6% of people had health insurance for all or part of last year. (2013)
• 64.2% of individuals were covered by private health insurance. (2013)
• 53.9% were covered by employment-based health insurance. (2013)
• 34.3% of the population was covered by government health insurance. (2013)
• 17.3% of people were covered by Medicaid last year. (2013)
• 15.6% of people were covered by Medicare last year. (2013)
• 7.6% of children (under age 19) were uninsured. (2013)

Note: This report presents data on health insurance coverage in the United States based on information collected in the 2014 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau.


Source: United States Census Bureau

In 2013, U.S. was ranked number 46 (out of 51 countries) in Health Care

According to Bloomberg's second annual ranking of countries, the United States is ranked near the bottom when comparing health care efficiency to other countries like Singapore (ranked #1).

• U.S. Rank in 2014 is 44 out of 51 countries.
• U.S. Efficiency score is 34.3. Number one was 78.6.
• U.S. Life expectancy is 78.7. Number one was 83.5.
• U.S. Health-care cost as percentage of GDP is 17.2.
• U.S. Health-care cost per capita (US$) is 8,895.
• U.S. Change in health-care cost per capita (US$) is 428.07
• U.S. Change in health-care cost per capita (%) is 5.1. Number one was 174.1.
• U.S. Change in GDP per capita (%) is 3.8. Number one was 134.0.

Note: Bloomberg ranked countries based on the efficiency of their health-care systems. Each country was ranked on three criteria: life expectancy (weighted 60%), relative per capita cost of health care (30%); and absolute per capita cost of health care (10%). Within each criterion, 80% of the score was derived from the most recent health-care system assessment and 20% to changes, if any, over the previous year.


Source: Bloomberg

The uninsured rate is higher for children in poverty

According to the Income and Poverty Report by the U.S. Census Bureau:

• The uninsured rate for children  younger than 19 in poverty (9.8 %) was higher than the uninsured rate for children not in poverty (7.0 %).
• The overall percentage of uninsured children was 7.6%.
• 40.4% of children under the age of 19 had government health insurance (Medicaid or other).

Note: Data is from 2013. The Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement is subject to sampling and nonsampling errors. All comparisons made in the report have been tested and found to be statistically significant at the 90 percent confidence level, unless otherwise noted.


Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Influenza Vaccine Available Across Texas as Flu Season Begins

Texas Department of State Health Services
NEWS RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2014



Influenza Vaccine Available Across Texas as Flu Season Begins



Flu vaccine has been arriving in doctor’s offices, clinics and pharmacies across Texas, and the Texas Department of State Health Services encourages everyone 6 months old and older to get vaccinated now. Oct. 1 is Texas Influenza Awareness Day and the traditional start to the flu season.



While DSHS encourages vaccination for everyone at least 6 months old, it is especially important for certain high-risk groups. People 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and those with chronic health conditions are at higher risk for serious complications and even death if they get the flu and should minimize that risk by getting vaccinated. Twenty Texas children died as a result of the flu during the 2013-2014 flu season. 



People need to be vaccinated each year because researchers determine which flu viruses are most likely to spread in that year and formulate the vaccine to protect against them. Getting vaccinated now will provide protection throughout the flu season.



“There are more options than ever to help protect you against the flu,” said DSHS Commissioner Dr. David Lakey. “Whether you choose a standard shot that protects against three or four strains of the flu, the intradermal shot with a smaller needle, the nasal spray version, or a high-dose vaccine that can boost immunity for people 65 and older, the most important thing is that everyone 6 months old and older get vaccinated.”



All flu vaccines this season are made to protect against the strains A/California/7/2009 (H1N1),


A/Texas/50/2012 (H3N2) and B/Massachusetts/2/2012. For the second year, some vaccines also include protection against a fourth strain, B/Brisbane/60/2008. About half of the 150 million or more doses produced this season are expected to be four-strain varieties.



In addition to getting vaccinated, people should help stop the spread of the flu and other illnesses by covering all coughs and sneezes, washing their hands frequently, disinfecting commonly touched surfaces and staying home when sick.



People can contact their health care provider, local health department or dial 2-1-1 to find out where to get a flu shot. Flu information and tips for protecting against the flu are at texasflu.org.

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(News Media Contact: Chris Van Deusen, DSHS Press Officer, 512-776-7753)

DSHS Press Office on Twitter

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Visit us on the web at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/.

Health care benefit costs at large employers are expected to rise 6.5% in 2015

...if no plan changes are made, according to a recent survey.

Source: "U.S. Employers Changing Health Benefit Plans to Control Rising Costs, Comply with ACA, National Business Group on Health Survey Finds," National Business Group on Health, August 13, 2014, https://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pressroom/pressRelease.cfm?ID=234

According to a recent survey of American workers:

• 29% rate the 2014 health care system as poor
• 32% rate the 2014 health care system as fair
• 27% rate the 2014 health care system as good
• 10% rate the 2014 health care system as very good
• 1% rate the 2014 health care system as excellent

Source: "EBRI’s 2014 Health and Voluntary Workplace Benefits Survey: Workers’ Ratings of Health Care System Continue to Fall ," Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) Press Release, September 18, 2014, http://www.ebri.org/pdf/PR1095.WBS.18Sept14.pdf

According to a recent study,

28% of physicians' orders and 13% of costs were classified as at least "partially defensive" medicine, but only 2.9% of costs were considered "completely defensive".

Source: "The Cost of Defensive Medicine on 3 Hospital Medicine Services," JAMA Internal Medicine, September 15, 2014, http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1904758