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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 1990)
Director: Study shows problem Fewer Nebraskans have health insurance OMAHA (AP) - The 1989 rate of Nebraskans without health insurance was the second highest in a decade despite the decade’s lowest unem ployment rate and improved economic conditions in the state, a University of Nebraska study indicated. Of 1,866 Nebraska adults ques tioned in telephone interviews, 8.1 percent said they did not have insur ance, indicated the study from the Center for Health Services Research of the University of Nebraska. Re sults of the study were released Monday. David Palm, director of the bureau of health planning and data manage ment for the Nebraska Department of Health said the problem could not be overlooked. “I think this study shows that this is a serious problem,” Palm said. The report concluded: “While it is encouraging to sec that the general economic improve ment, combined with some efforts in public policy, have reduced the per cent of uninsured in the state, it is disconcerting that the percent is still above eight.” Nebraska’s rate among those sur veyed declined from a 10-year high of 9.7 percent in 1986. Insurance was defined as both private and public health care coverage, including Medicare and Medicaid. Nebraska in 1989 “was on its way to a 12-year low in unemployment, reached in April 1990,” the report found. The 1989 employment rate of 3.1 percent was the lowest in a 10 year period used in the study. In spite of the general economic improvement, Nebraska’s rate may have been affected by factors that are recognized as contributing to a higher percentage of uninsured people, the authors said. Those more likely to lack cover age arc employees of small firms, seasonal workers and part-lime and self-eir. joyed workers. Also included in that group arc those who work for low wages but make too much to be eligible for Medicaid, those between 18 and 24, and minorities. “Consistent with national trends, uninsurance in Nebraska is a problem for the working poor,” the report said. The highest rate (20.9 percent) of households without insurance was among those making between $5,000 and $9,999, and the second highest (18.6 percent) was among those making between $10,000 and $14,999. By age groups, the highest per centage (14.9 percent) was among those 18-25 years old. Nebraska’s overall rate of unin sured in 1989 was “somewhat lower than would be expected give the na tional data, but still somewhat high given the current economic health of the state,’ ’ the authors wrote. The national consensus in the fall of 1989 was that about 15 percent of the population lacked coverage, ac cording to the center’s report. Palm said he would have expected some drop in the state’s overall ratio of uninsured because the slate’s econ omy has improved. But, he said, “we still have some pockets of population that are not doing well.’’ He said he considered the rate of 8.1 percent high and a possible indi cation that people were going without medical care for lack of a way to pay their bills. The survey producing the 8.1 per cent statewide rate carried a margin of error of 1.25 percentage points. %3| umVf«B«TV or NTWAaKA LINOOLN AAAA AA AA A-AA AAA Ah ^ Catch-A-Ray fanning Salon 10 Tans for $30 Offer expires August 15,1990. 233 N. 48th - Between Target and Super Saver 464-4386 2 Medium Cheese Pizzas $9.99! Available on fan. Hand-Tossed and Thin TS’ Crisp/' pizza crusts. Toppings Extra. / iease mention coupon icthn ordering. \ , One coupon per party per visit at partici |H paling Pizza Hut*' restaurants. NOT valid j ■ with any < >ther < iffer. ()ffcr expires August ■ 12. 1990. Code 27 ■ R^ca ™ 1‘lMit vmu Hut In. ^Hllf klWKeht c A%t rid*m|*ti m value ■ • _j mmmmmEmm Single-Topping Personal Pan Pizza and a medium soft drink $2.79. IHease nmition coupon when ordering. (>ne coupon per person at participating Pi/za Hut* restaurants N< IT valid with any other otter IVrsonal Pan Pizza* is available Monday thru Saturday from 11:00 a m to 4:00 p m IVpsi-Cola is a registered trademark of PepsiCo, Inc. Offer expires - August 12, I1*#! Code 51 IMMII hlu Hut Ilk wJr9| l2 IrjU i«*nl i asii ri*Ji*ntpliMii v,tlo- H llU ** Medium H Meat Lover’s or Medium Veggie Lover’s" || Pizza $8.99 or two for only f $12.99! I Available on Pan. Hand-Tossed Traditional or 9 I Thin M ( nspy1* pizza crust t'k'usi meiv/**v ompim u hcr\ iffJt'rmu One coupon 99 per party per visit at participating Pizxa Hut* rcstuu B - _ other uffer < Mfer e*pm> ^9 August 12. 1990 B M Code 19/19 J