Gaps in Health Coverage Among Working-Age Americans and the Consequences

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Abstract
This paper examines health coverage and access to care among working-age adults using the Kaiser/Commonwealth 1997 National Survey of Health Insurance. One in three (52 million) working-age adults were either uninsured at the time of the survey or had a recent gap in their health coverage in the past two years. Having even a temporary gap in health coverage made a significant difference in access to care. Compared to the elderly, who are continuously covered by Medicare, working-age adults have greater problems paying their medical bills and gaining access to care and are less satisfied with their health insurance coverage.