More workers go without insurance

A growing number of workers in large firms traditionally the places with the best pay and best benefits are going without health insurance, reflecting economic changes and the rapid rise in health care costs.


The percentage of uninsured workers in firms with 500 or more employees grew from 7% to 11% from 1987 to 2001, says a report released Tuesday by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation in Washington.


"This points to a critical need for programs that target large as well as small firms if we are to protect the health security of the nation's workforce," says Karen Davis, Commonwealth president.

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The total number of uninsured has risen rapidly: up 2.4 million last year to 43.6 million, and unemployment and a loss of health coverage at work are blamed for a big part of the increase.

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