Latinos lag behind other groups in health insurance coverage, survey finds

Latinos in the United States are less likely to have adequate health insurance than Americans overall, according to a survey released this week (Source: “Fewer than half of Latinos in the U.S. have adequate health insurance coverage,” The Hill, Dec. 17).
 
The Commonwealth Fund survey found that 46% of Latinos in the U.S. of working age have health insurance for the whole year and are not underinsured, according to the survey published Tuesday. Another 21% of working-age Latinos have insurance for the whole year but are underinsured, meaning they have out-of-pocket costs — excluding premiums — equal to 10% or more of their household income, according to the survey. 
 
A survey released by the Commonwealth Fund last month found that 56% of working-age adults, regardless of race or ethnicity, have health insurance for the whole year and are not underinsured.

Latinos in the U.S. also appear to be slightly less likely to have health insurance, but be underinsured compared to the overall population but more likely to report having been without health insurance at some point during the past 12 months.