By Ashley Fletcher Frampton
aframpton@scbiznews.com
Published Sept. 24, 2009
While the percent of all South Carolinians without health insurance was about 17% in 2008, according to census estimates released this week, that number was a higher 23% for working-age residents of the state.
Related story:
Among the state’s metro areas, the Midlands had the lowest uninsured rate of 18% for working-age adults, or those ages 18 to 64.
The uninsured rate averaged 23% among Lowcountry counties Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester for the same age group. Upstate counties Greenville, Anderson and Spartanburg also had an average uninsured rate of 23% among working-age adults.
Looking at all ages of people in the Lowcountry, Berkeley County’s overall rate of uninsured residents was higher than neighboring Charleston and Dorchester counties. In Berkeley County 24% of the population lacked health insurance in 2008, compared to 17% in the two neighboring counties.
The data come from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2008 American Community Survey, a survey of about 3 million people nationwide. The 2008 survey was the first to ask questions about health insurance.
| County | Uninsured Rate |
|
| |
| Charleston | |
| Under 18 | 14% |
| Age 18-64 | 21% |
| Under 65 | 19% |
| 65 and older | 1% |
| Total | 17% |
|
| |
| Berkeley | |
| Under 18 | 22% |
| Age 18-64 | 27% |
| Under 65 | 26% |
| 65 and older | 6% |
| Total | 24% |
|
| |
| Dorchester | |
| Under 18 | 13% |
| Age 18-64 | 22% |
| Under 65 | 19% |
| 65 and older | 0% |
| Total | 17% |
|
| |
| Lexington | |
| Under 18 | 9% |
| Age 18-64 | 18% |
| Under 65 | 16% |
| 65 and older | 1% |
| Total | 14% |
|
| |
| Richland | |
| Under 18 | 9% |
| Age 18-64 | 18% |
| Under 65 | 15% |
| 65 and older | 0% |
| Total | 14% |
|
| |
| Greenville | |
| Under 18 | 15% |
| Age 18-64 | 22% |
| Under 65 | 20% |
| 65 and older | 1% |
| Total | 18% |
|
| |
| Spartanburg | |
| Under 18 | 17% |
| Age 18-64 | 23% |
| Under 65 | 21% |
| 65 and older | 1% |
| Total | 18% |
|
| |
| Anderson | |
| Under 18 | 9% |
| Age 18-64 | 23% |
| Under 65 | 19% |
| 65 and older | 0% |
| Total | 16% |
|
| |
| South Carolina | |
| Under 18 | 13% |
| Age 18-64 | 23% |
| Under 65 | 20% |
| 65 and older | 1% |
| Total | 17% |
Read the Sept. 28 issue of the Charleston Regional Business Journal for more on health insurance and the debate over reform.
