Over the past 20 years, the percent of uninsured Californians under age 65 has continued to rise as employer-sponsored health insurance has declined. Between 1987 and 2007, employer-sponsored coverage declined almost 8%. Although Medicaid and individually purchased coverage partially offset that decline, more than 20% of Californians remain uninsured.

The problem, though national, is more prominent in California, which has a lower percentage of individuals with employer-sponsored coverage and a higher proportion of uninsured. And because of California's large population, the number of people without insurance — 6.6 million — is the highest of any state.

Some findings from this year’s snapshot include:

• Workers at private sector businesses of all sizes are experiencing an increased likelihood of being uninsured, although it is most pronounced in businesses with fewer than ten employees.
• More than a third of the uninsured have family incomes of more than $50,000 per year.
• Twenty-seven percent of families with incomes between $25,000 and $50,000 are uninsured.
• Seventy percent of uninsured children are in families where the head of the household has a year round, full-time job.
• Nearly 60% of the state's uninsured are Latino.

In light of current economic conditions in California, with companies large and small laying off workers and government considering cuts to health care programs to help lessen burgeoning budget deficits, the ranks of the uninsured are likely to grow in the coming year.

Read the latest CHCF Snapshot: California's Uninsured.