NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
July 22, 1999
The majority of North Dakota children younger than age 18 are covered by health insurance. But the proportions are declining, according to the recent Economic Brief released by the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University.
In 1987, 6.8 percent of North Dakota children ages 17 and younger did not have health insurance. That proportion rose to 11.9 percent in 1993 and jumped to 17.1 percent in 1997. Nationally, the proportion of children without health insurance rose from 12.9 percent in 1987 to 15.0 percent in 1997.
"This steep rise between 1996 and 1997 in uninsured North Dakota youth is partly due to a definition change," says Richard Rathge, data center director. "Native Americans who have access only to Indian Health Services are no longer considered insured. A sizeable portion of our Native American population is affected by this definition change, and it has caused our rate to nearly double."
In North Dakota, 84.8 percent of the population was covered by some type of health insurance in 1997, down from 92.3 percent in 1987. Nationwide, 87.1 percent of the population was covered by health insurance in 1987. That proportion dropped to 84 percent in 1997.
###
Source: Richard Rathge (701) 231-8621
Editor: Dean Hulse (701) 231-6136
Click here for a pdf version of this graphic. (12KB
b&w graph)
Click here for a pdf version of this graphic. (199KB
b&w table)
Click here for a pdf version of this graphic. (404KB b&w table)