Nov 28, 2008 10:36 am US/Eastern
Study: Florida Ranked 2nd For Most Uninsured Kids
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) ―
Almost 19 percent of Florida children have no health insurance, giving Florida a dubious ranking of number 2 when it comes to most uninsured children in a state.
The news doesn't get any better in the next year because more layoffs are expected from various employers, and companies are expected to increase the premiums to the workers who survive the layoffs.
The numbers come from a survey done between 2005 and 2007, but the numbers do not take into account the 2008 financial crash.
Families USA, the non-profit health advocacy group that sponsored the report, estimates the actual number of uninsured children in the country right now is far greater than the nearly 9 million reported in 2007.
The group, and other health care advocates, say a large number of low-paying tourism related jobs and the maligned KidCare program are partly to blame for Florida's problems with insuring children.
Texas had the highest rate of uninsured children during the time period examine, at 20.5 percent.
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