The number of uninsured in Washington is unacceptable

• 1 in every 7 Washington residents does not have any health insurance.
• 65% of these uninsured are from working families.
• 10% of Washington kids under 18 do not have health insurance.
• Only 73% of kids between 19-35 months have received their standard immunizations.
• 40% of Hispanics in Washington are uninsured.

The number of uninsured is rising

• Employer coverage is shrinking. Between 1996 and 1999 alone, the average annual out-of-pocket cost of health insurance for Washington employees grew by 21% for an individual policy, and 33% for a family policy.
• Employers have reported plans to pass on an additional 12-14% of health care costs to employees in 2003.
• As their share of costs increase, many employees must choose to go without health  insurance – 57% of the uninsured said they did not have coverage because they could  not afford it.

Lack of Health Insurance Threatens Economic Security

• 68% of Washingtonians in a recent poll said they were very worried about finding  affordable quality health insurance.
• Medical bills are one of the leading causes of bankruptcy for uninsured families.