title: The persistent gap in health-care coverage between low- and high-income workers in Washington State: BRFSS, 2003-2007.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the disparities in health-care coverage between low- and high-income workers in Washington State (WA) to provide support for possible policy decisions for uninsured workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined data from the WA Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2003-2007 and compared workers aged 18-64 years of low income (annual household income <$35,000) and high income (annual household income ≥$35,000) on proportions and sources of health-care coverage. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses on factors that were associated with the uninsured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 54,536 survey respondents who were working-age adults in WA, 13,922 (25.5%) were low-income workers. The proportions of uninsured were 38.2% for low-income workers and 6.3% for high-income workers. While employment-based health benefits remained a dominant source of health insurance coverage, they covered only 40.2% of low-income workers relative to 81.5% of high-income workers. Besides income, workers were more likely to be uninsured if they were younger; male; Hispanic; less educated; not married; current smokers; self-employed; or employed in agriculture/forestry/fisheries, construction, and retail. More low-income workers (28.7%) reported cost as an issue in paying for health services than did their high-income counterparts (6.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A persistent gap in health-care coverage exists between low- and high-income workers. The identified characteristics of these workers can be used to implement policies to expand health insurance coverage.
authors: Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention, Olympia, WA, USA. fanj235@Ini.wa.gov
authors: Z Joyce
authors: ZJ
authors: Fan
authors: Naomi J
authors: NJ
authors: Anderson
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Foley
authors: Eddy
authors: E
authors: Rauser
authors: Barbara A
authors: BA
authors: Silverstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D014861:Washington