Nearly two-thirds of the non-elderly population receives coverage through their or a family member’s employer. Individuals who do not have access to affordable employer-based coverage may be able to purchase health insurance in the individual market. States independently regulate their individual market which leads to great variation across the country. Variation in the availability of employer-based coverage and the cost of coverage is attributable to state differences in cost-of-living, cost of health care services, state regulations and mandated benefits, and the size of employers in the state (Table 12).
- Six states have guaranteed issue for all insurance products in the individual market, which prevents insurers from denying coverage to people based on their age, gender, and health status.
- Eighteen states have some form of individual market rating restrictions, which prevent insurers from charging substantially higher premiums based on people’s age, gender, and health status.
- Across states, the individual non-group market has fewer regulations than the small-group market.
- Thirty-four states operate high-risk pools that provide coverage for nearly 200,000 people who are uninsurable in the non-group market. Enrollment in high-risk pools varies from 300 in Florida to over 27,000 in Minnesota.
View related interactive table on statehealthfacts.org
