Health Insurance In the Time of COVID-19

U.S. Census Bureau releases new 2018 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates

By Lecia Parks Langston, Senior Economist

 

“Americans want jobs. They want affordable health insurance. They want an education.” John McCain

 

 

As the world hunkers down under the effects of a pandemic, the need for health insurance coverage becomes even more apparent than usual. Just how many Utahns are covered by health insurance? Who are the uninsured? Data just released by the U.S. Census Bureau (2018 Small Area Health Insurance Estimates (SAHIE)) provides enlightenment on healthcare coverage in the under-65-year-old population. Additional demographic information is available from the American Community Survey, rounding out our understanding of the insured and uninsured in Utah.

 

Small Area Estimates

The SAHIE estimates cover the population under 65 years of age. Of course, virtually all citizens 65 and older are covered by government-provided Medicare benefits. Because these estimates date back to 2008, two years before the signing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), they suggest the how the ACA has changed the health-insurance landscape in Utah.

 

 

Compared to other counties across the United States, Utah’s counties, for the most part, had mid-level to high levels of insured individuals in 2018 (the most recent data available). National regions of high coverage include northern eastern states and the west coast. Texas seems to have the highest uninsured levels with a vast number of counties experiencing uninsured rates of greater than 20%. Most Utah counties have uninsured shares below 15%.

 

In 2018, Morgan, Davis, Daggett and Emery counties showed the highest insured rates in Utah. In contrast, San Juan, Duchesne, Uintah, Piute and Garfield experienced the lowest rates of health insurance coverage.

That was then, this is now

The number and share of Utahns covered by health insurance have certainly improved in the past 10 years. In 2008, roughly 83.7% of the under-65 population was insured compared to about 89.6% in 2018, an increase of nearly 6 percentage points. In terms of individuals, that increase represents a gain of 427,000 insured Utahns.

 

However, coverage appears to have peaked in 2016 at 90.3% and has since retrenched. The repeal of ACA’s individual mandate and price increases, due to the elimination of cost-sharing reductions to payers selling individual plans, likely contributed to the recent slight decline in Utah coverage. However, the state’s Medicaid expansion, effective in 2020, should help bump up insured rates.

Less-populated counties, with initial low insured rates, experienced the strongest gains in insured shares. Daggett, Rich, Grand, Kane and San Juan counties displayed gains of roughly 10-points or higher. While all counties showed an improvement in the insured share of the under-65-year population, Salt Lake, Carbon, Summit and Millard counties experienced the smallest gains.

 

Highlights from the American Community Survey (2014-2018)

• Roughly 58% of Utahns (of all ages) are insured in full or in part by employer-provided plans. Only 9% directly purchase their entire insurance coverage from a private provider. In total, nearly 70% of the state’s citizens have private coverage.
• In total, public plans (Medicare and Medicaid) cover roughly 12% of Utah’s population. About 7% of the population is covered by Medicaid with another 3% covered by just Medicare. Roughly 1% of Utahns have coverage under both Medicare and Medicaid.
• Those with a combination of public and private coverage account for another 9% of Utah’s population. That group includes 4% of Utahns who carry Medicare plus a supplemental source of private insurance. On the other hand, 10% have no healthcare insurance at all.
• The very young and the very old are most likely to carry health insurance. Thanks to Medicare, individuals 65 years and older are the most likely to be covered (99%). On the other end of the spectrum, children under 6 years old displayed a coverage rate of 94%, with 6-18 year olds not far behind (92%).
• Individuals between the ages of 26 and 34 are the least likely to have health insurance. Only 84% are covered in Utah.
• By gender, females (91%) are just slightly more likely than males (89%) to maintain health insurance. This may be partially due to the dominance of women in the highly-covered 65-years-and-older group.
• Education shows a high correlation with health insurance coverage. Persons with a bachelor’s degree or higher show the highest coverage rate — 96%. On the other end of the scale, individuals who did not graduate from high school maintained an insured rate of just 68%.
• Not surprisingly, of all labor force statuses, the unemployed are least likely to have health insurance (65%). Interestingly, those not in the labor force (which would include the retired), display an insured rate just slightly lower than the employed. In addition, based on work experience, individuals working full-time, year-round are the most likely group be insured.
• Household income is also a good predictor of health insurance coverage. Those with the highest incomes ($100,000 and over) have the highest coverage rates (95%). In contrast, those with the lowest incomes (under $25,000) have the lowest coverage rates (81%). a
• Latino and Native Americans show the lowest rates of any major ethnic/racial groups. Rates for both sets measure just 73%. White, non-Latino Utahns maintain the highest health insurance coverage shares.
• Only 56% of noncitizens have health insurance in Utah compared to 92 percent of Utahns born in the United States.

St. George hoping to bank on television exposure

It didn't cost the city a dime, but officials say a recent television travel show featuring St. George is stimulating interest in the area that could lead to tangible economic benefits.

"This is one of the larger things we've ever done as far as exposure goes," said Marc Mortensen, assistant to the city manager. "The reach is probably several million people, and that doesn't even include social media."

On April 14, Los Angeles-based travel show "Eye on L.A." aired for the first time, devoting a half hour to spotlighting St. George's outdoor, downtown, arts and dining offerings, among others. The show will air several more times throughout the year, describing St. George as a scenic destination only six hours away from Los Angeles.


"You can't put a price on that kind of exposure," Mortensen said. "That could help in a number of ways." The St. George Convention & Tourism Office Director Roxie Sherwin is reporting positive feedback and increased interest, while Mortensen said the city is already receiving calls from L.A.-based photographers and filmmakers. The Spectrum

Mine to bring jobs to Iron County

CML Metals has spent the last month unloading 114 railroad cars filled with approximately 10,000 tons of iron ore, which sat motionless on Union Pacific's rail lines for more than a year because of logistical hang-ups and shipping challenges.

Movement at the mining site, once operated by Palladon Iron Corporation, resumed after a name change, a few layoffs and a new capital partner that allowed the Hurricane-based company to begin mining again and possibly bring as many as 12 high-paying jobs back to Cedar City within the next year.

The company plans to make a big economic impact by hiring locals and buying supplies locally as much as it can because it has always been the company's wish to work closely with the community. The jobs will be on the higher end of the pay scale relative to jobs in Cedar City. The first group of new hires will be approximately six employees from the crew laid off a year ago. As the company grows again it anticipates adding an additional six employees by early next year. The Spectrum

Hotels see boost in May

Utah hotels saw a nice little bump in business last month, especially compared with May 2009. Typically a slow travel period, May of last year was even worse than usual, with hotel occupancies across Utah dropping to less than 55 percent each night.

But this May, hotels statewide were 59 percent full on a nightly basis. The average daily room rate did not increase commensurately, but pretty much held steady.

Although occupancy was up 4 percent, the statewide room rate could not keep pace. Still, it rose about $1.50, to $86.70 nightly last month, according to figures from the Denver-based Rocky Mountain Lodging Report. The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Hotel Occupancy

Hotels statewide generally filled more rooms last month than in May 2009 (in parenthesis):

Salt Lake County » 66.3 percent (59.4)
Ogden » 68.5 (67.2)
Davis County » 68.3 (68.0)
St. George » 59.0 (54.4)
Utah County » 58.9 (55.0)
Logan » 52.3 (37.4)
Cedar City » 46.5 (51.9)
Mountain resorts » 24.9 (25.7)
Rest of Utah » 71.4 (68.3)
Total » 59 (54.9)

Source » Rocky Mountain Lodging Report

Washington County allocates $16M in funds

Hoping to stimulate the local economy, the Washington County Commission voted to allocate the use of nearly $16 million worth of economic recovery bonds.

Funded by the federal government's stimulus program, the bonds would allow two private and two public entities access to low interest loans that could help them expand and create jobs.

Local businesses Design to Print and Parke Cox Trucking were allotted access to $3.5 million and $3.35 million respectively for expansion of their businesses. On the public side, Washington County was allocated $4 million for its new justice center, while Ivins received $5 million toward storm water improvements.

Officials were quick to point out, however, the money allocated doesn't go directly to the applicants, nor does the county maintain liability. That money, Chairman James Eardley said, is used to facilitate a low interest rate when the entity finds a borrower. The Spectrum

Cedar City employees laid off

Because of a lagging housing market, the Cedar City has laid off seven city employees in four different departments to help with the 2010-11 fiscal year budget. Mayor Joe Burgess said all seven employees have been made aware that their positions have been eliminated. Two were let go in public works, one in administration, one in economic development and three in community development, which will eliminate the community development department altogether. The Spectrum

Iron Man Competition brings $ to Washington County

Event coordinators of the May 1 Ironman triathlon have finished analyzing survey results and found that the event brought nearly 10,000 people to Washington County, with athletes, family, friends and observers booking a total of 12,250 hotel nights, plus another 4,250 nights by people who stayed in homes, condos and other rentals.

Based on a regional economic prediction formula of $175 spent per person per day, that amounts to $6.35 million during race week and $7.85 million total brought to the county because of the event. The Spectrum

SITLA buys SunCor's interest in Coral Canyon community near St. George

The state's school trust lands administration has acquired SunCor Development's interest in the Coral Canyon master-planned community near St. George as a way to ensure the quality of the project as it continues to be developed.

Built on school trust lands that had been leased to SunCor, the Coral Canyon community will have 2,000 residential units when done. It also includes an award-winning golf course, open space and 250 acres of available commercial land.

SunCor developed Coral Canyon under a master development lease from the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, which, in turn, manages lands granted to Utah at its statehood for the financial support of Utah's public schools and other public institutions. Under the arrangement with SunCor, SITLA holds onto the land and gets paid for it at closing.

Kevin Carter, director of the school trust lands administration, said the Coral Canyon project has provided Utah's public schools and universities with more than $15 million in revenue since the partnership with SunCor began in 1999. The Deseret News

Hurricane drag strip plan hits snags

When they broke ground in November for Hurricane's Red Hills Raceway drag strip, organizers and car enthusiasts both thought they'd be watching races by now.

During that ceremony it was announced that the 10-acre, 2,500-seat, $1.8 million dollar facility adjacent to the Washington County Fairgrounds would open in March and co-partner Steven Anastos would move his Red Hills Rods and Choppers shop to Hurricane near the drag strip.

Anastos is no longer associated with the project, his store is staying in St. George and construction on the track has yet to be completed. General Manager Jon Brazeau said the project has hit some snags the past few months, but added its fate would likely be decided in the near future.

Brazeau said a variety of issues have delayed the project since its November groundbreaking. From problems with contractors to the departure of Anastos, issue after issue has kept the track from meeting deadlines. Though Anastos wouldn't elaborate on why he left the project, Brazeau said the conflict came down to money.

"With the project's funding coming entirely from private investors, Brazeau said it might take a little longer, but the wait will be worth it. The Spectrum

Utah's Copper King Mining files for Chapter 11

Copper King Mining Corp., a Utah-based company that built and operated a $60 million copper mill just outside of Milford in Beaver County, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company maintains the filing will allow it to reorganize its debts and bring in additional capital so it can emerge from bankruptcy with a healthy balance sheet and a more-competitive cost structure.

Copper King's management has been working to bring in new capital, but it has been a challenge, said spokesman Charles A. Moskowitz, who noted the company furloughed its 85 employees several weeks ago. The Salt Lake Tribune

$1.1M grant to help streetlights in rural Utah towns go green

Some rural Utah towns are using state dollars to 'go green' as they make the switch to high-tech night lighting.

The Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems Smart Energy initiative Wednesday received a Utah State Energy Program Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant of $1.1 million.

The grant will enable 14 UAMPS member municipalities to retrofit a portion of their existing streetlights with new, energy-efficient LED lamps and fixtures.

Based in Salt Lake City, UAMPS is a nonprofit agency that provides wholesale electricity to 52 community-owned power systems throughout the West, including in Utah, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.

The participating members include the cities of Eagle Mountain, Enterprise, Ephraim, Fillmore, Holden Town, Hurricane, Monroe, Morgan, Oak City, Parowan, Payson, Santa Clara and Springville, as well as Heber Light & Power.

The grants are awarded through a competitive application process. UAMPS was the first organization selected to receive this award through the program. The Deseret News

Hollywood Video closing shop in Cedar City and St. George

Hollywood Video stores in Cedar City and St. George are among 2,000 stores closing across the nation. Movie Gallery, Inc., the owner of Hollywood Video, Game Crazy and Movie Gallery movie rental stores, is closing all three chains.

Managers and employees at the two Hollywood Video stores in Southern Utah said they were not allowed to give comment other than closure dates. The Hollywood Video store on Red Cliffs Drive will close Sunday; the Cedar City business is set to shut its doors permanently in July.

Telephone calls for comment from MGI, based in Wilsonville, Ore., were referred to a press release that stated: "We are closing these stores because they are not profitable and because funds from liquidating them can help us move forward." The Spectrum

Washington County School District faces $2.8M budget cut

Budget cuts continue to plague the Washington County School District. District officials unveiled the 2010-11 budget, which is $2.8 million less than this year's. From fiscal year 2008-09 to 2009-10, the district was hit with $6.4 million in cuts. Next school year the district will be faced with a number of new cuts including reductions in secondary staff developers; a 15 percent cut in district-level supply and travel budgets; a 10 percent cut in the instructional supply budget; reductions in field trip and activity trip budgets; a decrease in all employee pay by two days; and elimination of district 401k contributions for current and retired employees.

Some of the short-term solutions include reduction of the equipment and technology budget, elimination of bus purchases, elimination of the school board's trip to the national convention, alternative funding for nurses and more.

Board President Kelly Blake said the board has tried to minimize the impact in the classroom. Superintendent Max Rose said what bothers him the most about the cuts is how they have affected teacher pay."The economy butchered us, but our goal was not to lay off teachers and not increase classes and we've been able to do that," he said. The Spectrum

St. George housing market shows signs of recovery

The housing market in St. George, which collapsed spectacularly with the recent economic slump, appears to be on the mend. Sales of existing homes in one of the country's fastest growing regions are growing. New home construction is also rebounding, but less vigorously.

"We're still in the woods, but can see the end," said Vardell Curtis, CEO of the Washington County Board of Realtors. "Through April of this year, we've had 277 closings, the highest in the past two years. We're obviously trending in the right direction."

The average home price at the end of April was $180,184, down from $217,677 in March. "It [average price] has been hovering around $200,000," Curtis said. He suspects part of the uptick is fueled by pent up demand among buyers who were apprehensive in a sour economy. While home prices have eroded, consumer confidence has grown, a key factor in an economic recovery, along with jobs. The Salt Lake Tribune

Cedar City Budget may cut jobs

Plummeting building permit revenues, sales tax and fees-in-lieu of taxes have caused the proposed Cedar City Corporation budget for 2010-11 to include the elimination of seven jobs, which abolishes the community development department comprised of four employees. The Spectrum

Utah-based SkyWest looking to Far East

St. George-based SkyWest Inc., which has been looking outside the U.S. for growth options, is toying with whether to invest in a potential startup airline in Vietnam. Airline industry pressures are pushing SkyWest to look beyond U.S. borders for places to operate its 50-seat aircraft, which become prohibitively expensive to fly in the U.S. when fuel prices spike. The Salt Lake Tribune

Washington County OKs $4M justice building

Construction workers will have a bit more work to do later this year when they break ground on the new $4 million Washington County Justice Center. The Washington County Commission voted unanimously to alter the design and make the building - the planned headquarters for county attorneys - more than 23 percent larger. Citing the state's desire to also use space in the building, the commission's decision means the square footage of the building will go up from 18,000 square feet to 22,225 square feet. It will take up more than 4,000 extra square feet horizontally.

The county's design contract with local firm MRW Design Association will now be $125,000, compared with $108,500 before the change. And though a contractor has yet to be selected for construction, costs could be expected to go up nearly 20 percent. On a $4 million building that could be more than $800,000 added to the construction price tag. The Spectrum

Groups question permit for Utah's first strip mine

Utah regulators testified they used the best science and technology to evaluate the environmental impacts of the state's first strip mine for coal. Environmental groups are seeking to block the project, saying the strip mine would pollute ground water, raise dust and foul air quality 10 miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, which is known for its views, pristine air and sparkling night skies. Bryce Canyon's superintendent also has objected. The Sierra Club, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and two other groups are challenging the state's approval for the strip mine in an administrative trial.

Alton Coal Development got fast-track approval after complaining in a meeting with Utah Gov. Gary Herbert that regulators were taking too long to make a decision.

The company got approval to work a 635-acre parcel of private land, or about 1 square mile, near the tiny Kane County town of Alton, about 200 miles south of Salt Lake City. The strip mine would dig into 440 of the 635 acres to remove a 20-foot seam of coal. Alton is seeking federal approval to enlarge the strip mine onto thousands of acres of surrounding public lands where the coal seam continues. The company has yet to secure a multimillion-dollar reclamation bond to start work on the private land. The Deseret News

Utah wind project to add 68 turbines

A large wind project in Utah's west desert is getting bigger. Boston-based First Wind says it plans to add 68 turbines on state, federal and private lands near Milford. The company has been operating 97 of the giant turbines since November, producing enough power for about 44,000 houses.

Southern California Public Power Authority is buying the electricity. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Monday that his department has approved the second phase of the wind project. First Wind says the 68 new turbines will be installed by year's end. Salt Lake Tribune

Home sales surge in Washington County

Washington County's residential real estate sector is showing strong signs of recovery after posting a 41 percent surge in year-over-year sales during the first quarter. Bolstered by an influx of affordable bank owned-properties coupled with attractively low interest rates, Washington County recorded 993 sales in the first quarter, representing an increase of 287 sales from last year's quarterly figure, according to data collected by Southern Utah Title Company. From January to March, the average price of a dwelling in Washington County increased by about $11,000 to $173,673. The Spectrum