How Many Have Health Insurance Through Their Own Employer?

Surprisingly few Americans have health insurance through their own employer. In 2007, the figure was just 31 percent, according to the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey. The percentage covered through the plan of a parent or spouse's employer is almost as large, at 28 percent. Another 28 percent of Americans are covered by government health insurance--either Medicaid, Medicare, or military. Just 9 percent buy their own private plan.

By age, only 45-to-54-year-olds are likely to be covered by their own employer's health insurance plan. Fifty-one percent of people aged 45 to 54 have their own employment-based health insurance. In every other age group, less than half have insurance in their own name.

Males are more likely than females to have their own insurance--35 versus 27 percent. Among non-Hispanic whites, 35 percent have health insurance through their own employer. The figure is 31 percent among Asians and 27 percent among blacks. Hispanics are least likely to have health insurance through their own employer, at 20 percent. A larger 32 percent of Hispanics have no health insurance.

Since 2000, the percentage of Americans covered by their own employer's health insurance plan has fallen by 2 percentage points.

Percentage of people covered by their own employer's health insurance plan by age, 2007:

under age 18 0.3%
aged 18 to 24 19.0
aged 25 to 34 47.3
aged 35 to 44 48.9
aged 45 to 54 51.2
aged 55 to 64 49.9
aged 65 or older 25.7