1 in 7 Saginaw county residents have no medical insurance

Tuesday, July 26, 2005

SCOTT DAVIS

THE SAGINAW NEWS



For years, the medically uninsured have remained a vague, formless entity -- a mere talking point among politicians.



They now have a number.



Recently released U.S. census figures show that nearly one in seven people lack medical insurance in Saginaw County -- the sixth-highest rate in Michigan.



The statistics show that 29,913 county residents --



14.5 percent of an estimated population of 206,650 -- lack insurance.



Of these, 5,268 are children, or one in 10 of all children countywide.



The census does not provide similar numbers for 1990, so officials cannot say whether the rate of the uninsured has risen or fallen. The recent figures are estimates based largely on the 2000 census.



Saginaw County's rate of 14.5 percent is much higher than the 11.3 percent uninsured statewide, but it's comparable to the nationwide rate of 14.2 percent.



The statistics are of particular interest in Saginaw County, which in recent years has experienced rising numbers of cast-off employees and low-wage workers who officials say can't afford insurance.



"We've been higher than the state because Saginaw has been economically de-pressed," said Randy Barst, executive director of the Saginaw County Department of Human Services, formerly known as the Family Independence Agency.