Did You Know?
This page presents basic information on the uninsured and Medicaid. The facts were derived from sources listed at the end of the page.
About the Uninsured
At any point in time there is an estimated 129,000 uninsured persons in St. Louis City and County. Over the course of a year the number of uninsured persons in St. Louis City and County can be as high as 175,000.
- 70% of these individuals reside in St. Louis County
Most people without insurance work, but have low-income jobs and no offered health care benefits
According to a report released by the Institute of Medicine in May 2002, working-age Americans without health insurance are more likely to:
- Receive too little medical care and receive it too late
- Be sicker and die sooner
Kaiser Family Foundation
www.kff.org
The Access Project
www.accessproject.org
Institute of Medicine
www.iom.gov
For more information on the challenges facing people without health insurance, visit
CoveringTheUninsured.org
About Medicaid
The Missouri Medicaid Program serves over 860,000 adults and children - 1 in every 7 Missouri residents
20% of Missouri's 9,100 physicians do not participate as Medicaid providers
2/3 of the physicians participating in Medicaid see less than 50 Medicaid patients per year
Only 347 providers have a significant Medicaid practice - these doctors account for over 50% of all outpatient care received by Medicaid patients
- Missouri Medicaid payments are among the lowest in the United States
(48th out of 50 states)
- Missouri Medicaid pays physicians about 50% of what other Midwestern states pay for providing outpatient care
The following organizations offer additional information about Medicaid:
Missouri Division of Medical Services
573-751-3425
Medicaid Managed Care (MC+) Helpline at 1-800-348-6627.
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
314-534-4200
Sources
Fact Sheets. CoveringTheUninsured.org, 2000.
Developing Viable Solutions for St. Louis Indigent Health Care, Final Report. The Lewin Group, 2000
Copyright ©2002. Saint Louis Regional Health Commission.
All rights reserved.