Report: Michigan Slides In Health Insurance Coverage

[Purveyor]

Benefit cuts, layoffs push state below the national average

Michigan, longtime home of some of the best health benefits in the nation, has fallen below the national average of companies offering health insurance, a new report to be released today finds.

The number of people without insurance also grew, particularly among those ages 35 to 64 and those without a college education, the report found. Black and Hispanic people are disproportionally affected, the report said.

The number of uninsured people increased as more employers cut costly benefits or workers were laid off and lost coverage.

The "Cover Michigan" report documents "a state under stress," where health insurance coverage has deteriorated since 2000, said Marianne Udow-Phillips, director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation.

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: http://www.freep.com/article/20090126/BUSINESS06/901260337/Report++Michigan+slides+in+health+insurance+coverage