Nate Jenkins, Associated Press
March 18, 2009

Nearly 30 percent of Nebraskans under age 65 had no health insurance at some point during 2007 or 2008, according to a new report.

And separate statistics also released on Wednesday show a sharp increase in Nebraska businesses with workers or their family members on Medicaid.

The health-consumer organization Families USA said in its report that of the 460,000 Nebraskans who were uninsured at some time during 2007 and 2008, 338,000 were uninsured for six months or more.

The report also says more than 84 percent of those who went without coverage for a time were members of working families.

Families USA says the report is based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau as well as a medical expenditure survey used by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality.

Separately, statistics compiled by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services show that the number of midsize and large businesses in the state with employees or their family members on Medicaid has more than tripled since 2005.

The figures were requested from the department by state Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha.

“It’s shocking,” Nordquist said of the statistics. “This should be a warning sign that we need to do something, now. It’s a sign employers are cutting back benefits. ... We need to go to the business community and say, ’Why is this happening,’ and, ’Is there anything we can do?“’

Only businesses with 25 or more employees are included in the statistics. The list includes both businesses based in Nebraska and those based elsewhere but with operations in Nebraska.

As of March 11, 484 such businesses had 37,435 employees and their family members enrolled in Medicaid. In 2005, there were 147 businesses with 9,369 employees and family members on Medicaid.

Some employees and family members may have been counted twice or more if they worked at more than one of the businesses included in the statistics released on Wednesday.

The government-funded program provides health insurance to low-income residents.

The total number of Nebraskans eligible for Medicaid has risen after remaining around 202,000 people for the past 18 months, said Vivianne Chaumont, director of Medicaid and long-term care for Nebraska.

There were about 207,000 people in the program last month, she said.

Medicaid is one of state government’s largest expenses. About $591 million was set aside for the program this year.

There are no bills pending in the Legislature that would address the issues highlighted by the statistics, Nordquist said.

But he and other lawmakers may look at the issue as part of a broader study on health-care reform after the current legislative session ends in June.