Health insurance coverage of the working poor

This study examines the working poor, and their pattern of health insurance coverage. The data indicate that in 1977 almost 22% of the working poor lack health insurance throughout the year. Moreover, children of the working poor were almost twice as likely as children of the poor nonemployed to be without coverage. The implications of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (OBRA) which restricted the working poor's eligibility for Medicaid are discussed. It is argued that being employed, in itself, does not guarantee poor people access to medical care and may, in fact, serve to restrict it.