(Washington, DC) The DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) is using the beginning of Black History Month to bring attention to the disparities in health insurance coverage in the District of Columbia.

“Health insurance is critical to the peace of mind of most Americans, but it has become increasingly complex and expensive,” said DISB Commissioner Thomas E. Hampton. “It is especially troubling as more than 70,000 District residents are without health coverage.”

According to recent research by DiversityData, for the Washington, DC, metro area, about 17.2 percent of non-Hispanic blacks are without health coverage. Non-Hispanic Asians/Pacific Islanders are at 18.5 percent and whites are at 6.8 percent. Alarmingly, Hispanics without health coverage are at 34.1 percent. The DiversityData project identifies metropolitan area indicators of diversity, opportunity, quality of life and health for various racial and ethnic population groups. DiversityData’s numbers reflect similar findings by the Census Bureau.

In working to close some of the disparities, DISB, as a member of the DC Department of Health’s HRSA State Planning Grant Health Care Coverage Advisory Panel, conducted meetings with health insurance carriers to find alternative solutions for the District’s uninsured. In June 2006, the Council of the District of Columbia enacted the Healthy DC Act to provide health insurance coverage with a subsidized premium to residents at 400 percent or below the federal poverty level. DISB sought other means to assist those unable to receive assistance from the law.

In the meantime, the agency encourages uninsured District residents to seek alternative health coverage such as the following: Medicaid, DC Healthcare Alliance, Healthy DC, DC Healthy Families Insurance, most of which are free or at below-cost, and administered by the DC Department of Health. In addition, residents may consider CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield’s Open Enrollment Program.
 
“Across the nation, more than 47 million people are without health coverage, and are particularly vulnerable as targets by companies selling discount health cards or fraudulent health insurance,” Hampton said. “All consumers should be aware that discount health cards are not insurance plans, and therefore aren’t regulated by DISB. Before purchasing any kind of health insurance, all consumers should protect themselves against scams by taking a few minutes to STOP, CALL DISB at (202) 727-8000 and CONFIRM that the company offering the policy is legitimate and authorized to sell insurance in the District.”