As the number of people without health insurance grows, trends in this group are in the news.  In May, the American Hospital Association (AHA) newsletter, AHA NewsNow, cited two reports on the uninsured.  

The first, dated May 4th and based on a report released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reported an increase in the number of workers electing not to enroll in employer's health insurance plans.   The second, dated May 24th and based on a report released by the Commonwealth Fund, reported that young adults (18-29) are the largest and fastest growing group of uninsured.   Both reports stated that over 50% of those surveyed cited cost as the reason they are not insured.

For the first time in 2005/06, the Healthcare Market Guide survey asked uninsured respondents why they didn't have insurance. In the National Market, 66.4% of those who have no insurance responded "Can't afford the cost of insurance." The Market High/Low on the cost response ranges from   34.4% in Trenton , NJ to 81.5% in Tulsa, OK. Less than 5% of MSAs reported percentages of this response at less than 50%.