By John Myers, Duluth News Tribune, Minn.

Feb. 6–The number of Minnesotans who don’t have health insurance coverage rose nearly 27 percent between 2007 and 2009, according to a study released Friday by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The number of people without health coverage rose from 374,000 in 2007 to

480,000 last year — about 9.1 percent of the state’s population. The study, conducted in conjunction with the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, blamed a decline in the percentage of Minnesotans who had employer-sponsored health-care plans — from 62.5 percent to 57.2 percent.

“The economic recession has had a clear impact on health insurance access and affordability,” said Sanne Magnan, Minnesota commissioner of health, in a prepared statement.

Minnesota is one of the first states to report 2009 health insurance coverage.

“We think it is likely that national rates of uninsurance for 2009 will show an upward trend, just as they did in Minnesota,” said Stefan Gildemeister, assistant director of the Health Economics Program at the health department.

The study also found that the rate of minority residents without health coverage is more than double the level for whites.

Uninsurance rates were also higher for young adults and people with low incomes. An estimated 22 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds in Minnesota were uninsured.

The study results are based on a telephone survey of more than 12,000 Minnesota households conducted from August through November 2009.

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