NOT GOOD >>>

A new study from the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner gives a bleak picture of our state's population without health insurance. The number of Washingtonians with no health insurance has reached 1 million, according to a new report from state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. About 14.5 percent now have no coverage at all.

See the whole study at:
http://www.insurance.wa.gov/legislative/uninsured-washington.shtml

"This is a grim milestone for the state, and we believe the situation will remain bleak for two more years," said Kreidler. "But it's important for people to know that there is hope is on the horizon."

• Among the report's findings: From 2008 through 2010:
• The number of uninsured people in Washington grew by 180,000.
• Charity care by hospitals and health care providers rose a staggering 36 percent.
• And the percentage of residents without health coverage worsened in 31 of 39 counties.
• In several counties, more than 1 in 5 residents has no health coverage.

Counties with a particularly high percentage of uninsured residents include: Adams, Grant, Okanogan, Franklin and Yakima. But the problem also worsened in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane counties.