Implications for Nevada:

• The percentage of uninsured remains persistently high in Nevada – almost 3 percentage points in 2005.
• Hispanics and African Americans are more likely to have no health care coverage and these populations are growing in Nevada.
• Even though poverty has increased in Nevada since 2001, Medicaid coverage remains much lower than in the U.S. measured in the percentage covered.
• Fewer firms of all sizes are offering health care coverage and fewer workers who are offered coverage take it – this trend will continue.
• Service workers, of which Nevada has a higher share than the U.S., are the least likely to be offered health care coverage.
• Over 54 percent of Nevada’s business establishments have only 1 to 4 workers; an overwhelming 94 percent have from 1 to 49 workers and these firms are the least likely to be able to offer health care coverage.

In conclusion, we believe Nevada must continue its efforts to provide outreach and programs to alleviate the endemic problem of uninsured people.