The uninsured in the Seattle/King County area can currently access primary health care services through the safety net of Community Health Centers and Public Health Clinics. When patients need care beyond what is available in these primary care service centers, however, the lack of a safety net for specialty services has a significant negative impact on the health of individuals and the communities in which they live. When a worker hurts his knee and is unable to see an orthopedic surgeon, for example, he may not be treated until the injury has become so severe that he seeks emergency department care. Unfortunately, this outcome is the most costly for the overall system.

Through its support of programs such as King County Project Access and the Patient Assistance Program at Pacific Medical Centers, the PHPDA works to increase access to specialty care for the uninsured and underinsured. Better access for all patients results in improved health, lowered costs, and greater productivity in our communities.

Sixty percent of the uninsured are working people—often in service, agricultural, retail or construction jobs. In King County, 41 percent of residents with household earnings between $15,000 and $24,999 lack health insurance. Three quarters of the uninsured in Washington state have at least one worker in the family. In addition, young adults are often left out of the insurance system; persons aged 18–24 are less likely to receive employer-based insurance than other workers. (Public Health Data Watch, “The Uninsured in King County 1995–2004”, Sept 2005)