Study: 22% of
Gays Lack Health Insurance

Nearly a quarter of gay and lesbian Americans lack proper health insurance and are twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to have no health insurance coverage, according to a new study. Harris Interactive reported Monday that 22% of gay and lesbian survey respondents have no health insurance, compared with 12% of heterosexual adults in the survey.

Eighty-four percent of LGBT survey participants also said it was important that employers seek out health insurance companies that provide domestic-partner health coverage when choosing specific health care providers. Sixty-seven percent said they would be likely to consider a health insurer if they knew that the agent selling the insurance plan was openly LGBT.

"We must step up all efforts to serve the uninsured and take the lead in transforming our health care system for not only our GLBT members but all those who are not covered by health insurance today," Peter Francel, head of the sales product group for Aetna, said in a press release on Monday. (The Advocate)