Poverty in Utah is at its lowest level since 1980, according to a new Utah Foundation report, but a growing number of Utahns lack health insurance.
The report, based on Census Bureau data, suggests Utah's average poverty rate for the years 1995-97 was 8.3 percent, "well below the national poverty rate of 13.6 percent and the third lowest in the country.""The poverty rates have dropped for Utah and they are particularly low by national comparisons. That's certainly good. The problem area is obviously the number of people who are uninsured," said Michael Christensen, executive director of Utah Foundation, a private public policy research agency.
According to the report, some 280,000 Utahns had no health insurance in 1997, up from previous years' comparisons.
Christensen said the increase was likely attributed to the rising cost of medical care and health insurance.
Nearly 16 percent of people nationwide had no insurance, compared to 12.7 percent of Utahns who had no health coverage.
"In Utah and for the United States as a whole, the number of people, as well as the percent of the population that are without health insurance, has inched upward throughout the 1990s. The biggest reason for this is the rising cost of medical and health insurance," he said.
Utah is making headway in insuring children whose parents' incomes are low but too high to qualify for government health-care programs.
Since August, some 3,500 children have been enrolled in the new state Children's Health Insurance Program, said policy consultant Chad Westover.
Advocates for Utah's poor cautioned that reports of a good economy paint an incomplete picture.
"It's generally good news that Utah's strong economy is generating greater income for low-income people but it doesn't tell the whole story," said Bill Crim of Utah Issues, which advocates on behalf of low- and middle-income people.
While Utah's median household income has climbed to $40,322, according to a 1996-97 average, housing prices have exploded, Crim said.
Health care and insurance costs also have risen, after remaining stable for some time.
"People who can't afford housing and basic health care are at huge risk," Crim said.
While Utah's poverty rate has dropped, Crim said, it is important to understand what the federal poverty rate means in terms of dollars.
The federal cutoff for a family of three is a household income of $1,100 a month.
"That barely pays rent, food and maybe a minimum car payment. For most people, it's not enough to live on," Crim said.
While low interest rates have helped more people move into home ownership, there remains a lack of affordable starter homes.
Crim said that during a recent visit to Heber, he toured what were described as "starter home townhouses.
"There were no yards and no land. The starting price was $115,000. The woman showing us the place couldn't afford to qualify for the loan. It's those folks we work for and worry about," he said.