Race and Hispanic Origin (Race data refer to those reporting a single race only. Hispanics can be of any race.)
The uninsured rate and number of uninsured for non-Hispanic whites increased in 2008 to 10.8 percent and 21.3 million, from 10.4 percent and 20.5 million in 2007. The uninsured rate and number of uninsured for blacks in 2008, meanwhile, were not statistically different from 2007, at 19.1 percent and 7.3 million. The uninsured rate for Asians in 2008, 17.6 percent, was not statistically different from 2007.
The percentage of uninsured Hispanics decreased to 30.7 percent in 2008, from 32.1 percent in 2007. The number of uninsured Hispanics was not statistically different in 2008, at 14.6 million.
Based on a three-year average (2006-2008), 31.7 percent of people who reported American Indian and Alaska Native as their race were without coverage. The three-year average uninsured rate for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders was 18.5 percent.
Nativity
The uninsured rates for the native-born and foreign-born populations were statistically unchanged at 12.9 percent and 33.5 percent, respectively, in 2008. Among the foreign-born population, the uninsured rates for both naturalized citizens (18.0 percent) and noncitizens (44.7 percent) were statistically unchanged.
Look at the big discrepancy in insured vs. uninsured rates corresponding to citizens vs. noncitizens. The latter and larger group is likely the one that's being "paid under the table" to perform yard work, babysitting, food service, etc. The people I see hanging around the railroad tracks at Delaware and Third Streets in West Berkeley, hoping for some day labor work, are very likely not here legally, and are part of this very large uninsured group.