Most States See Significant Drop in Employer-Sponsored Health Care

More than 3 million Americans have lost employer-sponsored health care since 2000 and the vast majority of U.S. states have seen significant declines in employer coverage this decade, the Economic Policy Institute reports.

Forty-one states in every region of the country have experienced losses, with South Carolina, North Carolina, Missouri and Maryland seeing drops in employer coverage exceeding 7 percent, EPI said. No state has seen an increase.

More losses are expected as unemployment rises. ""The health care problem has reached a critical level," said Elise Gould, author of the EPI study. "Bold new solutions need to be considered to address the growing crisis."

Hawaii, has the highest rate of employer-sponsored coverage, with just over 80 percent of workers covered in 2006-07. Hawaii requires employers to provide health insurance to employees who work at least 20 hours a week.

More coverage of the report and an interactive map are available at www.epi.org.