When underinsured residents are factored in — those who either lack health insurance or find their coverage inadequate to cover their needs — that total reaches 1.5 million, or one in three Colorado residents.
The weak economy, lingering unemployment and the increasing cost of health insurance premiums were the most common reasons behind the trend, according to the survey. Of those, the leading barrier to gaining health insurance was the high cost of insurance, as 85 percent of surveyed residents said premiums were too costly.
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