A growing body of research indicates that adequate health insurance coverage is a key component of family financial security. In 2007, 62% of all bankruptcies were related to medical debt and approximately half of all mortgage foreclosures in the following year were also caused by medical debt or illness. This means, families without health insurance are an illness away from asset poverty as medical bills can quickly consume a lifetime of savings.

The recently released, Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, gave California a “D” grade because of the high levels of uninsured children and adults in the state. An Asset Support Center brief explores emerging opportunities as well as efforts underway to expand health insurance coverage at the county and state level.