22 Percent Of Gays Lack Health Insurance

Nearly a quarter of gay and lesbian Americans lack proper health insurance, while gay men and lesbians are twice as likely as their heterosexual counterparts to have no health coverage, according to a new poll. Harris Interactive reported Monday that 22 percent of gay and lesbian survey respondents have no health insurance, compared to 12 percent of heterosexual adults in the survey.

Eighty-four percent of LGBT survey participants said it was important for health insurance companies to provide domestic partner health coverage when choosing specific health care providers. Sixty-seven percent said they would be likely to consider a health insurer if they knew that the agent selling the insurance plan was openly LGBT.

"We must step up all efforts to serve the uninsured and take the lead in transforming our health care system for not only our GLBT members but all those who are not covered by health insurance today," Peter Francel CEBS, head of sales-product group for Aetna, said Monday in a written statement. [ The Advocate ]