The percentage of Bay Area people under 65 and in need of health insurance was the greatest in Napa and Sonoma counties in 2018, according to the latest data.
Eight percent of people in Napa County and 8.2 percent in Sonoma County were without insurance, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Statewide, the percentage of the people under 65 without health insurance was 8.3 percent in 2018.
Here’s how the counties ranked.
In the East Bay, the number of uninsured appears to be rising since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We’ve seen an increase, but not a sharp increase,” said Lucinda Bazile, deputy director of LifeLong Medical Care, a community health care clinic where some people without insurance get care.
Bazile suggested LifeLong may see a larger increase in the future because people are feeling a little apprehensive about going to a health care provider during the pandemic.