LEWISTON — About 10,700 people in Androscoggin County — 10 percent of residents — didn’t have health insurance in 2013.

Of those uninsured, most were poor but working.

The 2013 total of 10,713 people without insurance was up slightly from 9,949 people in 2012. Both years had a margin of error of about 1,800 people, which could widen or eliminate the year-to-year difference.

Although they were uninsured, most of those 10,713 people had jobs. They were roughly split between those who worked full time and those who worked part time. Most of the people who were uninsured earned above the poverty level.

The numbers were released Thursday as part of the 2013 American Community Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. Because sample sizes were small, data were released only for the six largest counties in Maine.

In the tri-county area, only Androscoggin County’s data were available. 

Small sample sizes also produced large margins of error, making age, precise income and other details difficult to accurately analyze and compare.

At 10 percent, Androscoggin County’s uninsured rate was the second-lowest of the six counties whose numbers were released Thursday. Only Cumberland County was lower at 8.9 percent.

The others were: Aroostook County, 10.8 percent; Kennebec County, 12.8 percent; Penobscot County, 12.1 percent; and York County, 10.3 percent.

Statewide, Maine’s uninsured rate was 11.2 percent.

The census is expected to release health insurance data for smaller counties and cities later this year. 

ltice@sunjournal.com

Uninsured in Maine’s six largest counties:

Androscoggin: 10 percent

Aroostook: 10.8 percent

Cumberland: 8.9 percent.

Kennebec: 12.8 percent

Penobscot: 12.1 percent

York: 10.3 percent.

Statewide: 11.2 percent.

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