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A significant number of Moffat County residents are living either without health insurance or are underinsured, officials from the Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurse Association said.

According to estimates compiled by the VNA, there are 1,300 people in Moffat County, including 350 children, with limited or no health insurance. There are about 45 million Americans, or 15 percent of the population, without health insurance, according to 2005 Census Bureau estimates.

"It's terribly high," said Carrie Godes, VNA director of community care. "The fact that it's still a problem is very upsetting to us."

Raising awareness to the health care, or lack thereof, problem in Moffat County and other communities is what the VNA is trying to do this week, which marks Cover the Uninsured Week.

Godes and VNA outreach coordinator Carol Sharp will speak to the Craig City Council at today's meeting, 7 p.m. at City Hall, about Moffat County and state health care statistics.

"We just want to spend this week raising awareness of the problem and letting people know how to access health care," said Sharp, who's been visiting with area politicos about health care issues.

Cover the Uninsured Week presses for health care coverage for all uninsured Americans and attempts to garner support for reauthorization of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Authorized in 1997, the program provides health coverage for children in families earning too much to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to afford private insurance.

Sharp said no VNA events have been scheduled in Moffat County to coincide with Cover the Uninsured Week, but officials are speaking with area officials about improved health care measures.

Sharp said the VNA also will attempt to dispel myths about people living without health care, namely that they are going without because they are unemployed. She said statistics indicate that 80 percent of people without health care are employed, but still cannot afford the costs of private insurance.

If you go

The Craig City Council will host a joint workshop with the Moffat County commissioners at 5:30 p.m. today at City Hall leading up to the 7 p.m. regular meeting. The status of the Craig/Moffat County Economic Development Partnership will be discussed during the workshop.