This study examines the health insurance coverage of the nonelderly population in U.S. urban and rural areas in 1989, using data from the March 1990 Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census. Access to coverage was assessed by classifying all persons by family employment status and income. Rural residents had less access to coverage than urban residents but were only slightly less likely to be insured. In comparison to urban residents, fewer rural residents obtained coverage through employment, and more purchased private coverage outside the work place. The differences in coverage by family employment status and income were generally much greater than the differences by place of residence.