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One-Third of Americans Went Without Health Care in Past 2 Years |
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Nearly 87 million people—more than one-third all Americans under age 65—were without health insurance for at least part of the past two years. Most of the uninsured came from working families.
This compelling new evidence on the need for comprehensive health care reform, including coverage for all, is contained in a new report by the health care advocacy group, Families USA.
The report, “Americans at Risk,” found that most of the uninsured lacked coverage for lengthy periods of time: 74.5 percent were uninsured for at least six months, and six in 10 were uninsured for nine months or more. More than half (52 percent) of individuals and families who went without health insurance had incomes between the federal poverty level and twice the poverty level—between $21,200 and $42,400.
Says Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA:
At this point, almost everyone in the country has had a family member, neighbor or friend who was uninsured, and that’s why meaningful health care reform can no longer be kept on the back burner.
President Obama in his recent address to Congress called for comprehensive health care reform that provides affordable quality care for everyone. His first budget proposal sets aside some $634 billion as a down payment on reform.
The AFL-CIO has not endorsed a specific plan but has established certain principles around which any plan should be built, including coverage for all, cost control and employers paying their fair share, along with individuals and the government. (Click here for more details.)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) says the new report is a “reality check.”
For those who believe we can afford to wait to fix our broken health care system, every American family deserves health care they can count on, and that means comprehensive coverage within a delivery system that provides high-quality, efficient, accessible, coordinated and affordable care.
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The problem isn’t simply that too many people are uninsured. It’s that too many who are paying for insurance are gettingn rotten coverage. Doctor bills account for half the personal bankruptcies in the US, but three quarters of those cases involved people who actually had insurance! High premiums, deductibles, co-payments, necessary procedures that aren’t covered, etc., etc.
The point is important because right now the motion in the US Senate is towards dealing with the health care crisis by requiring everybody to buy insurance, the way they do in Massachusetts (where you are foined $1,000 for failing to do so. The government is supposed to provide subsidies for people who can’t afford the premiums, but in practice a lot of people are being forced to buy cut-rate plans with gaping holes in their coverage. All that’s accomplished is to provide insurance companies with a legally guaranteed market, buttressed with our tax dollars for those who can’t afford to pay.
Obviously the insurance industry has a huge vested intrerest in this “solution.” We should be fighting against it with all we’ve got.
I agree! Topgun makes a significant point about not just getting coverage: what kind of coverage is it?
How many people have gone out on early retirement due to a disability for example who have coverage for a lets say a year , then have to pay COBRA or go for a supplemental insurance because medicare requires it: if they are eligible for medicare!
We are not talking about people not just is one category: and if anyone bleieves that being 65 or older is a safe place to for medical coverage: guess again!
The entire insurace industry needs overhauling: private insurance, disability insurance, workpersons compensation, social security, medicare etc.
It is outrageous how little the prescription drug companies give for benefits: some have some outrageous co-pays and no-pay rules! Ever see what they over for a generic drug at no cost while lipitor as an example gives better benefits at lower doses than its generics which are not compatible with other medications and could be fatally harmful if taken with those other drugs!
So what the real issue is that while the politicians carry on this debate our wallets and bank accounts (if anyone is lucky to still have one) hurt like hell!
In NYS we have the sorriest state insurance fund managing workers compensation and disability. Ergonomics is questioned and if you are a victim of carpel tunnel you have some fight on your hands.
So Health Insurance Reform is one big multi-facited issue and is not just a question of the indurance premiums! Its what you get and what we are getting now that needs addressing so others can receive what is rightfully theirs also! If health care was truly managed it would be there for everyone with no questions asked:
to each according to their ability and to ezc according to their need!
Sounds socialist? England is not a socialist country and that is how its works their, also in Canada! I urge everyone if you haven’t seen it: see Micheal Moore’s movie Sicko and then you will know what I am talking about! Screw politics: people have to come first!
One more note thanks again about the heads up on the Mass. plan and how it is something we do not want as a model.
I need to make a correction on part of my statement: Medicare does not become available when you go out on a disability and are awarded disability for 2 years. You have to buy your own insurance or get coverage from another source if you are able and eligible. Once medicare kicks in you will need to buy supplemental insurance to cover what medicare does not give you coverage for plus you will need to buy and subscribe to Medicare Part A B C or D and hope you can afford the premiums and the co-pays for your prescription drugs.
You have to stay with your previous insurance coverage the best you can if you have a condition that would come under the guise of a pre-existing condition for that new company insuring you not to give you the coverage you deserve.
No doubt about it: we need universal health care for all, but when we bet it what kind of coverage will it be and again what will be the kinds of gauntlets we may have to run in order to get it, keep it and most important of all maintain its costs in premiums and the coo doos for the insurance and drug companies. I hope this generates some serious thoughts and helps us in our success for real change.
Universal health insurance would make health care coverage independant of employment. Then workers would not be handcuffed to thier employment. Making employee loyality equal to corporate employer loyality to thier employees. Employees would then be empowered to leave jobs that they are disatisfied with holding. Employers would have to treat employees better to keep them from leaving.