One-third of Americans lacked health insurance; double reported by the Census Bureau

[dajoki]

Study finds 89.6 million lacked health insurance
One-third of people in the U.S. under 65 went without coverage for some or all of the last two years, reports an advocacy group.
By Jordy Yager, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 21, 2007
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-uninsured21sep21,1,1634196.story?coll=la-news-a_section

WASHINGTON -- -- More than one-third of the people in the United States under the age of 65 had no health insurance for some or all of 2006 and 2007, according to a study released Thursday by Families USA, an advocacy group for the uninsured.

The 89.6 million individuals identifying themselves as lacking insurance for at least a month, according to the advocacy group, was almost double the number of uninsured reported by the Census Bureau for 2006.

"It's simply unacceptable that for lack of basic health coverage, nearly 90 million Americans had to live in fear of illness and injury in the last two years," said Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees national healthcare programs.

<<snip>>

"This is a story of working people, working families. This is not a story of people looking for a handout," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. "These are people who simply can't afford to pay for health coverage with their modest paychecks."

Since Families USA's first study, covering the years 1999 and 2000, the number of periodically uninsured individuals has risen by 17 million. The most significant factor in the that increase is the rising cost of insurance, Pollack said.

[NMDemDist2]

1. we've been without for over 3 years

hoping that will change in the next couple months though finally...

[dajoki]

3. I feel for you...

My wife recently got health insurance with her employer(taken out of her pay, of course)and they would not pay for a test that she needed. I do not know how they get away with this crap. Anyway, good luck to you!!

[NMDemDist2]

5. it will cost a tenth of the weekly salary

a TENTH a dime of every dollar will go to 'health insurance' that will at best cover 90% of costs of any procedures

so if (God forbid) we actually have to use it, we'll still have big bills to cover

most folks here go to Lubbock TX for heart/cardiology care. it was just announced that the Cardiology practice over there will no longer accept Blue Cross/Blue Shield from New Mexico, they aren't paying their bills......

[dajoki]

6. This is totally...

out of control. You pay a fortune in premiums and they still find a way to rip you off. I gave up long ago hoping for help from the government, I just wish they would stop doing the damage they are doing.

[NMDemDist2]

7. my friend who has goverment insurance through disablity is OK

she gets her medical services quickly and for no $$$

it's us working people dealing with a for profit insurance company who are screwed

[dajoki]

10. Yes...

I am on SSD and Medicare is OK, although there is cost involved(deductibles, copays, etc.) But it doesn't replace good health. Anyway, it is just one of the many reasons we should have some kind of Universal Health Care system.

[snappyturtle]

2. Wow! I believe this one a whole lot more than the numbers

we've been hearing.

We're without too....it's been four years...and hopefully soon can afford "something"...maybe a high deductible but something to protect us from catastropic illness costs.

[dajoki]

4. Yeah, me too...

This is such a horrible story, I wish I had the power to fix it, but I don't. I have Medicare and like I said above, my wife just got ins. through employer, which she pays dearly for. My prayers are with you!!

[snappyturtle]

8. We have had health insurance in the past....good insurance and

neither of us has been "sick" since 1992...overnite hospital stay...that's it but those premiums kept going up and up. Through mergers etc. we got royally screwed to put it mildly and unfortunately grew older! Had a high deductible and that even got outrageous. When we set out on our own in business we were really cooked in the insurance department....kept it for a while and then just couldn't do it and keep the business going.

I just turned sixty and my husband is fifty-five so no medicare. We try to take good care of ourselves....grow some veggies and eat as wisely as possible and we keep our fingers crossed. Now that we're almost there, with the addition of a few employees will try for some small group plan....that may be bad too. I just don't understand how this nation can spend,spend,spend on this awful war machine and people at home have nothing for health care. (I recognize the loss of soldiers is too high a price too...and first reason to get out.)

Thirty years ago while spending a summer skiing and climbing in Zermatt,Switzerland I racked up a knee and was sent to the health center in Zermatt for daily treatment....wonderful...and I kept waiting for a bill but nothing! Thirty years ago! Still can't get over it. Got wonderful service and a treatment my orthopedic doctor here was all "ears" about. I don't even want to hear about any kind of health plan that involves private insurance companies especially considering what a good job the government has done on the prescription drug program. :sarcasm:

Sorry for the rant!

[dajoki]

9. Don't apologize...

I understand, when I think about the poverty and healthcare situation in this country I want to put my fist through a wall. It amazes me that these other countries can do it but the so-called "greatest nation on earth" has no clue. BTW, I agree with your assesment with the prescription drug program.:pals:

[slipslidingaway]

11. K&R Is there more support for a single payer system than we

are being told?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1869822&mesg_id=1869822

[dajoki]

12. Yes...

I believe there is.

[slipslidingaway]

13. Me too and kick n/t

[dajoki]

14. What can we do?

I have called and written my reps. but to no avail. I truly feel like we are nothing but a herd of sheep being led around by our noses. I don't want to just give up, but it has gotten to the point of complete disgust. If you have any ideas, please let me know.

[slipslidingaway]

16. Not sure what else to do, that's why I'm supporting a candidate

who wants to remove the profits and use them to provide HC. It's just too large of an issue for me to support someopne else.

largest domestic issue -- health care

largest foreign issue -- stopping the next war

[flpoljunkie]

15. This is UNACCEPTABLE in supposedly the richest industrialized country in the world!Wake up, America!