82 Million in U.S. Lacked Health Insurance -Study

[UpInArms]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5441315

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Almost 82 million people in the United States or one in three under age 65 had no health insurance for at least one month in the past two years, a study by a consumer group said on Wednesday.

Nearly two-thirds of those people had no insurance for at least six months during 2002 and 2003, and just over half went without benefits for at least nine months, according to the study by Washington-based Families USA.

Many of the uninsured had middle-class incomes and live in presidential battleground states where a pollster said voters' fears of losing their health benefits could tip the balance.

"The growing number of Americans without health insurance is now a phenomenon that significantly affects middle-class and working families," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.

Among people who earned roughly $56,000 a year to $75,000, more than one in four were uninsured, with four out of five of the uninsured in working families.

...more...

My family feels so much better knowing that we are part of such a large and growing group.

Also, this study excludes everyone over the age of 65 because they are covered by Medicare.

[Lauren2882]

1. Probably the biggest problem we have in this country..

.. It can't be exaggerated how broken the sytem is. Even for people who have insurance, it is often filled loopholes so wide that the insurance is virtually meaningless.

[wurzel]

2. If a terrorist attack occurs how would we cope with this system?

You'd think some one would ask this administration wouldn't you? The people in and around the twin towers probably had medical coverage. What would happen if that had been Harlem?

[Laughing Mirror]

8. The cleaning people vacuuming the asbestos out of those apartments

around Ground Zero, bet they didn't have any kind of insurance at all. But the EPA said everything was fine and dandy. The mind reels at the lawsuits that will come flooding in once the damage begins to really manifest itself among the thousands of people whose health suffered irreperable damage because of this.

[DulceDecorum]

3. Maybe we should amend that to read

82 Million in U.S. not forking out money
to HMOs that will deny them medical treatment
and raise their premiums at the drop of a hat.

[Lauren2882]

4. That doesn't mean they're better off..

Member of the uninsured AND the underinsured are all in bad situations. It's time for single-payer.

[Somawas]

6. I got the same anger

the rest of you have over health insurance. Time for single-payer indeed. Chrysler and GM now say that about $1,800-$2,000 of the cost of each car is paying health insurance for one of their workers.

Corporate America may be ready to demand single-payer. Now how do we keep Bushco from whoring to the health care/pharmaceutical industrial complex?

[Lauren2882]

10. Corporate America..

I think it's an interesting claim that you make that they're ready for single payer. I don't agree that they're there yet, but it seems like it's only a matter of time. And I think that when they're ready, we won't have to worry.

[TheFarseer]

5. I got no health insurance & damn proud of it

Oh, I have to have it! I absolutely need it! Not for $200 a month I don't! I'll go flush my money directly down the toilet so that those A-holes can't get their greedy mitts on it.

[Lars39]

7. Have you had surgery or been hospitalized recently?

Did I miss your sarcasm tag? :shrug:

[TheFarseer]

9. no sarcasm, just anger

Haven't seen been in a hospital since I was born and I'm pissed off that people want me to pay $200 a month for nothing! Oh but you have peace of mind. yeah, I'd rather have my 200 bucks thanks. Maybe when I'm older and have money..........

[Lars39]

11. $200/month IS a lot of money.

My last surgery is costing upwards of $20,000. Worrying about paying the bill while trying to recuperate has been the most demoralizing thing I have ever experienced.

[TheFarseer]

12. I take it you didn't have insurance?

That would be bad. That would be the only thing, if I got hurt really bad I could be in trouble. It should be noted so I don't sound like a liar, that the $200 is for company insurance, I'm sure I could get it cheaper elsewhere, but I'm 25 and sit at a desk all day. I figure, what's going to happen? Back in Nebraska, when somebody got cancer or whatever we would have a pancake feed to help out, everybody donates whatever and they can score some pancakes after church. I always wondered if that really helped when you're facing a $20,000 bill. I suppose every little bit does though. But basically, health care and especially the costs of it in this country need work. Hope everything works out for you.

[Lars39]

13. Needing multiple surgeries and no insurance at this point in time

would bankrupt you, or hasten your death. There are a lot of non-accident scenarios in which you might have to have lots of tests and multiple surgeries, even at age 25. And the odds go up the older you get.

[cthrumatrix]

14. Our leader clearly "don't care" for solving this issue....

what does that tell you?

[uptown ruler]

15. crazy

my family insurance costs, for three of us, are about 20% of my take home pay...


Spread the Word
CausePimpingThePeopleAin’tEasy

maybe i need a different job....er.....or just another one...

[UpInArms]

16. as self-employed persons

my family's insurance would cost more than we even earn.

[JM]

17. We are only a year or two from losing ours

at the present rate. My wife has the benefits and works part-time. As a result more an more of her pay is eaten up by premium payments. For us to pay for benefits ourselves would be over $1000/month, far more than my mortgage, actually nearly double my mortgage.

Time for single payor is right. This is bullshit.

JM