Number without health insurance grew in '04

[fencesitter]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/12518538.htm

The number of people without health insurance in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and across the nation increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While a decline in employer-based health insurance was somewhat offset by an increase in people with government coverage, the nation's uninsured increased by more than 800,000, to 45.8 million

<snip>

The growing reliance on Medicaid comes as the federal government seeks to reduce its funding of the program.

"Congress is going back into session armed to cut Medicaid, which is the one thing that is saving people all over the country," said Shelly Yanoff, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth

[Karmageddon]

1. 15.7% of the population w/o healthcare in the wealthiest nation on earth.

Food for thought:

The number of uninsured in this country currently is equal to the populations of Oklahoma, Connecticutt, Iowa, Mississippi, Kansas, Arkansas, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, West Virgina, Nebraska, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming. Combined.

Read that again. Think about it. Look at a map, and color all those states red and ponder the implication of all those people in all those states being uninsured in the richest nation in the history of the world. And then try not to be embarrassed by that fact. (or try not to laugh too hard if you're reading this from a country other than the U.S.).

[UrbScotty]

2. For those who haven't counted, that's 24 STATES.

What is our "compassionate" president doing about it?

[UrbScotty]

3. But why worry? The sanctuty of marriage is protected!

:sarcasm:

:mad:

[Lindacooks]

4. Gee, the fourth year in a row, huh? Hmmmm, who exactly has

been in power for those four years?

It's the chimp's fault. Nobody elses. That little rat bastard belongs in jail just for the number of people he's hurt with his medieval, ruthless policies.

[Opusnone]

5. The Govt numbers are low

I don't believe for a second the numbers put out by the government.
Whether it's the unelployment rate (much higher) or the uniinsured (much, much higher) take all they say with a grain of salt and be happy if you have health coverage.

[area51]

6. Welcome.

Welcome to DU, Opusnone.

[sybylla]

8. I agree. Far more than 15% of the people I know are without ins.

Before someone starts bitching, I know that's not scientific. But there are so many uninsured and underinsured that I have a difficult time believing it's so low.

[brentspeak]

7. Who cares? The number of millionaires grew in '04!

Bush's "Ownership Society" works!

:sarcasm:

[myrmenki]

9. What happens to people w/o insurance

when they need medical treatment?

Sorry if the question sounds naive, but I can't imagine the consequences. I assume that if people are uninsured they have to get treatment for free, necessarily. But how much do they get and who pays for them? (I'm not from the US and simply don't know very much about how things are in your country.)

Can you tell me: What happens if someone needs:

- emergency treatment or surgery (after an accident, or with acute apendicitis, a heart attack etc.)

- treatment that often can be planned a while in advance (like cancer treatment, heart surgery)

- necessary treatment which doesn't save lives, like cataract surgery etc.

- prophylactic treatment (like monitoring during pregnancy, inoculations etc.)

- who provides people with wheelchairs, guide dogs etc.? Who pays for their medication?

I really don't understand who is responsible for those people without health insurance, and I'd really like to ask you who ultimately pays for them?