Living on the Edge

[dweller]

The uninsured used to exist on the margins of society. Now they're most likely next door
By Susan Brink

Christine Young has taken leftover antibiotics to fight what she thought might have been a bronchial
infection. "I know that's bad, but I had swollen glands. I had to do something," she says. Her husband,
Rickie, stretched out the medication he had for his severe heartburn, a condition once diagnosed as
gastroesophageal reflux disease, by taking less than the prescribed dose. They lost their health
insurance about a year ago when Rickie was laid off from his job as a chef. They're struggling through
their first year as small-business owners--Nick's Original Philly Cheesesteaks in Stockbridge, Ga. They
can't afford health insurance, their stash of prescription medication is gone, and every time one of
them coughs or burps, they can only wonder if it's a minor bug or a major ax about to fall. "I feel like I
just don't have a safety net under me," says Christine.

They don't. The Youngs are among the 41.2 million people in America who have no health
insurance. New figures from the Census Bureau show that the numbers, up by 1.4 million between
2000 and 2001, are rising again after a brief dip at the end of the economically fat and sassy 1990s.
And while the bulk of those without insurance are the working poor, more than 13 million uninsured
people live in a household with income of at least $50,000 a year.

Ripple effects make the numbers even worse. The Institute of Medicine recently released a report
showing that 58 million people are either uninsured or live with a family member who is uninsured. And
when one family member lacks access to healthcare, it affects the stability of the entire household.

When family budgets are tight, it's usually the breadwinner who gets covered. "Families try to make a
calculation. They basically place a bet. Typically they get coverage for the wage earner. It's like
playing the lottery," says George Eads, vice president of Charles River Associates and a member of the
Institute of Medicine's committee on the consequences of uninsurance. If someone else in the family
gets seriously ill, they all lose the gamble.

much more frightening and sad info here

dp

edit: i found this following a link from ailsagirl's post
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x124233

and just realized it's a 2002 article. So this is NOT a new phenomena.

[FloridaPat]

1. My health insurance was $700 for a single person and I had to cancel

it after I got laid off. Can't afford it. So I've "saved" $25,000 so far. Then there are all the stories of insurance comapnies that won't pay for one reason or another. I've even heard of insurance companies refusing to pay and giving back the premiums. We are the only industrilized country in the world without nation health.

Also, these figures suggest that only 25% of the population are uninsured. Are 75% insured? I find that hard to believe.

[dweller]

2. it's a 2002 article

and the figure is now much higher of the uninsured.

let me see if i can find a current %.

dp

[dweller]

3. 45 Million Americans Uninsured Census Bureau Says

http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/45M-Americans-Uninsured26aug04.htm

in 2004.


Millions of employed Americans uninsured and unable to get Medical Care
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=9577


Working But Uninsured: Millions of Employed Americans Uninsured and Unable to Get Medical Care
http://news.corporate.findlaw.com/prnewswire/20050427/27apr2005093612.html

the last two links from 4/27/05

dp

[FloridaPat]

4. So only 15% of the people have no insurance. So why can't something

be done about us? That figure isn't bad. I thought a lot more companies didn't have health care.