uninsured americans

Covering the uninsured

/ marianna68 / Leave a comment

Forty-seven million Americans, including more than 9 million children, are living without health care coverage. It’s time to start planning for the sixth annual Cover the Uninsured Week and help get America covered.

Statistically shocking, especially with the number of children out there who are not insured and they should be a priority in this industrialized nation.  If a child cannot qualify for Medicaid (and tell me how is is NOT possible) then there should be something in place to cover these children. 

Key Findings from the New Census Data

  • The number of people without health insurance was 46.6 million in 2005, compared to 45.3 million in 2004, and 41.2 million in 2001
  • The percentage of Americans without insurance rose to 15.9 percent in 2005, higher than the 15.6 percent level in 2004 and much higher than the 14.9 percent level in 2001.
  • The percentage of Americans who are uninsured rose largely because the percentage of people with employer-sponsored coverage continued to decline, as it has in the past several years.
  • The percentage of children under 18 who are uninsured rose from 10.8 percent in 2004 to 11.2 percent in 2005, while the number of uninsured children climbed from 7.9 million in 2004 to 8.3 million in 2005, an increase of 360,000.
  • Lack of insurance is much more common among people with low incomes.  Some 24.4 percent of people with incomes below $25,000 were uninsured in 2005, almost triple the rate of 8.5 percent among people with incomes over $75,000.
  • African-Americans (19.6 percent uninsured) and Hispanics (32.7 percent) were much more likely to be uninsured than white, non-Hispanic people (11.3 percent).

Ways to get involved:

There are many ways for you and your community to get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week 2008:

Planning materials are available to help you get started. And we’ll help you stay up to date on the most current facts and latest news on the issue. Sign up for the latest news and updates on the Week.

Websites:

http://covertheuninsured.org/

http://www.kff.org/uninsured/3201-index.cfm

http://www.healthykids-oregon.org/

http://www.communitiesincharge.org/Documents/PhaseII%20PressRelease/Washington.htm

http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics_reflib.asp?id=142&parentid=71&rID=1

http://www.cbpp.org/8-29-06health.htm