This post is not about downplaying the problems with access to medical care in America but about bringing to light the necessary facts to lead us to a more reasonable conclusion on the proper remedies for expanding access.
Results from surveys conducted by the United States Census Bureau show that 15% of the American population is in fact uninsured. However, these results hold potential for a very large margin of error. Numbers are likely to be underreported, meaning coverage is likely to be significantly higher, and the individuals may have been uninsured just during the time that the surveys were taken.
Though there are 46 million Americans without health insurance, “lacking access” and simply being “uninsured” hold completely different implications.
Let's look at a break down of the numbers.
Of 46 million uninsured Americans:
· 38% earn more than $50,000 per year.
· 30% are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid & SCHIP but aren't registered.
· 25% are not U.S. citizens but merely reside in the U.S.
The government would like us to believe that the uninsured are simply "down and out." However, in 2008, of $86 billion spent on health care, $30 billion was by the uninsured. Thus, the largest group of uninsured Americans still recieve medical care.
A segment of this group (the largest group of uninsured) is classified as the "invincibles," according to the Commonwealth Fund, and is comprised of Americans aged 18-29. The invicibles category is one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the uninsured.
The second largest group of uninsured Americans qualify for government programs but are not enrolled. Twenty-seven percent non-elderly Americans are eligible for Medicaid yet not enrolled. During his campaign, President Obama constantly reiterated that nearly 8 million children lack accessto health insurance. The truth is nearly 6 million of these children (75% of 8 million) are in fact eligible for federally-mandated programs.
Why are they not enrolled? Finding the answer to this question is critical before we fundamentally change the way people access medical care in our country.
The third largest group of the uninsured, though they can still receive free treatment in the ER, is comprised of people merely living in the United States. They are not United States citizens and do not pay taxes.
There are a couple of facts worth noting that were not mentioned during all the campaign propaganda:
1. The number of households without health insurance making less than $25,000 year has gone down since 1998.
2. The fastest growing segment of uninsured Americans is actually making more than $75,000 per year.
The problem with the largest group of uninsured Americans is not a lack of access but a lack of planning and responsibility.
The sad reality of all these statistics is that there are still about 4 million poor, continually uninsured Americans that fall through the cracks. Our focus should not be on completely changing the American health care system, but rather focusing on what our system can change in order to provide proper care for these individuals.
True: There are about 4 million continually uninsured Americans.
False: 46 million Americans lack access to health care.
True or False: 46 million Americans lack access to health care.
False.
This post is not about downplaying the problems with access to medical care in America but about bringing to light the necessary facts to lead us to a more reasonable conclusion on the proper remedies for expanding access.
Results from surveys conducted by the United States Census Bureau show that 15% of the American population is in fact uninsured. However, these results hold potential for a very large margin of error. Numbers are likely to be underreported, meaning coverage is likely to be significantly higher, and the individuals may have been uninsured just during the time that the surveys were taken.
Though there are 46 million Americans without health insurance, “lacking access” and simply being “uninsured” hold completely different implications.
Let's look at a break down of the numbers.
Of 46 million uninsured Americans:
· 38% earn more than $50,000 per year.
· 30% are eligible for Medicare, Medicaid & SCHIP but aren't registered.
· 25% are not U.S. citizens but merely reside in the U.S.
The government would like us to believe that the uninsured are simply "down and out." However, in 2008, of $86 billion spent on health care, $30 billion was by the uninsured. Thus, the largest group of uninsured Americans still recieve medical care.
A segment of this group (the largest group of uninsured) is classified as the "invincibles," according to the Commonwealth Fund, and is comprised of Americans aged 18-29. The invicibles category is one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the uninsured.
The second largest group of uninsured Americans qualify for government programs but are not enrolled. Twenty-seven percent non-elderly Americans are eligible for Medicaid yet not enrolled. During his campaign, President Obama constantly reiterated that nearly 8 million children lack accessto health insurance. The truth is nearly 6 million of these children (75% of 8 million) are in fact eligible for federally-mandated programs.
Why are they not enrolled? Finding the answer to this question is critical before we fundamentally change the way people access medical care in our country.
The third largest group of the uninsured, though they can still receive free treatment in the ER, is comprised of people merely living in the United States. They are not United States citizens and do not pay taxes.
There are a couple of facts worth noting that were not mentioned during all the campaign propaganda:
1. The number of households without health insurance making less than $25,000 year has gone down since 1998.
2. The fastest growing segment of uninsured Americans is actually making more than $75,000 per year.
The problem with the largest group of uninsured Americans is not a lack of access but a lack of planning and responsibility.
The sad reality of all these statistics is that there are still about 4 million poor, continually uninsured Americans that fall through the cracks. Our focus should not be on completely changing the American health care system, but rather focusing on what our system can change in order to provide proper care for these individuals.
True: There are about 4 million continually uninsured Americans.
False: 46 million Americans lack access to health care.
