The Unisured; Whats in the numbers

The ability to pay is the core reason so many despair in being uninsured. The Employment Policies Institute issued a 48 page report breaking down the numbers bay first defining two categories, “voluntary uninsured and “involuntary” uninsured. EPI asserts 43% of 47 million uninsured are voluntary, leaving 53% with no choice and insurmountable barriers to access.

Let us explore the 53% more closely because the devils are in the details. We will look at the family unit which is the core of a thriving society. Single households 28.9 %, Single Parent 29.7%, Married no children 11.4%, and married with children represent 14.1% (EPI 2007) The single parent holds the highest percentage and is indeed alarming. The stress on a single parent is already great; couple with no access to healthcare is devastating and keeps the family in poverty. This is our young 29.7% of our nation’s future, you would believe that we would have better policies to support our future and family system in an ever increasing single parent category.

Another area worth noting here is the populist between that age of 18 to 64. This age category represents 20.2% of the involuntary uninsured. The majority are in the age range of 48 to 64, who have fallen through the cracks of our system. These makes up the pre-existing condition rule and locks them out of an insurance plan for twelve month as long as you pay the premium and receive no service of course.

This suggests we must pay more, and wait a year for access because we are sick. We are talking chronic disease, which in all cases needs continued maintenance, or the patient will worsen. To become impoverished at a later age in life, because you need the medicine and care makes life harsh for those who fall between the cracks of our system. Take it from the author, this has been his personal journey in what you must do when you have a chronic disease, and you slip between the cracks.

Reference

EPI(2007) “An Analysis of America’s Uninsured Population, Their Characteristics, and their health. Retrieved on September, 8, 2010, from http://epionline.org/studies/oneill_06-2009.pdf