Posted on 6/27/2009, 2:08:49 AM by Kaslin
President Obama rarely misses a chance to stress that 46 million people in the U.S. lack health coverage. But the actual number of chronically uninsured Americans is far less, experts say.
Obama cited the figure in a recent speech to the American Medical Association to create a sense of urgency and moral necessity for his proposed health care reforms.
"We are not a nation that accepts nearly 46 million uninsured men, women, and children. We are not a nation that lets hardworking families go without the coverage they deserve; or turns its back on those in need. We are a nation that cares for its citizens," Obama said.
The media and lawmakers, especially those advocating for broader federal coverage, often cite the 46 million figure — 45.7 million in 2007 according to the latest Census survey. But several studies have found that paints a distorted picture of the problem.
"This situation is really misrepresented," said June O'Neill, professor of finance at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York. O'Neill is also the former director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. "It is contradicted by the studies that show the large amount of resources that the uninsured actually do get."
Many can afford coverage but, for various reasons, choose to go without it, O'Neill says. Others are eligible for coverage from the government but don't take it. Others choose alternative means, such as neighborhood clinics.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
Non-citizens - 9.3 million?????
Last I heard conservative estimates put illegal aliens, who are non-citizens, at 12 million. Another estimate at 20 million.
The data doesn’t seem to be correct.
Most Americans are happy with their care and don’t want that governed. What Americans aren’t happy about is their costs. Unfortunately, the Dems lumped them together and it’s causing great confusion.
They never take into account the number people who CHOOSE not to have health insurance.
Many of, them choose not to buy health insurance even though they could easily afford them because they are young and believe they’re invincible
This is probably just the start
Half of the "uninsured" counted are only without health coverage for less than a year, many for only a couple of months. Also, only 25% are below poverty level -- i.e. many of the uninsured could afford health insurance, but prefer to ue the money to pay for cable TV and cell phones.
Go to the above link for graphs.
How does it make sense to destroy coverage of 85% of the population to cover the 15%? And the 15% in reality is only 8%, if you eliminate those who are only uninsured for less than a year.
I don't have a lap top, and I work and pay for health insurance for my husband....
What? A lawyer overhype? I never would have thought it possible....lawyer ethics should have prevented it.
Perhaps there are a large number of those illegals who actually have health coverage??
In reality the cost of health insurance is far far more than a cell phone, many which are free or low cost with a new contract. A laptop is a one-time purchase that again does not compare to the cost of just a few months of health insurance. In fact, health insurance is so expensive it is only outstripped by the ridiculous costs of hospitalization and prescription drugs. It would make far more sense for people to only have coverage for major surgery and hospitalization and long term disability. Sick doctor visits should be affordable. The whole notion of insuring everyone is beyond nonsensical until the cost of health care itself is reined in. What needs to be looked at is why it costs thousands and thousands of dollars to treat a broken bone, or why a prescription drug would cost $10 per pill.
The other thing to remember is the insurance companies habit of attaching riders to not cover what’s already wrong with you so there are times when you pay the ridiculous price and it doesn’t even provide adequate coverage.
Less than 25 years ago my ex-husband’s employer was paying $40 per week for our family policy which paid 100% of sick doctor visits, hospitalization, prenatal and well-baby care/vaccinations.
So obviously costs have spiraled up far faster than inflation. The costs of medicare fraud and the adverse effect of non-market factors in medical care costs brought on by government involvement in health care are probably large contributors.
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