Home > Opinion > Bonnie Erbe > What is the Actual Number of Americans Without Health Insurance?

What is the Actual Number of Americans Without Health Insurance?

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My previous post was in reference to Mr. Hallee's titled uninsured Americans

Gene Cost of FL 12:14AM April 09, 2011

Well researched and well spoken, especially the closing paragraph.
Gene Cost, Florida

Gene Cost of FL 12:08AM April 09, 2011

proof read

pablo of MO 10:20AM March 28, 2011

Hi,
First of all let me begin where you seem to have left off..., I will disregard data provided by Blue Cross Insurance along with data obtained in 2003. The Census Bureau has provided its 2008 data which is an excellent place to begin to look at other criteria.
In 2007 the housing market showed increasing numbers of Mortgage Defaults but we are talking about Uninsured Americans. In late 2008 when wall street failed to provide large banking institutions capitol to invest in buisness loans of all sizes. At this time in late 2008 as Obama was taking Office is when the numbers of Uninsured Americans increased exponentially.
And so the Number to begin with provided by the Cansus Bureau showing the Numbers of Americans Uninsured at the end of 2007 (as reported in 2008 data)is 15% of Americans (Men and Women)which is 40 Million individuals or 1in 6 Adult Americans.
With that I will only add that having insurance coverage in America is not a comprehensive coverage. With ever increasing percentages on co-pay, because insurance companies will only pay Doctors a percentage of their actual worth, for everybody with private health coverage. Also, increasing numbers of health problems are excluded from group and individual health coverage policies. Preventive Health care is a new topic for insurance companies who typically insure a limited number of health problems. Finally consider that private health care was predicted to double again by 2012.
There are very few Americans with what I would call Insurance Coverage. For the most part American Families are one hospital stay away from bankruptcy. Including those with a typical insurance policy.
Insurance company ceo's and board members do not meet to discuss how they can provide the best possible health care for Americans. This business is designed to take Americans for every dollar they have and some they do not have.
Lets be honest you are not going to allow this to go out on line. I'll just stop here.

Greg Hallee of ME 1:47PM June 12, 2010

I can't read your site in Fierfox 1.1, just figured I woudl tell you about it!

seo lace of AL 1:08AM May 02, 2010

I am having a dirficult itme reading www.uhsnews.com in Safardi 5.2, I just thought I might let you know.

seo lace of AL 1:08AM May 02, 2010

We already do pay into medicare. Someone who makes $10,000-$20,000 annual income would most likely qualify for this. I met some women from Canada not too long ago. They pay 17% sales tax, on everything, in order to pay for healthcare that is supposed to be free. The one woman told me her daughter had a head injury while snowboarding. It took her 9 months to get an appointment for an MRI. She could have died in the time! Then the other woman told me that most people take a taxi to the hospital because although their healthcare is free,no one can afford the ambulances! Wouldn't you rather be able to get your tests done in a reasonable time? Wouldn't you rather decide for yourself if you ar going to have surgery rather than have the government decide for you? You don't feel that an American citizen should be able to get healthcare before an illegal alien?

Concerned Jersey Girl of NJ 2:36PM March 30, 2010

Yes ,this group is trying to do it again. I live in Wisconsin where the states bends backwards for people who are so called needy. Our state gives people food,housing,pays for their out of wed lock babies,Tvs,medical,dental,and baby day care. We are taxed to our eyeballs. Now, with Obama wanting to shove this in our face too is unbelievable. I can not wait to leave this state, quit my job because I would rather go somewhere where I can make my own decisions on how I would like to live ,not the government. Government will take most of my paycheck if this goes through.
Wisconsin is the first one in line to give to these crippled needy people. By that, I mean these people are use to being victims., Wait until people are so feed up with paying for these people the government will run out of money and it will be the END of America as we know it

ann of WI 5:34PM February 24, 2010

I can't believe that bonnie and some of you stead fast republicans believe that most americans choose not to have health insurance. Let's look at some realistic numbers here. The average middle class to lower end income ameicans make between $10,000 and $40,000 per year and have 2 to 3 children living with them. There bills, mortgage, car insurance, food, gas and such, take up most of there earnings and when you have to decide on weather to feed and clothe your family and make it back and forth to work or pay $1,500 to $2,000 per month for a family of 4 to 5 for health insurance; it just can't happen for these folks. I was quoted $650 per month for myself alone and am on unemployment due to lay off. Out of the $327 i get per week, I would have to pay half of my months unemployment money to be insured. Lets not even talk about Cobra; double up the cost of insurance and give you half the coverage! If we had a system where we paid a % of our income towards health insurance, based on our income levels, family size and what we pay out each month in bills; many more americans would be able to afford health care. As of right now the monopoly of insurance companies take and take, make huge profits and give us very little in return. We need HEALTH CARE REFORN NOW! Nan

Nanette of FL 9:19AM February 19, 2010

Have you checked out the tax rates in Europe? The citizens there hand over their income to pay for that so-called "affordable" health care. I doubt that Americans would be for health care coverage if they knew what the true cost will be. I have family there, and they have to wait for MONTHS for procedures. One relative died from cancer before he could get in to see the specialist. I believe that we have a right to health care in this country, but we do not have a right to FREE health care. I think that reforms are needed, however offering FREE coverage is not possible, nor beneficial. If people don't have to pay, then they take advantage. It's happened time and time again. Why can't we see it? Did you know that Medicare pays $150 dollars for someone to clip an elderly person's toenails? Don't you see the abuse? I have elderly relatives that go to the Dr EVERY day. Do you think that they would do that if they had to PAY for it?

Janice Thompson of VA 8:02AM February 17, 2010