In past 2 years, 87 million in U.S. went uninsured

[Robbien]

Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A third of Americans under age 65 -- 86.7 million people -- went without health insurance at some point during the past two years, according to a report released Wednesday.

The report from the advocacy group Families USA showed that the lack of access to health insurance in the United States is more widespread than government statistics suggest.

Reducing the number of uninsured is a key goal set by President Barack Obama and congressional leaders as they plan an ambitious overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system this year.

The report assessed how many people under age 65 went without either public or private health insurance for some or all of the two-year period covering 2007 and 2008. People 65 and older are covered by the government's Medicare program.

Of 262 million Americans under 65, 33 percent were uninsured at some point during those two years, according to the report. This included 60.1 million adults and 26.6 million children and teens up to age 18, according to the report.

Read more: http://www.portfolio.com/business-news/reuters/2009/03/04/in-past-2-years-87-million-in-us-went-uninsured

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Even employer provided insurance plans are too expensive for many these days. Add in the un/under employed and this 33% uninsured number sounds very believable.

[crim son]

1. I'll be uninsured starting next month, for the first time in my life.

I'm scared, but I cannot afford private health insurance, period. Thank the Deity my ex will keep the kids on his policy.

[bemildred]

2. I've been uninsured since 2002.

I can't afford $1400 a month for health "insurance". Fortunately I'm healthy.

[Captain Hilts]

5. Me too. nt

[Coyote_Bandit]

3. And then are are those

who have health insurance that is high deductible catastrophic medical coverage. For all but catastrophic needs these folks are also uninsured.

[blueclown]

4. Who cares about the facts. Our current health care system is just fine.

:sarcasm:

[aquart]

6. How many of them died or are dying because of it?

How many Americans will die if we don't fix it?

[area51]

7. Rec. #3 on this life-and-death issue.

Every day, 273 people die due to lack of healthcare in the U.S.

Get the facts on single-payer healthcare.

[nichomachus]

8. What an absolute fucking disgrace

We're number one -- bullshit! We're not even number 20. We're a fucking third-world country. Thank you, GOP.

[newtothegame]

9. Disturbing n/t

[Festivito]

10. Churning in order to separate the weak, then price them out.

Bureaucratic Nazi-ism.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. Interesting graph

.
.
.



more graphs and info at link

http://ucatlas.ucsc.edu/spend.php

[midnight]

12. It always gets me so upset to know this goes on in this country.

Because we have spent so many trillions on war. And so many billions on bailouts. And when it comes to covering the American people we are told it is too expensive. Are we going to buy that line anymore. I hope not.