Americans Without Health Insurance Rises by 2 Million to 43.6 Million

Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 5:24 am

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a new report this week showing a rise in the number of uninsured Americans from 2005 to 2006. According to the characterize, 2 million more Americans have no health insurance, up 6% from 2005. This brings the total number of uninsured Americans to around 43.6 million in 2006 (15% of the population).

Adults archaic 18-64 without health care accounted for most of the estimated rise, from 34.5 million in 2005 to 36.5 million in 2006 (20% of this age group). The increase is attributed to employers dropping expensive health insurance coverage and private health insurance coverage being too expensive. Uninsured children went up slightly from 2005 to 2006, from 6.5 million to 6.8 million (9.3% of this age group). However, from 1997 to 2006, the number of uninsured children has dropped significantly, from 10 million to 7 million. The federal program called State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) started in 1997 and is probably the reason for the 10-year tumble.

Below are the statistics by status that are alarming, especially for uninsured children. If you live in a situation that has a high rate of uninsured children, you should contact your set legislators and question the location participate in the federal SCHIP program at the very least. Perhaps these states offer the SCHIP program but do not publicize it. Position taxpayers are paying the burden for medical costs of their uninsured population. For more information about residence coverage initiatives for children, click here. For more information about a children’s health insurance program being considered in Congress legal now, click here.

Also bright, are the states with the lowest number of uninsured population of all ages. The five states with the lowest uninsured rate are geographically bunched in the Midwest and Northeast. It may be that legislators and governors from those states are more aggressive for protecting their citizens, or perhaps those states have stronger union representation for their workers.

In a record by Jo Ciavaglia at phillyBurbs.com, Pennsylvania did their gain observe and found that their rates are crude because they enacted a comprehensive state-funded children’s health program and because the region has a high percentage of senior citizens that qualify for Medicare. However, the site also has strong unions that peek health benefits for workers. The governor explains that the costs of the uninsured are mild high, though. The uninsured are the largest users of emergency rooms, more likely to delay medical treatment, and are disabled but haven’t yet apt for the two-year process to collect Social Security Disability. Clinics for uninsured Pennsylvanians are seeing more patients with multiple jobs coming in sicker than before. The care for these chronic conditions is more complex and more costly. For more information about costs that the taxpayer and insured individual bears for uninsured citizens, CLICK HERE.

States With the Highest Percentage of Uninsured Population (all ages)

23.8% Texas
20.6% Arizona
19.7% Florida
19.0% Georgia
17.7% North Carolina

States With the Highest Percentage of Uninsured Children Under 18 Years

20.1% Arizona
19.2% Texas
15.1% Florida
10.3% North Carolina
10.3% California

States With the Lowest Percentage of Uninsured Population (all ages)

7.7% Michigan
8.8% Ohio
9.6% Wisconsin
9.7% Massachusetts
10 % Pennsylvania

States With the Lowest Percentage of Uninsured Children Under 18 Years

3.2% Original York
3.4% Massachusetts
3.7% Michigan
4.2% Wisconsin
4.4% Washington

In 2006, an estimated 5.8% of the uninsured population was not able to gain medical care at some point during a 12-month period because of the high cost of the medical care. This is the highest number of people not able to receive medical care since 1997.

In 2004, a separate CDC survey found these to be the reasons people do not have health insurance coverage:
53.3% Cost too much
26.9% Lost their job or changed employment
14.1% Employer did not offer or the insurance company refused coverage
10.0% Medicaid benefits stopped
6.2% Ineligible due to age or leaving school
6.0% Moved, self-employed, never had coverage, did not need or want coverage
2.8% Change in marital site or death of parent

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released a new report this week showing a rise in the number of uninsured Americans from 2005 to 2006. According to the relate, 2 million more Americans have no health insurance, up 6% from 2005. This brings the total number of uninsured Americans to around 43.6 million in 2006 (15% of the population).

Adults mature 18-64 without health care accounted for most of the estimated rise, from 34.5 million in 2005 to 36.5 million in 2006 (20% of this age group). The increase is attributed to employers dropping expensive health insurance coverage and private health insurance coverage being too expensive. Uninsured children went up slightly from 2005 to 2006, from 6.5 million to 6.8 million (9.3% of this age group). However, from 1997 to 2006, the number of uninsured children has dropped significantly, from 10 million to 7 million. The federal program called State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) started in 1997 and is probably the reason for the 10-year topple.

Below are the statistics by position that are alarming, especially for uninsured children. If you live in a area that has a high rate of uninsured children, you should contact your region legislators and seek information from the plot participate in the federal SCHIP program at the very least. Perhaps these states offer the SCHIP program but do not publicize it. Area taxpayers are paying the burden for medical costs of their uninsured population. For more information about station coverage initiatives for children, click here. For more information about a children’s health insurance program being considered in Congress true now, click here.

Also though-provoking, are the states with the lowest number of uninsured population of all ages. The five states with the lowest uninsured rate are geographically bunched in the Midwest and Northeast. It may be that legislators and governors from those states are more aggressive for protecting their citizens, or perhaps those states have stronger union representation for their workers.

In a record by Jo Ciavaglia at phillyBurbs.com, Pennsylvania did their absorb perceive and found that their rates are extreme because they enacted a comprehensive state-funded children’s health program and because the place has a high percentage of senior citizens that qualify for Medicare. However, the station also has strong unions that spy health benefits for workers. The governor explains that the costs of the uninsured are calm high, though. The uninsured are the largest users of emergency rooms, more likely to delay medical treatment, and are disabled but haven’t yet worthy for the two-year process to come by Social Security Disability. Clinics for uninsured Pennsylvanians are seeing more patients with multiple jobs coming in sicker than before. The care for these chronic conditions is more complex and more costly. For more information about costs that the taxpayer and insured individual bears for uninsured citizens, CLICK HERE.