Meet the Uninsured

by Leigh Graham · 2009-08-24 06:00:00 UTC
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At our Universal Health Care blog, Tim has an entire category concerning the uninsured and underinsured.  (You need to be reading his blog.)  But for those of you with little time to familiarize yourself with the 47M or so Americans estimated to lack adequate health insurance, the New York Times this weekend offers a handy little summary of just who these folks are:

  • The working poor are the majority, at about 30M people.

  • The "better-off", as judged by total household income of up to $75k per year.  Includes roommates, non-family households, etc.  D'oh!

  • Young adults - this is the mythical group who rejects health care right before they go bungie jumping and compete in a triathalon.  Irrepressible youngsters!  Turns out most are poor.  See the first bullet.

  • Medicaid-eligible poor, who are not enrolled for one reason or another.  This is the most popular crew featured in the "all their emergency room care is bankrupting us!" storyline.

  • The underinsured - crazy deductibles and restrictions make health insurance theoretical.

  • Non-citizens.

The NYT points out which potential reform bills would help who, but ends on this sharper point: "Any nation as rich as ours ought to guarantee health coverage for all of its residents."

Back over to you, Tim.

Leigh Graham
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