Who Are the Uninsured in America?
Survey Finds 43.6 Million Uninsured in U.S.
About 43.6 million people in the United States, or 14.8 percent of the population, had no health insurance in 2006, according to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Monday.
The finding, based on a survey of 100,000 people, is lower than previous federal estimates of 46 million.
That's about all of the information that the article has. Unfortunately, I'm sure that these numbers will be used to argue for universal healthcare -- after all, that's a lot of people without insurance!
But who are these people and why don't they have insurance?
Free Market Cure created a video, Uninsured in America that answers exactly that question.
Stuart Browning:
So why don't you have health insurance?
Faye Chao:
I'm young right now and currently don't need health insurance. Probably don't want to spend $200 a month.
Stuart Browning:
In this state, a 26-year-old non-smoker with no preexisting conditions can get a policy for $96 a month.
Faye Chao:
It's 96 dollars a month, but that's twelve hundred dollars a year you're spending on health insurance. And honestly, I feel it's ridiculous that we live in a first world country where I have to pay for basic health care.
...
Stuart Browning (voice over):
But, what if they get sick or injured and they don't have any savings? They know that the U.S health care system will still give them medical care.
Faye Chao:
I bike everywhere in the city, so I have gotten hit by drivers twice - and one time I ended up in the hospital. No, I didn't have health insurance, but I was treated - and billed for it later.
Stuart Browning (off camera):
Umm hmm. How much was the bill for? Do you remember?
Faye Chao:
Honestly I don't because I didn't bother to pay for it.
This entry was not tagged.