How Health Overhaul Would Affect the Uninsured | Arthritis Information

 

FROM NPR.ORG

How Health Overhaul Would Affect The Uninsured

According to the Census Bureau, in 2008, more than 46 million Americans — about 15 percent of the population — did not have health insurance. Because of the recession, many experts believe the number is now larger.

Who are the uninsured?

Income is a strong factor in identifying the uninsured. About two-thirds of uninsured Americans earn less than twice the federal poverty level, which is ,050 for a family of four. Almost 25 percent of the uninsured are poor enough to be eligible for Medicaid but are not enrolled.

Nearly 80 percent of the uninsured are U.S. citizens, and 15 percent are undocumented immigrants.

The vast majority of the uninsured — 80 percent — are in working families. And a higher percentage of minorities are uninsured than whites.

Thirty percent of people between the ages of 19 and 29 are uninsured, the highest of any age group. Although many of these young people are working, their wages are often too low for them to afford insurance.

For some, their employer doesn't offer insurance and individual coverage is too expensive. For others, pre-existing medical conditions can restrict their access to insurance. And others, believing that they are in good health and will not need it, opt not to buy insurance.

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Joie2009-09-24 11:32:06According to these numbers there are only 6.9 million illegals unemployed... So, since the estimates say 10-20 million illegals in the country, then anywhere from 3-13 million illegals are insured? How?... Whenever I see articles like this where some of the numbers are obviously skewed, it makes me wonder if they aren't all skewed. Why? It puts the veracity of the entire article in question...
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