As more Americans lose health coverage because of unemployment, the latest snapshot of the uninsured reveals a grim picture: It's not just the poor and unemployed who now go without health insurance.
The percentage of uninsured among families earning between $50,000 and $75,000 annually has nearly doubled over the past decade.
"It's exactly the trend that's been driving the conversation around health-care reform," said Anthony Wright, executive director of Health Access California, a consumer health advocacy group.
"As this has become a real crisis in the middle class, it required a bigger fix -- which is why the big push for a federal health law," Wright said.
Even as the country begins rolling out President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in March, the number of Americans without medical insurance continues to grow -- to an estimated 50 million nationwide.
Robbin Gaines, a senior program officer with the California HealthCare Foundation, said she couldn't fully explain the increase in the uninsured, but said joblessness is certainly one reason.
"As people lose their jobs, they are also losing their health insurance," she said.
Fifty-two percent of working-age Californians and their families now get health insurance from work-based coverage -- down from 65 percent in 1987, according to the foundation.
As a result, more people are buying health coverage on their own, as smaller companies do away with the benefit.
Often, though, they can't afford the same coverage they once had through work, and many opt for policies with higher premiums and deductibles.
The cost of prescription drugs and medical services also continues to rise, adding to the financial burdens on families, said Patrick Johnston, president of the California Association of Health Plans.
"The increasing cost of health care inevitably will put pressure on more people and leave them uninsured, unless we can drive down medical treatment costs and assist those families who are really unable to pay for coverage with a subsidy," Johnston said.
The rise in the number of uninsured may go unabated for another few years, until key provisions in the health-care law are put into effect.
The good news, said Wright, is that help is on the way.
"The bad news is that key provisions don't kick in until 2014," he said.
That's when many key features of the federal health law go into effect, including the opening of health insurance exchanges, where millions of Americans who are struggling with the cost of health insurance will be able to take advantage of government subsidies, if they qualify, to purchase coverage.
It's also when most Americans will be required to obtain coverage -- through their employers or through the exchanges -- or face tax penalties that will eventually exceed $695 annually for an individual or more than $2,085 a year per family.
The federal law, the subject of months of intense debate in Congress and public forums across the country, was meant to increase access to health insurance to the country's millions of uninsured.
Over the years, the percentage of lower-income families without health insurance has generally held steady -- with about 37 percent of those earning $25,000 annually or less going without health coverage.
From 2000, about a fourth of families earning between $25,000 and $50,000 had no health-care coverage. And about a tenth of those who earned more than $75,000 annually weren't enrolled in a health plan.
Okie Dokie posted at 8:22 am on Tue, Dec 28, 2010.
Anthony Wright, the bureaucrat says "Help is on the way in 2014." What, the Obama Death Panel Plan? Is that what you are talking about here, Tony? Well, I don't know about you all out there in Blog Land, but that just makes me feel good all under. All 6 feet under, which is where all us 'useless eaters' will be if guys like Tony and Barak Hussein have their way.
AZMomma posted at 7:19 am on Thu, Dec 30, 2010.
You can NOT have it both ways. For those of you who scream about any Gov'mt-based health plans, you'd better give yourselves a healthy dose of reality.
Unemployed means NO income. You get Unemployment (if qualified) but that does NOT include covering you, partner, kids under a Health Plan.
For that, you need to take advantage of COBRA. A new word? Google it little ranter. Premium costs can take every cent of your Unemployment check.
That means YOU pay all costs and it is only good for 18 months.
To get Health Insurance under a UB benefit would cost a lot more than you realize...UNLESS, the Govm't (Fed or State) would put an Access-type plan into place for you to utilize. NOW.
The Insurance carriers are in bed with your State agency that approves 'gap' plans. Direct your rants and energy towards them.
Those who scream loudest against the Health care reforms have NO clue are among the most likely NOT to afford personal-policy coverage.
And yes...in those cases, you would have made the choice and YOU (partner/kid) would stay sick or die.