Via Think Progress:
A 22-year-old woman from Oxford, Ohio, died from swine flu on Wednesday. Kimberly Young graduated from Miami University in December and continued to live in Oxford, Ohio, within Minority Leader John Boehner’s congressional distrct.
Sadly, if caught early enough, H1N1, or swine flu, is usually easily treatable with anti-virals such as Tamilu or Ralenza. As we all know though, people without insurance often put off treatment for illnesses because they worry about the expense of going to the doctor. Kimberly Young didn't have insurance.
From Dayton Daily News:
OXFORD — Friends say the Miami University graduate who died this week after reportedly suffering from swine flu delayed getting medical treatment because she did not have health insurance.
SNIP
Young became ill about two weeks ago, but didn’t seek care initially because she didn’t have health insurance and was worried about the cost, according to Brent Mowery, her friend and former roommate.
Unlike House Minority Leader Boehner who has GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE, 30% of 19-24 year olds do not.
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 30 percent of 19-24 year olds are uninsured, more than any other group. Despite the conservative argument that young people are voluntarily refusing health coverage in favor of extra spending money, the reality is that high costs on the individual market put coverage out of reach.
We all know that Mr. Boehner is opposed to health care reform regardless of the public option, how much it costs or who stands to benefit from it. He will do and say anything to block efforts to cover people like Kimberly Young. In short, he simply doesn't give a shit.
Last night, mcjoan posted the contact information of the Senators who are going to make or break the inclusion of the public option in the finance bill to be introduced on Tuesday. Please contact these people if you live in their states. Don't let John Boehner win...the stakes are simply too high.
My sincere condolences to Ms. Young's family.
UPDATE: From a comment by Free Spirit - H1N1 has not been confirmed as the cause of death.
Family members indicated that Young died from complications from the H1N1 virus, but the Ohio Department of Health, the Hamilton County Health District and the Butler County Health Department were unable to confirm she had been infected with the virus.
Bret Atkins, of ODH, said late Thursday afternoon that his department had not received a specimen yet to test for the H1N1 virus. If it is confirmed, Young would be the fourth Ohioan to die from the virus and the second from Butler County.