A study released yesterday by the Commonwealth Fund found that 42% of Americans either are uninsured or underinsured.
According to the study,
"More than half of the underinsured (53%) and two-thirds of the uninsured (68%) went without needed care—including not seeing a doctor when sick, not filling prescriptions, and not following up on recommended tests or treatment."
The number of those underinsured has jumped as insurance rates have tripled for the average middle-class family. The study defined underinsured as those who must devote 10% of their income to the cost of health care or 5% of income for low-income families.
Even for families making $40,000 to $59,000 a year, the study found that the rate of those underinsured reached double digits last year.
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The health care crisis in this country is getting worse, and that's just what this report shows. The report has some pretty eye-popping numbers, which I hope gets some more airtime in the national media. (So far only the awesome people at NPR has run a story on it.)
If you're in Texas, then you should pay special attention as the Texas Department of Insurance is undergoing a sunset review. Texas currently has the worst rate of uninsured people in the nation and 1 in 4 Texans do NOT have health care. A number of non-profit groups are working to inject health care into the discussion. (and for full disclosure: I work for one) Feel free to email me if you'd like to learn how you can help.
The study was done by the Commonwealth Fund located here.
Note: This is my first diary so any feedback is appreciated.