Thursday, July 12, 2007

About Those 50 Million Uninsured

Larry Elder on Sicko:

First, a lack of health-care "insurance" does not mean a lack of health care. Many emergency rooms, by law, provide medical care to anyone who walks in, whether an illegal or legal resident of this country.

Second, when Michael Moore asserts that 50 million Americans lack health care insurance, he most assuredly includes some of the estimated 11 million to 20 million illegal aliens living here. Of people born in America, 86% have health-care coverage. For non-citizens, only 57% have health-care insurance.

Now examine those who lack health-care insurance.

Nearly half go without health insurance only for four months or less, usually while between jobs. Others with employment could easily add health-care insurance through their work for a very small premium, and elect not to do so. Many without health-care insurance consist of young people (18 million uninsured are between the ages of 18 and 34) who consider themselves -- given their youth and good health -- unlikely to face large health-care costs.

Over 14 million of the uninsured, according to the Census Bureau, live in households earning $50,000 or more annually. Over 7 million are in households earning more than $75,000 a year. These people could afford health-care insurance, either out-of-pocket or by making minor adjustments to their lifestyles. A small number of the uninsured include criminals. Should taxpayers provide health care for them, as well?

6 Comments:

At 7/13/2007 12:57 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Do you even know what it's like to be on a lower income level???Does this man even know how to survive on a budget of $20,000 a year? I own my own home,I paid it off years ago.I have been financially responsible.I'm not an illegal alien. I guess I must fall into that supposed 14%??...(Where is he getting that statistic???..I believe it's more) who have no health care.
Regarding those "who lack health care insurance. Nearly half go without health insurance only for four months or less, usually between jobs," etc., etc. I haven't had insurance since 1998.
He needs to live in my world for a while..
Hmmm...BTW, I do resent the fact that I cannot get free healthcare when illegal aliens can...and my tax dollars have helped to pay for that, even if I am in a low tax bracket.
Maybe he's saying I have healthcare if I go into a emergency room, they take care of me,"by law", charge me who knows how much and send me into total bankruptcy?? yup, that's the American way alright....

don't get me wrong ..I'm not looking for a free lunch, just a more affordable one. I'm surviving by the "hair of my chinny chin chin"
How convenient this man has put so many into a statistical haven!!

 
At 7/13/2007 1:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with you. No one on the right has come-up with a solution to insure lower middle class folks, especially those with pre-existing conditions. The closest solution I've heard was a rolling 5 year deductible of several grand. I work a job with good pay literally just for the excellent benefits. I'm scared to move jobs with an autoimmune disorder. On the bright side my brother with no insurance still comes out ahead with $10,000 spent on healthcare for the last couple years, compared to 10 years of $400/month premiums.


Ian Random

 
At 7/13/2007 1:44 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To anonymous-
I think it sad to be in your job out of fear... just for the insurance....don't you??
Isn't that a commentary on our system, or more importantly, our acceptance of it?

 
At 7/13/2007 9:58 PM, Blogger Marcia said...

It's pretty obvious that the writers for the far right WSJ (where I got this link) are quite affluent. They wouldn't say the ignorant things they do otherwise.

Then they tell us that it's for the common (commie?) good that so many of our manufacturing jobs were sent to commies in China, and they send us back deadly food and tainted toys for babies.

But for some reason they can't find some smart Indian writer who'd do their jobs for 1/10th of what they make.

Anyone can spew far right propaganda. We here it constantly - you can't escape it.

 
At 7/23/2007 1:46 AM, Blogger Tony said...

Perhaps nobody "deserves" health care, but we all get it eventually. To have so many people not paying part of the cost of health care, whether by choice or necessity, is ludicrous.

The healthy middle class need to pay their share now. The illegals need to be covered, if for no other reason that the hospitals and doctors providing their emergency care can get re-imbursed something. Now, if they get sick or need surgery, the doctor does it for free.

Until we can all fathom allowing folks to die for treatable illnesses, we need to come up with a way that pays for health care for every one.

 
At 7/29/2009 5:38 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What i don't get about you liberals is.... that you really want George Bush in charge of health care?

I sure don't. And i don't want anyone at the level of congress or the senate having a say in it either./

Why?
1. not constitutional. period.
2. i can't march into the office of those guys.

if decisions are made locally thepower of my vote is FAR more effective.

Social Security could have been solvent FOREVER.. but it was robbed by both parties.

Let Americans take care of their own FREAKING INSURANCE....

keep GW's fingers out of my very important decisions.

We need to help the downcast directly through Non-Profits, our families and churches.. not through big brother.

God.. don't you peopel know that the federal government needs 1 dollar to give 25 cents worth of service?

is that what you liberals want for ALL aspects of your life? a big SUCKING sound to washington.

Its bad enough that they get to know ANYTHING about my work life. Where are the liberals screaming about PRIVACY when it comes to the 40-80 hours of work that americans put in each week....

THAT should be MY BUSINESS ONLY.

but you libs have bought this idea that george bush does it better.

Where you got this idea is beyond me.

 

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