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According to a HealthDay article from June of this year, the number of uninsured and underinsured American adults has increased 60% from 2003 to 2007, climbing from 16 million to more than 25 million people. The article reports the results of a study published in the June 10 issue of the journal Health Affairs, saying
Approximately 42 percent of adults aged 19 to 64 years old — 75 million people — were either underinsured or didn’t have health insurance in 2007. That represents an increase of 33 percent since 2003, when the last survey was done, Schoen said.
People who are underinsured are people who have health insurance but spend 10 percent or more of their income on out-of-pocket medical expenses. For people below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, being underinsured means spending more than 5 percent of income on out-of-pocket medical costs.
Being underinsured also means paying deductibles of 5 percent or more of family income.
The researchers found that people who were underinsured were more likely to go without needed health care and have problems paying medical bills, compared with people who have adequate health insurance.
Here in the US, most folks have health insurance through their jobs. And with an economic slump like the one we’re experiencing right now, this is of particular concern because so many are being laid off and losing their coverage. This is scary not only for adults, but also for kids, as indicated by two studies from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center released earlier this year:
The first study shows that children whose parents lose or change jobs were twice as likely to lose their health care coverage as children whose parents did not lose or change jobs. In addition, children with private insurance were more than three times as likely to lose coverage.
“This is a particularly disturbing finding, coming at a time when job loss is becoming more common due to the economy,” says Dr. Fairbrother, Ph.D., the study’s lead author. “As unemployment rises, more and more children are likely to experience a break in coverage that affects their health care. Our study showed that most of these children are eligible for public coverage but are not getting the coverage to which they are entitled. Much more needs to be done to reach out to children with private coverage when their parents experience job loss or change.”
…The second study examined children who did not have continuous coverage — insurance in place consistently year-round — and found that they had unmet health care needs similar to the chronically uninsured. These children were three times as likely to have unfilled prescriptions and 14 times as likely not to have a usual source of health care as insured children.
And kids aren’t the only young people dealing with insurance issues. A report released in May of this year said that 13.7 million adults ages 19 to 29 lack health insurance.
The number of uninsured young adults in the United States rose to 13.7 million in 2006–an increase from 13.3 million in 2005–making the 19-to-29 age group one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the population without health insurance. According to a newly updated report from The Commonwealth Fund, 38 percent of high school graduates who do not attend college and 34 percent of college graduates will spend some time uninsured in the year after graduation.
According to the report, Rite of Passage? Why Young Adults Become Uninsured and How New Policies Can Help, working young adults are much less likely than older workers to have access to health insurance through their employers. Just over half (53%) of 19- to 29-year-olds were eligible for coverage offered by their employers, compared with about three-quarters (74%) of 30- to 64-year-olds.
The idea of not having health insurance terrifies me. We used to have fantastic coverage through my job, but then I started freelancing and we switched to my husband’s company’s health benefits, which were considerably less generous. And now, he’s changing jobs (go, recession!) and our current coverage ends TOMORROW. So yeah, this is on my mind. We’ve gotten approved despite some preexisting conditions, but we just can’t AFFORD the plans we qualify for! And it’s not like we’re living large over here. It’s that costs are astronomical. But the potential cost of NOT having health insurance is far greater than the monthly premiums.
God forbid one of us get in a car accident, or develop cancer or some kind of chronic illness. Or, you know, we decide to have a kid. No way could we afford it. So we’re going to have to find some way to tighten our belts, suck it up, and make it happen.
This is one of those days that moving to Canada starts to look really, really good…
Do you have health insurance? Are you worried about your coverage with the recession?
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Contents © Copyright 2008 Kristen KingTags: womens health blog, womens health, women, woman, health, health insurance, unemployed, unemployment, laid off, layoff, recession, underinsured, uninsured, lively women, kristen king
1365 days ago
[...] I posted about the abject terror and potentially serious long-term issues that come along being uninsured or underinsured. Today, Miranda over at Yielding Wealth talks about health insurance for college [...]
Hey Jackie, I was the one who mentioned the clinics above. I am very fortunate (well, depending on how you look at it) that there are several health clinics in my area with sliding fee scales; meaning, they charge you based on your income. The cost of my fees are based on how well I did freelancing the year before (because they take the previous year’s income tax information), and I’ve found that even the highest has been way more affordable than if I’d made an appointment with a doctor in a private practice or a hospital. In my area, there are health clinics for dental, mental, and physical – it’s very convenient (in some ways). Another bonus is that these clinics are clean and the staff members are professional. I know that’s not the case with all clinics, so again, I’ve been lucky in that respect.
A good place to get quick information about such clinics is your state’s DHHR website (or your county’s, if they have one – but most state’s do, I think, so you may want to start there, first). These websites usually list such information, and you can even find contact information for your county’s office, etc. to get further help.
You mentioned that you’re healthy, and it just didn’t make financial sense for you to pay for health insurance right now. I was just having a conversation with someone about the exact thing yesterday. I know that health insurance is seriously important – especially in the event of unforeseen health emergencies – but if I were to purchase a private policy right now, I’d be paying WAY MORE each year in health insurance costs than I pay right now (out-of-pocket) for health care – this would be true even if I went to doctors in private practices or hospitals and paid for them out of pocket. I pray that I don’t become seriously ill or injured, because right now, it’s just not financially beneficial for me to have health insurance.
Kristin,
I am one of those 25 million who are under- or uninsured. After I got divorced, I simply couldn’t afford it–not even the COBRA. That was a nearly $500/mo. expense. And I’m healthy. It didn’t make sense for me to pay that price. I understand the benefits of health insurance. I’d love to have it for the big things that might creep up. And I do worry that I don’t. I’ve started to shop around for it again. But I, too, freelance. I’m single, as an a self-employed, I’m the only income-earner in my family. Thank goodness it’s just me here at home.
I’ll look into those clinics someone above mentioned, though, because I haven’t tried that. I still go to my own doctor if I get a cold or for my annual check up. And that’s not cheap. I know, if I went to school to take some classes I could get on the school’s program. So I’ve thought about looking into that as well.
But this is a terrible dilemma that we face here in the U.S. I wish the government would figure something out…and soon. But I’m not too hopeful about that.
But just think about those $25 million. It shouldn’t cost so much. There should be a lower-cost insurance program out there. Why are insurance companies willing to lose out on this? Why are doctors? Why is the government? Even each of those people had to pay only $100 each month–which should be an affordable number to most–that’s $250 million thrown away. Maybe it’s not, but it sounds like a lot of money to me.
My guess is that, for me, it may just be time to get a second job.
Thanks for providing a place to think about this.
All my best,
Jackie
In addition to unemployment benefits, employees changing jobs should learn about their health insurance options. It’s so important to maintain health insurance coverage.
Employees who were enrolled in their employer’s group health plan will normally be offered COBRA when they leave. COBRA is the extension of the health benefits they received from their former employer. COBRA is a valuable option for many (especially those who have pre-existing health conditions), but the premiums can be very expensive – often more than employees can afford. However, many people who have had group health coverage may not know much about their other health insurance options.
These people can often save money by researching the COBRA-alternative individual plans that may be available to them and their family members. eHealthInsurance (where I work) has two websites to help people who are considering COBRA: http://www.COBRALearning.com, where people can learn about COBRA and alternatives to COBRA, and http://www.eHealthCOBRA.com, where people can research, compare and apply online for individual or family plan health insurance plans.
Employees can also contact a local broker or any health insurance company to learn about their options. The most important thing is to keep your health insurance coverage – no matter how you go about it!
Amir M. licensed agent.
Not having health insurance is one of the seriously scary constants in my life right now. I’ve been without it now for two years, and have become very good at juggling “community health care centers.” Part of me feels crappy about going to them, because I do work and should be able to either buy health insurance or pay for health care costs (I don’t want to take away from those who have NO money). But, I can’t. I just can’t afford it. Everything is already such a ridiculous balancing act as it is.
Good luck to you and your husband, I hope you get coverage soon!
1378 days ago
[...] Kristen King reviews and discusses issues of people losing their jobs and their health insurance: What’s Worse Than Not Having a Job? Not Having Health Insurance [...]
1379 days ago
[...] sums it up nicely: What’s Worse That Not Having a Job? Not Having Health Insurance. As she starts: According to a HealthDay article from June of this year, the number of uninsured [...]
I simply couldn’t have ever gone to full-time freelancing in America because of the health insurance issue; now my mom will be struggling through retirement b/c coverage is so high. Thank goodness for me I had enough Italian blood to claim citizenship here and get socialized care (FWIW there are private alternatives here if you’re unsatisfied with public).
Best of luck to you and your hubby Kristen. I know this is a tough issue :(
That is tough, best of luck to you and your husband with this situation.
Health insurance is such a tough subject to handle. Being Canadian I do not have to worry as much, however, the wait times are obscenely high. A mix between the two systems I think would yield the best results, with free healthcare but the option for private as a faster/”better?” alternative.