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One-Two Punch

Posted by: Kate Blocher on Oct 20, 2009

You've heard the same story many times since the recession hit last year: Every day, hard-working Americans lose their jobs. And with their jobs, many of these families lose something else-their insurance coverage.

According to the Census Bureau, some 46.3 million people lacked health coverage in 2008. But this number does not account for the continued rise in unemployment through the first eight months of 2009. As unemployment rises, so do the numbers of uninsured, making the latest Census Bureau data a likely underestimate of people who are uninsured today.

Families USA took an in-depth look at the link between unemployment and the rate of uninsured in its latest report, "One-Two Punch: Unemployed and Uninsured."

As a result of the steady rise in unemployment, Families USA predicts an increase of more than 4 million uninsured adults in 2009. The rising uninsurance rates due to unemployment among working-age adults have affected every state, but most notably these five: Oregon (uninsurance rose 3.1 percent points), Michigan (3.0 percent points), South Carolina (2.7 percent points), Nevada (2.7 percent points), and North Carolina (2.6 percent points).

What do all of these numbers mean? Given the rapid rise in uninsurance, the total number of uninsured today likely exceeds 50 million.

Losing a job is devastating enough; a family should not also be confronted with going without health insurance. A reformed health care system will eliminate the one-two punch of becoming unemployed and losing health insurance as a result. Health reform will ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable coverage, even if they fall on hard times.

 

Want to do something about it? Click here and let Congress know that Americans can't wait for reform!