"45 million Uninsured in America"

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But that would be the guvmint tellin us what to do.

Well there aren't a lot of options - either you provide a minimum standard of care across the board that people can supplement with additional insurance for better quality care (something that already happens in a number of other countries), or you carry on with what you have already and healthcare becomes a product for the elite and moves further and further away from what middle-class, low/middle income people are able to afford.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Here's the facts on who are the uninsured (for the elitists who don't seem to know or care):

The 45.8 million uninsured are more likely to be poor and low income than higher income.

Figure 2 shows that over half of the uninsured are below 200% of poverty, with 25% below the poverty line and 28% between 100% and 199% of poverty.⁽³⁾ That the uninsured are concentrated among lower-income individuals is not surprising, given that low-income individuals are less likely to:

• be working, and if they do work they are less likely to be working full time,
• receive an offer of insurance, and
• be able to afford an offer of coverage.

Not all low-income individuals are eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid eligibility is based on a combination of income and population "category." The population groups that qualify for Medicaid are generally children, parents of dependent children, pregnant women, the disabled, and the elderly. The income levels at which these groups qualify differs from state to state, and group to group, with coverage of children and pregnant women being available at higher income levels, followed by the disabled and elderly, then parents of dependent children last (though this varies by state). Childless adults who are not disabled or elderly rarely qualify for Medicaid, even at the very lowest income levels.

.....

The Uninsured by Firm Size

The uninsured are more likely to work in small firms than in large firms. Those in firms with less than 100 employees and their children comprise almost half of the uninsured (46%).⁽¹²⁾ Small firms, particularly those with fewer than 10 workers, are much less likely to offer insurance — only 52% of such very small firms offer coverage compared to 99% of firms with more than 200 employees.⁽¹³⁾ The family income of those who work in small firms is also somewhat less than those in large firms, as workers in firms with fewer than 10 employees have median family incomes of about $53,000 while workers in firms with more than 1,000 employees have median family incomes of about $65,000.⁽¹⁴⁾

Figure 9.

Distribution of the Uninsured and Total U.S. Population

by Firm Size in 2004⁽¹⁵⁾

The CPS reported figure of 45.8 million uninsured individuals represents the number of uninsured for a full year.⁽¹⁶⁾ However, there are other ways to measure the uninsured, such as those uninsured at a given point-in-time, and those who were ever uninsured for some length of time during the year. The "ever uninsured" figure is of particular policy relevance because it reveals how many individuals faced the significant financial risk of having a medical emergency that would have to be paid for out of pocket. According to the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), there were 64 million people who faced at least one month without coverage in 2001.⁽¹⁷⁾

^{http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/Reports/05/uninsured-cps/index.htm#firm}

Edited September 21, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

On this topic I think there are fewer elitists than there are people who aspire to be elitists

[zqt3344 21]

PVT PIKE, Agreed, at the minimum, Ovomit the messiah should be working very hard to get this for Americans at the very least, but for whatever reasons all he can do is lie, be in big insurance back pocket, push this health insurance exchange or coop garbage/rubbish, and then Max Baucas from Senate tries to tell us that the bill he came up with in committee is the best he could do and be partisan! BULLSHIT! He is another Democrat beholden to big time lobbyist that are trying like hell to write this healthcare reform, it ought to be called the Insurance Guaranteed Monopoly Income Act!

I guess the question is whether there are enough jobs in the country that "not everyone could do".

"Anyone" can do retail, customer or food service - but there is definitely an art to doing it well.

"Anyone" can collect trash or deliver mail.

Whether anyone can do a particular job, doesn't alter the fact that everyone needs healthcare.

It should be up to the business plain and simple. They shouldn't be forced to offer benefits.

Fine, then we should have a public option for basic care that individuals can supplement with private insurance.

Edited September 21, 2009 by zqt3344

[HAL 9000 96]

But that would be the guvmint tellin us what to do.

Well there aren't a lot of options - either you provide a minimum standard of care across the board that people can supplement with additional insurance for better quality care (something that already happens in a number of other countries), or you carry on with what you have already and healthcare becomes a product for the elite and moves further and further away from what middle-class, low/middle income people are able to afford.

Eventually even the neo-conservatives in politics would have to support a system with options such that the middle class electorate would continue lending them vote power, since it is more than evident they are not interested in curbing runaway costs (*think campaign contributions*) inside the insurance and medical industries.

Why not be smart and proactive about it now? They should seriously save themselves the headache later on down the road.

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm surprised all you patriots continue to live here since the US government is as fvcked up as you would have us believe.

Why is it becca I get the impression your like a lil spoiled kid at xmas that didnt get what they wanted?

I don't know at all why you get that impression.

Why do I get the idea that some people around here can't think their way out of a paper bag?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I'm confident that we'll see a health care reform bill pass with a public option before the end of this year. All the fear mongering by the Insurance lobbyists and their cohorts, including the ignorant Far Right extremists will not stop the inevitable. There's way too many Americans who've personally dealt with being uninsured, or under-insured. This crisis a far too big for them to try and sweep under the rug any longer.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'm surprised all you patriots continue to live here since the US government is as fvcked up as you would have us believe.

Why is it becca I get the impression your like a lil spoiled kid at xmas that didnt get what they wanted?

I don't know at all why you get that impression.

Why do I get the idea that some people around here can't think their way out of a paper bag?

[rebeccajo 14]

Oh the irony of wanting to reduce benefits at underpaid positions. Priceless.

I have worked for two small companies and they offered it as a incentive. Maybe not all but I would guess that a good majority do it if your working a job that not just anyone could do.

Define "small".

PS - the government generally defines small business to be less than 15 employees.

[mawilson 2,133]

Agreed, at the minimum Pvt Pike Ovomit the messiah should be working very hard to get this for Americans at the very least, but for whatever reasons all he can do is lie, be in big insurance back pocket, push this health insurance exchange or coop garbage/rubbish, and then Max Baucas from Senate tries to tell us that the bill he came up with in committee is the best he could do and be partisan! BULLSHIT! He is another Democrat beholden to big time lobbyist that are trying like hell to write this healthcare reform, it ought to be called the Insurance Guaranteed Monopoly Income Act!

Indeed. The Baucus bill is the worst one I've seen so far. It costs almost a trillion dollars,

doesn't have a public option, and basically is a handout to the insurance industry. The bill

mandates that all Americans buy health insurance (from private companies) and assesses

stiff penalties for not doing so. It does provide some subsidies for people who cannot

afford it, but the subsidies are inadequate and not even adjusted for inflation (just like the AMT.)

[rebeccajo 14]

If you have a real job for the most part yes.

Go get a clue.

Good grief, of course its a real job, do you seriously not get the point I was making? Are you hoping your kids grows up to flip burgers? People that have a skill to offer the business gives the business incentive to give back.

Do you really think it's that simple?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

I'm surprised all you patriots continue to live here since the US government is as fvcked up as you would have us believe.

Why is it becca I get the impression your like a lil spoiled kid at xmas that didnt get what they wanted?

I don't know at all why you get that impression.

Why do I get the idea that some people around here can't think their way out of a paper bag?

Dont worry you will be all better soon.

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm surprised all you patriots continue to live here since the US government is as fvcked up as you would have us believe.

Why is it becca I get the impression your like a lil spoiled kid at xmas that didnt get what they wanted?

I don't know at all why you get that impression.

Why do I get the idea that some people around here can't think their way out of a paper bag?

LOLOLOL!

[_Simpson_ 250]

What would you define as a real job vs. a non-real job?

Flipping Burgers vs Skilled trade

Why should McDonalds be offering health insurance?

I worked in grocery retail for many years before finally going back and finishing college. I was under the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Local 99) and had excellent medical insurance through BC/BS.

Low-skilled jobs can and do provide many people with a way of life -( I think of one of the stockers I worked with - Hank, who had a nice house with a pool) if there is support for it...and customers still could afford groceries. So it's a matter of whether you are willing to support such people or be elitist and tell them that if they want a real job, they need to go and get some real skills. They are the backbone of America - the real Joe plumbers - working hard for the money and they deserve medical insurance just as much as an elitist such as yourself.

I have been called alot of things in my life but I got to say this is the first time I have been called a elitist. Im talking flipping burgers, dish washer and most retail jobs. Take Safeways, they offer benefits and all power to them there a big business so they can. Your local mini mart, no and why should they, no incentive. I know a person that works at Safeway and I can tell you this you can not pay a mortgage, car payment and have kids on Safeway payroll. It usually requires two people working. I dont consider construction a non skilled job. I have been thru two apprenticeships and I know why the companies offer me benefits. If the business can offer it then good for them but to expect a business to give there dishwasher benefits is silly. I have held jobs that I dont consider real jobs had I well I might still be working there.

[_Simpson_ 250]

If you have a real job for the most part yes.

Go get a clue.

Good grief, of course its a real job, do you seriously not get the point I was making? Are you hoping your kids grows up to flip burgers? People that have a skill to offer the business gives the business incentive to give back.

Do you really think it's that simple?

How about this, make it difficult I'm all ears.