Number Of Uninsured Americans Soars To Over 50 Million

[DeSwiss]

Source: Huffington Post

Number Of Uninsured Americans Soars To Over 50 Million


Amy Lee | Huffington Post | First Posted: 12-27-10 11:39 PM | Updated: 12-28-10 01:46 AM

Less than a year ago, Francis Campos-Dunn was still working at a county hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area, helping patients navigate the often-maddening bureaucracy required to draw on their health insurance. These days, she has a new set of problems to navigate: how to manage her own care without any insurance of her own, having slipped into an unfortunate but fast-growing slice of the population--Americans who have lost their jobs and now lack health coverage.

Back when she was still working, Campos-Dunn, 42, earned $4,000 a month, enough to make her co-payments for regular medical care. These days, she depends on $300 a month contributions from her 16-year-old son--money he earns at a part-time job--just to pay to the rent. When a recent seizure left her with two broken teeth, she skipped the required treatment and opted to have the teeth pulled instead, because she lacked the funds--a choice that would have previously seemed unthinkable.

As the Great Recession has sown unemployment and downgraded work even for those people who have held on to their jobs, the number of Americans lacking healthcare has swelled beyond 50 million, according to a http://www.kff.org/uninsured/7451.cfm">sobering new report from the Kaiser Foundation.

Among the report's most troubling findings: The number of Americans without any health care coverage grew by more than four million in 2009. That left almost one-fifth of non-elderly people uninsured. Among those between 19 and 29 years old, nearly one-third lacked coverage.

The study underscores the degree to which the recession has accelerated the loss of basic elements once viewed as inextricable pieces of a middle class life. The number of Americans lacking medical coverage now exceeds the population of Spain.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/27/uninsured-americans-50-million_n_801695.html

---

- As "someone" recently complained to the press: "It's the public option argument all over again."

Only it isn't just an argument for some people.......

DeSwiss

[sakabatou]

1. 1 in 6 people is uninsured. That's just painful

[DeSwiss]

3. And more pain to come. n/t

[stockholmer]

17. the total is actually 59 million

http://topnews.co.uk/216467-number-americans-without-health-insurance-rise

greetings from Sweden

[Kokonoe]

24. Welcome

:hi:

[KillCapitalism]

36. Welcome to DU

You're quite fortunate to live in a CIVILIZED nation where no one has to go without healthcare.

[stockholmer]

37. thank you for the welcome greetings

the key is that we dont spend trillions on empires of war, all at the bidding of privte bankers and viscious quasi-fascistic multi-national corporations

[Zhade]

56. I echo the previous welcomes -- voices like yours are great to have here!

NT!

[MedicalAdmin]

63. Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner.

Gee, it is pretty simple isn't it. Stop pissing money down the toilet and the country will stop circling the bowl. Welcome to DU.

A little perspective from the USA - I run a medical clinic and yet I cannot get medical insurance. As such I rarely see a doc despite the fact that I have a spinal injury and am in screaming pain every day. According to my neurosurgeon (yup - that was expensive to see him) I need to get an operation or I WILL end up permanently paralized. And yes, I have been denied insurance. And I have been offered insurance at $2000 per month with a $10,000 deductable. That's right, I would have to spend $34,000 out of pocket before they would pick up a dime of coverage. That is more than I make a year.

So here is my plan (and your perspective). If I get seriously sick or ill or in an accident, I have a gun in my house and I will blow the top of my head off before I let my family become impoverished. How many people in Stockholm ever have to consider that? I hope the answer is none.

[bhikkhu]

103. Best hopes for a better outcome...

I just have to chime in - the "end of life plan" I put together and have gone over with the kids is that, if I ever wind up too ill or too old to work, I'll head off into the hills with my last strength and let myself be eaten by wild animals. Burial expenses can be as bad as medical expenses, and its also considerate not to leave any messes for others to clean up.

Cheers to modern civilization!

[Dokkie]

111. Omg, I have similar plans too

I have a note in my wallet expressing exactly what my wishes are if I was to ever be involved in a catastrophic car accident. I would hate to be living with a serious brain or spinal cord injury. I pray to god that some better fix is installed to correct the abomination of a healthcare system we have in this country

[aggiesal]

125. Here's hopefully a better suggestion then blowing off your head, ...

Take a vacation to Europe. Then go to an emergency hospital in Europe.
They would more then likely help pay for your treatment.

[madmax]

126. Welcome to DU nt

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

58. Welcome to DU

and the Red Wings thank you too!!!

Too much a hockey fan to let this pass.

[defendandprotect]

64. Sad news, but thanks for the update -- 59 million Americans !!!

76%+ of Americans in favor of single payer/government run health care plan as

every other nation has, but Obama didn't find that was a worthy cause!

Rather, he turned to back room deals with Big Pharma to protect their interests

by preventing Medicare from negotiation on drug prices --

and another back room deal to protect PRIVATE health care industry by ensuring

them there would be NO single payer option.

And we have another two years of this ahead of us -- !!


:nuke:

[Dokkie]

108. welcome m8

Sometimes I wish we could be more like the swedes. Reduction in military spending and increase in social safety net spending.

[lovuian]

114. I'm waiting for almost half of all America to be without

Healthcare


Socialized Medicine is on its way
the whole system is going to go defunk

[stockholmer]

127. a reply

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=80610&mesg_id=86608

[TheEuclideanOne]

22. Is that after the new healthcare program kicks in?

This is a serious question, I am just curious. Does this get affected by the requirement to buy healthcare?

[dflprincess]

99. We aren't going to be required to by health care

the requirement is that we buy health insurance. Nothing in the insurance bill gurantees us access to care.

[TheEuclideanOne]

102. Really? Semantics?

Is that all you got? You couldn't just answer my question, you had to rip apart the terminology that I used. Okay, Einstein, you know what I meant.

[dflprincess]

106. This would be now. Once the provision kicks in that we are all required

contribute to the health insurance industry the U.S. expects that it will be able to claim that most Americans are "covered". It will not mean that we have access to health care.

If I recall correctly, at the time the insurance bailout was passed, the CBO estimated that by the time this had been effect 10 years (maybe 5) we'd be back up to around 20 million without any insurance at all. As the bill largely keeps insurance tied to employment this number could be hight if the jobs situation doesn't improve by the time this scam starts up.

No estimates have been given as to how many will be paying a premium but will not be able to afford to see their doctor.

And really, it is not just a semantics issue. Knowing that most Americans confuse health insurance with health care is how Obama & Congress manage to get by claiming they passed health "care" reform when all they did was mandate that we continue to buy the same old crap from the same old crooks.

[Dan]

117. I suspect that

the Supreme Court is going to weight in on the legality of forcing Americans to buy insurance from a for-profit. Recently a federal judge (right winger to be sure) questioned Obama care - but there was one item that was identified in his legal opinion - which was it is legal to force us to buy insurance. So, suspect that this will go before the supreme court; unfortunately, on one hand I suspect that the SCOTUS probably should render that we can't be forced to buy insurance, it is such a potential windfall for the health industry, that it is possible that the Roberts Court will say 'yes, we have too.'.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

113. Furthermore, there is no requirement to make the insurance AFFORDABLE

I know from personal experience that high premiums plus high deductibles make it impossible to pay for actual health care.

[Can of Whoop-ass]

40. Pathetic

in a so-called progressive christian nation. More like a Red-Chinese hovel. Strip Congress of theirs!

[Creative]

52. Strip Congress of theirs...? Yes, and they should be stripped of a few other things as well.

[Zhade]

57. Like their hubris.

They need to learn who the fuck they're supposed to be serving here.

[Creative]

80. You are correct, they are our employees; however, you would have a hard time

convincing them of that.

Unfortunately, they have us caged and they hold the keys to the lock.

[defendandprotect]

66. No health care for Americans = No health care for Congress - --

[Creative]

79. They take care of themselves, don't they?

[NorthCarolina]

71. That would take an act of congress, not likely they would relinquish what they have. nt

[Creative]

78. Sad, but true. Another thing to consider stripping is their ability to profit

from legislation that is enacted. If that is not insider trading, I don't see how anything else could be.

[defendandprotect]

81. Terrific point --

[TxVietVet]

85. When it's 1 in 5, the conservanazis better wake up.

When between 20% and 30%, it will strain the system and the insurance companies will start screwing policy holders to pay for the uninsured, which we already do. However, at that time, the rates will have soared where no one except the very rich can afford health insurance. Just a thought.

We will be a nation with a few rich protected folks surrounded by us less fortunate souls without out jobs, money or hope.

REPENT, conservanazis, as you gain more and more control, your end is near. :evilgrin:

[christx30]

107. Insurance is worthless

the insurance from my work will pay for 80% of things... AFTER you meet a $1500 deductable for the year.
Better to just not have it at all, than pay the premium.

[diane in sf]

2. good luck getting another middle class job with two teeth missing

[DeSwiss]

5. Unfortunately, too true. n/t

[AlphaCentauri]

51. speaking of teeth, I just got a crown for 1,200.00

My neighbor when to Mexico and got the same job fob for 200.00

[IMATB]

120. Went to a dentist friend

We just paid $1980 for a root canal and that price did not include antibiotics and pain medication.

My kid has no insurance.

[MedicalAdmin]

67. I've been trying to get another job for 3 years.

To supplement what I already do and I get to the part where they ask if I can (bend, twist, lift, etc) for the job and then they find out that I have a spinal injury and it is interview over. I am stuck.

Which is one of the reasons I am applying to emigrate.

[MannyGoldstein]

4. Why do you want the Palin for president?

Please stop this ungrateful talk.

Health care reform was an incredible victory. In just a few years, everyone can purchase fantastic health insurance. Unless the lobbyists who wrote the thing put nasty things in there that we don't know about yet.

[DeSwiss]

6. I don't believe I mentioned anything.....

...nor anyone named Palin in my post. So how you can jump to such a conclusion that my comments will result in a President Palin shows just how nonsensical some people are. Not to mention BLIND.

As for your other request, I'll respectfully retain my right to form my own opinion(s) which includes calling your assessment of the healthcare program that we've obtained through this Weak-Willie Administration a load. This woman needs medical coverage NOW! Not in three years.

- Thank you very much, and have a nice day.

[Bluebear]

7. I think you missed a lot of sarcasm in the post to you :)

[DeSwiss]

9. Yeah, probably. It's wayyyy past my bedtime..... :-/ n/t

[MannyGoldstein]

13. Yeah, pure sarcasm, sorry

Hard to tell the difference sometimes these days, thins have gotten pretty weird!

[rhett o rick]

23. I thought I detected the sarcasm. nm

[StarsInHerHair]

92. I didn't that's why there's that tag in smilies

nt

[LiberalEsto]

26. Hear, hear

:applause:

[JTFrog]

18. Because it is obviously all the Obama's fault.

The Treebaggers say it is so. They never point the finger at the Republicans.

Can you put the two and two together?

[Dawgs]

19. Actually the Democrats and Obama get ALL of the blame.

It was their #1 priority when they had both houses and the white house. They had the ability to use reconciliation so they only needed a simple majority in the Senate; which takes all of the blame off of the Republicans.

Nice try though.

[Lorien]

43. A historic opportunity utterly squandered

The health insurance executives and stockholders are plenty happy, though.

[somone]

87. A gargantuan betrayal

one of many

[somone]

41. People really need to make up their mind

Do you want to eat, or do you want to buy health insurance?

[MedicalAdmin]

69. I want to eat.

And I'm planning on moving to a place where one doesn't have to choose.

[MedicalAdmin]

68. Hey Manny - I can sell you great health insurance right now.

It has no upper limits on spending. It covers all health related costs. It has dental and vision. It's freakin amazing. And it's only $4000 per month with a deductable of only $20,000 per year. This was "offered" to me recently.

Wow. I can't afford it, but maybe you are interested and grateful.


Er, I should mention that everything in the above post except the "offer" was sarcasm. On thoughtful review of the offer, I think the insurance company was being sarcastic too, don't you think?

[StarsInHerHair]

91. just for you another red "kiss"

ridiculous pathetic, fluffy bunny Pollyanna insulting bullshit That was for Manny because I DIDN'T see any sarcasm

[MannyGoldstein]

96. It was actually sarcasm

Sorry, I know it's tough to tell the difference these days, things are so crazy...

[christx30]

109. Good thing it was passed

so we can now find out what is in it. :sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

8. Impossible. "Obama got health care for ALL Americans!"

I read it on DU!

[DeSwiss]

10. Then there can be only one logical explanation.....

...she must be an illegal immigrant!

- An Islamic terrarist at the least.....

[xchrom]

11. 'the greatest country on earth' has over 50 million unisured people. nt

[MedicalAdmin]

70. One estimate now puts it at 59,000,000.

Yikes. My handy dandy calculator tells me that that is a full 20% with another 30% with inadequite / too expensive to use insurance.

[howmad1]

94. Since when is this "The greatest country on Earth"?

It sure looks like we're competing with other third world countries to becoming a bananna republic.

[Solly Mack]

12. K&R

[handmade34]

14. oh, the irony... n/t

[Vinca]

15. But the box has been checked. Healthcare is in the Obama "win" column.

The lady needs to "man up" and get 4 or 5 part-time jobs to pay for a premium that might cover part of her bill. :banghead: I'm so disgusted.

[wilt the stilt]

16. as opposed to Clarence in a wonderful life

when an angel gets it's wings when a bell rings, a Republican gets a boehner when someone loses their health insurance

[mdmc]

20. plus, like me, many HAVE full health insurance, but lack access to

affordable medical care..

[Delphinus]

21. I am in a similar

situation. I have high deductible insurance but, having to pay for that, can't afford to actually go see a doctor.

[LiberalEsto]

27. I have good insurance through my husband's job

but I can't afford the 50% co-pay for a root canal and crown. Last year I had to have a tooth pulled for the first time, instead of getting it fixed. And that's what we will be doing from now on.

[leeroysphitz]

25. OK, I'm confused. I thought the health care system had been fixed. WTF?

[Autumn]

28. No. We got Insurance Finance Reform.

That is what got fixed. I'm waiting until I can afford to use mine.

[meow mix]

29. Obamas "Insurance Protection Act"

:banghead:

[Lorien]

46. 'Insurance Profit Protection Act" nt

[NorthCarolina]

30. Recent rate increases pushed health insurance costs beyond what my partner and I

could afford. As a result, we were forced to let our policies lapse, and to join the ranks of the uninsured. Because we are a gay couple, we are not permitted to take advantage of family plans that would eek out a bit of savings, and therefore were only allowed to purchase two individual policies at higher cost. While Obama's health insurance reform didn't do anything for us personally, we do realize we are in a minority situation, and if it did manage to insure some that could not be insured before, then it was worth it.

[MedicalAdmin]

72. It is a good thing.

We have moved from 3rd world health care status all the way up to dead last among industrialized nations.

Pardon me for being overwhelmed even as I am thankful that some got some help.

[sarcasmo]

31. Worst industrialized country on the planet. A sad situation.

[guitar man]

32. I'm joining their ranks in a few days

It was a tough decision to make but I decided to stop starving and depriving my family just to make aetna richer. It's just not worth it anymore to try and stay insured at the rate I was paying .

[NorthCarolina]

33. You are not alone. nt

[Lorien]

45. I dumped United American as well. I decided that having spent $82k over 15 years

for a whopping $200.00 worth of coverage wasn't much of a deal, especially with the 12k deductible. :grr:

[guitar man]

93. I hear ya

When I think of the thousands of dollars I've dumped into their coffers and what I've been able to get back out of it, it's just foolishness to continue. I can pay for our doctor visits etc with cash and come out way ahead. They can smoke a fat turd in hell as far as I'm concerned. :grr:

[chervilant]

34. Hmph!

We humans are manifesting a level of mental disease that is both frightening and corrosive. Far too many of us are in react mode, driven by inchoate fears and resentments. Far too many of us are willing to pollute our spirits with negativity, eagerly engaging in name-calling and other forms of vilification. Far too many of us are willing to glorify violence or resort to violence, often just for entertainment or personal gratification!

We seldom acknowledge the import of overpopulation, but Calhoun's research with rats has proven that when a critical level of overpopulation occurs, the outcome isn't pretty. With rats, abnormal sexual behavior, hyperaggression, eating their young, and increased mortality are a few of the problems that occurred. With humans, well...isn't it past time we acknowledge that our species has passed a critical tipping point?


When I was younger (and naive) I thought our species was in its adolescence--obsessed with sex, drugs, and all other forms of self-gratification, especially as regards our economic behaviors. However, a thoughtful analysis of the 'dis-ease' of overpopulation has shone a bright light on the consequences of this macro-level manifestation of our species' hedonism. Regardless of how much energy we devote to denying the ravages of overpopulation, they are writ large by our increasingly sophisticated, increasingly corrosive socio-cultural and technological constructs--the very same constructs we use to remain in denial, and to externalize responsibility for our collective hubris.

Bearing this in mind, I feel overwhelmed with disappointment about the choices we (as a collective) have been making, because we seem to be moving inexorably back into 'balance' on a planetary scale. The inevitable consequences of our hedonistic overpopulation and denial of personal responsibility promise to be extreme.

The uber wealthy elites labor on under the delusion that their wealth will protect them from the extreme consequences of our ecosystem's inevitable rebalancing, since--historically--their wealth has afforded them protection. However, the ravages of radical income inequity have motivated a burgeoning number of the hoi polloi to say "WTF?!" and "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!!!" The less than 400 corporatists who own and control more than 45% of the world's resources--and the 1,011 billionaires who jockey each year to grab the brass ring of membership in that inner circle--will be defenseless against the billions of people worldwide who FINALLY recognize that it's time for catastrophic change, before it's too late.

The uber wealthy elites' fundamental mistake has been to underestimate the hoi polloi. They don't understand that We the People have both the courage and the fortitude to pursue an equitable alternative to the giant ponzi scheme known as capitalism.

In the face of this immediate and catastrophic economic collapse, Mr. Obama is a simulacrum, a mere mortal who must struggle to appease a variety of opposing factions, not the least of which are the corporate megalomaniacs whose money and power hold a great deal more sway with our politicians du jour than the eager and often futile machinations of the hoi polloi. Still, when I contemplate Obama's feeble (nee fruitless) efforts, I am reminded of Margaret Mead's observation: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Thus, when I hear our contemporary politicians (et tu, Mr. Obama?) griping and groaning and saying 'compare us to the alternative,' I say "I am NOT impressed with this vapid excuse!"

I say, "embrace the criticisms you hear and use them to inform your efforts to effect change."

I say, "stop insulting the citizens who are actively involved in our political system, and find ways to partner with us to effect change."

I say, "It's WAY past time to change our world!"

(BTW, I am one of the millions of unemployed and uninsured. My health issues include: 2 molars that are missing large fillings, one of which is broken; tinnitus all the time; carpal tunnel in my left wrist that sometimes wakes me with extreme pain; arthritis in my right hip; chronic back pain that is often debilitative; and no way to get the glasses/contacts I need for my deteriorating eyesight. I wonder what would happen if all of us uninsured people were to descend on our local emergency rooms and pack into the waiting areas like lemmings. I wonder what would happen if all of us told the hospitals that we have no resources, no income, and no way to pay for the care we need. I wonder what would happen if we made sure the hospital personnel understand that whatever expenses we incur will compel us to declare bankruptcy. Indeed, I wonder...)

[jtuck004]

35. Priorities - Over 30 million people are unemployed or underemployed

and until they have jobs there is no reasonable way to address this. It's nearly impossible to heal people that have no food or shelter.

Millions of people have now been laid off, in their 50's, who will never work another job in their life. We are adding to the unemployment rolls every month that we don't create at least 130,000 new jobs, and we need more than that to lower the unemployment rate. Until a Dr. can prescribe a job or dinner, health care becomes a distraction from the real war on Americans.

Why don't we have a jobs program? 3.6 million jobs lost in 2008, 4.3 million lost in 2009. Who would benefit from not spending money to fix this? Well, for sure Wall Street. Their compensation went from an average of $630,000/yr in 2007 to $700,000/yr in 2009.
Can't get those numbers if the party in power is pushing for a WPA - and that just might encourage people to look at the investment banks who sold trillions - TRILLIONS - of dollars worth of securities without the reserves to pay off what they owed, so two administrations stepped in with trillions of dollars of taxpayer money - your money - to prop them up, for a while. Instead of a jobs program.

Why would they listen to Wall Street?

University of California $1,591,395
Goldman Sachs $994,795 <--
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Microsoft Corp $833,617
Google Inc $803,436
Citigroup Inc $701,290 <--
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Time Warner $590,084
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Top Contributors

10,000 Americans a day will turn 65 starting in January, and for some that will be the first check they get. For 1 out of 3, they weren't paid enough during their working years to have a retirement, so social security is their only lifeline. So people want to cut the social safety net? Why aren't we focusing on growth, on the economic security of this country in a globalized world? Perhaps we should tell the friends of wall street and the ex-Goldman Sachs employees in high level positions that we no longer need their world view.

We may see a 12% unemployment rate next year.

President Obama is going to embark on a "listening" tour next year, it is said. Instead of action? If one thinks a bunch of "we feel your pain" speeches is going to be the path the re-election, you better pray to whatever power you believe in that the opponent is Sarah Palin. Because anyone with any real qualifications just has to ask "Is your life better"?

The Democrats used to stand in front of the powerless, against the forces arrayed against them. They asked those people to step up a couple of years ago, and then spent the next two years making sure Wall Street and Insurance companies didn't just survive, but thrived. That their kids could go to schools where most kids can't even get past gate security. They made sure those people had the best health care, jobs, and income. They made sure they didn't even have to drive the same kinds of cars, for cryin' out loud. Maybach sedan, starting about $366,000.

For over 30 million people without jobs, 59 million people with no health care, over 40 million on food stamps, and 14 million people who have either lost their home or are awaiting foreclosure, their answer is coming.

[stockholmer]

47. 12% unemployment next year? try 23+, just using your own numbers

there are around 138,000,000 in the USA workforce, so 30,0000,0000 unemployed means 21.7% real unemployment now, which I find close to reality

s soon as government unemployment benefits run out, they no longer count you as unemployed, plus they overestimate the small business job creation each month, then revise it undercover of the mid-month night

http://www.usdebtclock.org/ great real time stats, all from US government sources

http://www.shadowstats.com/ shows the actual stats, and how the US government manipulates them (both parties)

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm the official spew

[MedicalAdmin]

73. Shadow stats is a great website.

Wonderful to see someone stripping the BS out of the stats.

[jtuck004]

90. You are correct, and incorrect

The correct part:

When I said 30 million + unemployed, underemployed, and dis-spirited people I was referring to the U6 number, which is currently at 17% of the workforce.

When I said 12%, I was referring to the U3, the more common measure. I should have used U6 there as well, and that number could well be 25-30%. In that case there would be around 38 million people either unemployed, underemployed, or too discouraged to continue looking for work in a time when there is only one job for every 6 workers.

Economists would also be screaming "Depression".

Thank you for the links. In addition to shadowstats, Trimtabs and the ADP employment survey are also good gauges because, as you stated, the "black box" portion of unemployment numbers is not disclosed and allows for, uh, something. Nobody outside of their office seems to know exactly what.

You are incorrect when you state that when people run out of benefits they are no longer counted. Unemployment benefits are not considered. The U3 counts people who are actively seeking work, that is, they have looked in the past 4 weeks. If they have not looked in the past 30 days they are not considered active, but are included in the broader U6.


From the BLS Faq here...

Is the count of unemployed persons limited to just those people receiving
unemployment insurance benefits?

No; the estimate of unemployment is based on a monthly sample survey of house-
holds. All persons who are without jobs and are actively seeking and available
to work are included among the unemployed. (People on temporary layoff are in-
cluded even if they do not actively seek work.) There is no requirement or ques-
tion relating to unemployment insurance benefits in the monthly survey.

[chervilant]

97. hmm...

Under all that rhetoric, and a wee bit of 'look how right I am,' one can plainly see that the actual percentage of unemployed is significantly higher than the percentage alleged by the PTB.

[jtuck004]

105. There's no good way to correct bad information,

though I think you are reading something into my post that isn't there.

If people choose to pick other numbers from other less standard sources, that's ok by me. I think many of those
sources add a lot by questioning the numbers we get. That's the way of the world, to take other people's data
and come to a different interpretation. But if one isn't going to at least read the available information about
how the data is collected they are just operating from superstition, which in my book is no better than alleging
the adjustment of data for political purposes.

But it's still a tragedy, whether it is 27 million, 30 million, or 35 million. And it is not getting any better.

[chervilant]

119. Nice dog. n/t

[jtuck004]

121. He really is. Was doing some work at a shelter, he was

adopted three times, either returned or thrown out. The next time we got him I took him home to see what was going on. Don't know if this was the reason, but he had diarrhea for 5 months. Tried all the standard food tricks, finally had a blood test done - has "Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency" - pancreas doesn't put out enough digestive enzymes to break down food, so was desperately trying to eat anything and everything, but only weighed about 38 lbs.

Found a yahoo group that deals with this (common in German Shepherds) and a place to order the digestive enzymes (commonly mistaken for probiotics, but different, here....

Now Buddy is about 62 lbs, good poop, and like most terriers likes to flop his head down on one of us when he sleeps. Gotta keep his peeps close. (The head feels like 40 of his 60 lbs<G>).

I'll tell him you said he looked nice. He will like that.

[chervilant]

128. Awwww.....

Da boopses are da bomb! My spoiledness is only 41 pounds, but he's my 'electric blanket' when I sleep. And, I have to have my daily ration of puppy kisses, or I'm just not good for anything. :)

[area51]

48. 12% unemployment? Try 30.5%.

We already have 30.5% unemployment in the U.S..

[stockholmer]

49. I think that the real rate is around 23 percent now, not 30, it will go to 30, but not there yet

"YSU study also includes the underemployed - people who aren't able to get full-time jobs due to the economy; people on sick leave or early retirement; recipients of government aid, such as a low-wage worker getting Earned Income Tax Credits, or prison and jail populations"

sick leave, early retirees, government aid recipients, prisoners, and EITC receivers all exist even in a full employment scenario, so they cant be counted

believe me, I am a "doom and gloomer", but this study is flawed, and will possibly cause a person to look foolish if they run into a hard-core government line supporter, thus allowing the big lie of the official 9.8 percent rate to become further reinforced as truth

also, remember that in modern history, each time the true unemployment rate has hit 30 percent in any industrialized country, there has been civil war within months

see my reply above for the sources of my information

[paparush]

38. And the Rich yawn, order more poor thrown onto the fire to quell the chill. nt

[radhika]

39. In 3 days that number will include ME!

As a LAUSD Adult ED teacher, I will lose district-paid benefits at year end. My scheduled work hours fall below the contract minimum. I can qualify COBRA, but as I only work 12 hours per week, I can't afford it. My current plan? Since I qualify for Medicare next December, I am planning to go commando until then.

[SoapBox]

42. And if the RushThugs and T.HaterBaggers have their way...

ALL Americans will be without insurance EXCEPT for those that just
had their "Bush Era Tax Breaks" extended.

...get ready to JUST DIE QUICKLY America!

[Kurovski]

44. K&R. (nt)

[eagertolearn]

50. Being in the health care profession I predicted this a long time ago.

By the way it should be called Sick or Disease Care because that is the way Health Care has gone. There's no incentives for prevention. People are just getting heavier and heavier and expecting the doctors to fix them with out any work on their part. I hate to say this but we need to manage health care. Pay for programs so that people can try and lose weight (exercise, diet and support) and then if they lose some weight and decrease their blood sugars they can have the sugeries so that they can have a better outcome. Everyone should have health care but pay something into the system. How can people afford to pay insurance companies, who get out of paying for a good percentage of things for this and that reason. We need a single payer system. It works in other countries and they are laughing at us for beleiving the far right who tell all these horror stories. Have you ever listened to our countries horror stories. Single payer with incentives for those who do what they can to stay healthy!

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
here] to review the message board rules.

[MedicalAdmin]

74. You might want to consider this.

First, the only part of a hospital that is required to accept you as a patient is an ER. Second, ER's are disappearing fast. Third, ERs are only required to treat you until you are "stable" and then they will show you the door and mail you a BIG FREAKIN BILL.

There ain't no such thing as free care in the US (or anywhere actually although the rest of the world has figured out how to do it much less expensively and much more effectively that we do).

Don't count on an ER for your care or to be free. Please.

[grahamhgreen]

54. The only upside is Bernie Sanders "Federally Qualified Community Health Center program"

These health centers are provided free from the government, supposedly.

Here is the map:



Here's hos to find one: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/GoogleSearch_HCC.aspx

[defendandprotect]

62. Wondering how this is working for 50 million uninsured? Thanks for the info!!

[MedicalAdmin]

75. Thanks for the link.

I'll add it to our website for low income patients. OF course there are zero clinics anywhere near us. But hey - it's all good because I own a gun and if I get sick I'm just going to blow my head off. It's cheap. It's effective. And your family won't end up on the street.

[grahamhgreen]

84. There is an additional 20 billion in the health care bill to set up new clinics, btw....

[chill_wind]

88. Hmm. Of three within 20 miles of me, two with pages not found

several more much further away also with broken links or pages not found. The only one at all nearby specializes not in care or treatment, but preventative screenings and referrals, which is something, but not where you can go for direct care for active illness or injury.

[grahamhgreen]

101. That's disconcerting

[dflprincess]

100. And community health centers are great if you're going to them

for preventative care or minor ailments, but they won't be able to help much if the mammogram comes back with a odd looking spot or your PSA test is bad.

[Safetykitten]

55. Sounds like it's time for the Presidential CALL! Hey, get me an unisured person on the line.

[Festivito]

59. This is PRE-HC-BILL, 2009 info, just NEWly reported this month.

Reported lately is that more companies are now buying HC for employees.

This is made to look as though the new HC is doing badly for us. These data do not tell the new story.

[meow mix]

60. Hurry!! make some phone calls to football teams.

meanwhile people with health problems have no options

[defendandprotect]

61. Terrific post -- $1 BILLION every day in interest on debt but US can't afford MEDICARE FOR ALL --!!

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

65. I am one of the millions......

A vet of VietNam, a small biz owner, uninsured!

Have had good health in the past, but recently I have really wanted to go to a doctor.
Chest pains, not bad but in my mind worrisome.

VA no help! Not for old soldiers.

My wife and I have dental problems, I chipped a tooth in front, look like, well whatever.

No where to go, we are just getting by.

Work to get food and pay rent on the land we live upon.

I cry at the future of us. I wanted a great time for us, with the grandkids and all.
But I will die before my time! My wife will die before her time!

We are 58 and 57. Should have had a long life ahead, in a caring government.

We will survive. My fight is not gone.

I feel that this society has lost it's focus.

There is only one rule, one maxim we should abide by,
"Do onto others, as you would want them to do to you"

Simple government.. Simple rule...

But in spite of everything, we enjoy our life, we are happy, in love with each other.
We chose this way, a way to be independent, a way to be free of corporate influence.

We try to teach others to have the same, but the fight is hard.

I worry though about my kids, my grandkids.

The older I get the more socialist I become, I can only believe the more Christian
this country becomes, the more socialist we become.

[Lars39]

76. You might still qualify for VA benefits as a Vietnam vet.

http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/AnnualThresholds.asp

[MedicalAdmin]

77. +1

But honestly I don't think things will get better here. I think that the US is done. It just remains to be seen how the remaining pieces will play out. I suspect that parts of the states will petition to join Canada eventually. I think that the pacific northwest will spin off. I'm not sure about California. Minnesota, the Dakotas and Wisconsin will likely join Canada as well and the Eastern seaboard will either join Canada or end up paying WAAAAAAY too much for their power (most of which comes from Canada).

I know this is pretty cynical but it's hard to be optimistic with the social problems, rampant inequality, racism, job loss, debt load and rampant military spending. I don't see the politics changing because politics in the US has been a corporately owned entity for almost 30 years with huge acceleration of the corruption in the past 15 years.

[Dan]

118. Will not happen

The Federal government will not allow any state to petition to join anything else - won't happen. And honestly, why should Canada buy into our problems?

[Amonester]

124. I read about a group of Vermonters who studied the possibilities

for Vermont to become a Canadian province.

It was during the final years of the bush regime.

Dunno what came out of that study, though.

[StarsInHerHair]

95. I've heard you can try going to a college & be a guinea pig but get your

dental work done, hopefully well done. You can try to ask and look around at your local city/community/state universities.

[Jakes Progress]

82. The neo-con dream come true.

[progressoid]

83. And how many millions have "insurance" that is useless?

[Monk06]

86. How about single payer for the 50 M uninsured like we have in Communist Canada

Then the rich can have their Capitalist healthcare and
the argument will be settled. The 50 M can pay for their
own separate single payer system with it's own separate
network of medical school/hospitals just like in Canada.
Let's say one hospital for every 250,000 people or 200
hospitals nationwide. That should do the job.

Then the rich can't complain that socialized medicine is
being forced down their throats.

[Rage for Order]

89. It's 30 million Americans uninsured, not "over 50 million"

A quick glance at the data tables from the http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7451-06_Data_Tables.pdf">Kaiser Commission's report shows that 20 million of the 50 million people aren't American citizens, so the true number of uninsured Americans is about 30 million, or roughly 10% of the population. It's still too many, but it's 40% fewer people than the article implies.

[bhikkhu]

104. You might start with 86 million, rather

...then count down from there how many uninsured you don't want to count.

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-03-04/health/uninsured.epidemic.obama_1_families-usa-health-insurance-health-coverage?_s=PM:HEALTH

[dflprincess]

98. And still we get no estimates on how many are underinsured.

I'll bet it's at least double this number.

People get sicker and die because they can't access care - and that includes a lot of people who think they are "covered".

[unkachuck]

110. "...Americans lacking healthcare has swelled beyond 50 million..."

....a job well done!....there's 50+ million that won't be voting Democratic....

[tucsonlib]

112. Meanwhile....

I just read that 25% of American CHILDREN are on prescription drugs. What's wrong with this picture? Answer:


EVERYTHING!

[sofa king]

115. Hooray! Let's all go rock climbing together!

[Safetykitten]

116. End of 2011, 55 million. End of 2012, 60 million. 100 million by 2018

[postatomic]

122. I'm trying to wrap my small brain around this

I'll admit that I didn't follow the Health Care "Reform" that closely. I made the horrible assumption that something good would come of it. Everything seems to be getting worst. Much worst. Why the fuck did our government waste one minute on Health Care "Reform"?

Patient-Heal Thyself.

[kestrel91316]

123. When it hits 100 million, the public option WILL be back on the table.

I give it 5 years.

[mdmc]

129. r

[mvd]

130. Need to keep fighting for single payer

It may be a long process, and nothing can get done with the Repukes controlling the House, but I am confident we will get there.

[avaistheone1]

131. It the fight that makes sense.

Single payer would have solved this problem.