According to the 2008 census there were 45 million in this country that were without health insurance. This number can be misleading unless the facts about the reasons for remaining uninsured are also taken into consideration. And if you belong to those uninsured folks you might want to compare and get multiple health insurance quotes online with our form above to get the best deal out there.
How Did The Number 45 Million Come About?
The number that is often tossed about to account for the uninsured in this country is derived from the 2008 census and does not take into consideration the number of those that can afford to carry health insurance but have chosen not to do so.
The fact is that 17.6 million of that number has an annual income of $50,000 or more, and 9.1 million had an annual income of $75,000 or more. Sally Pipes reports in the Top Ten Myths of American Health Care: A Citizen’s Guide that the $75,000 per year group are among the fastest growing portion of our population that is uninsured.
Who Else Is Uninsured?
The Census also shows that 18.3 million of those that were not insured were 34 years of age and under. The young often decide that they do not need health insurance because of their age.
Are There Any Of The Uninsured That Can Receive Government Programs?
Another interesting fact when determining who is not insured is that there are millions in our country that are eligible for government programs that are already in place but have just not yet enrolled in them.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association did a study in 2003 that showed that there were approximately 14 million who were eligible for Medicaid and SCHIP. Another tidbit of information is that these people would be automatically signed up if they received care at a hospital emergency room.
What else did the Blue Cross Blue Shield study show?
The Blue Cross Blue Shield study showed that only 8.2 million Americans, not aliens or illegals, are not covered by health insurance for any length of time. Those affected either cannot afford health care because they are too poor or they make too much money to receive assistance from the government.
However, it is illegal for hospitals to send a patient away without treating them if they come to an emergency room for treatment. This means that everyone in this nation has access to health care whether they can pay or not.
How Many People Have Health Insurance?
With all the hubbub about those that are not insured, the lack of details, that are readily available, leaves the general public not as well informed as they should be about the state of the uninsured. The fact remains, whether a person has health insurance or not health care must be provided to them, it’s the law.