Uninsured sicker and deader

[Moksha]

Report: Uninsured Utahns are sicker and dying sooner than insured counterparts
By Lisa Rosetta
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated:04/08/2008 01:41:09 PM MDT

The uninsured, who now number 47 million in the U.S., face a lack of necessary medical care, growing medical debts, and in some instances, premature death. To understand what this means, Families USA generated the first-ever state-level estimates of the number of deaths due to a lack of health insurance.
In 2006, the New York-based nonprofit found, there were nearly 1.25 million people between the ages of 25 and 64 living in Utah, of which 19.4 percent were uninsured. An estimated 150 people died because they were uninsured; between 2000 and 2006, that number was more than 800.
The nation's uninsured, says the report, "Dying for Coverage in Utah," are less likely to have a usual source of care outside of the emergency room and are going without regular health screenings and preventative care. Adults without insurance, for example, are more than three times as likely as insured adults to delay seeking medical care [47 percent versus 15 percent.]
The result is the uninsured are 25 percent more likely than those with private insurance to be diagnosed with diseases in an advanced stage, the report says.
No one knows that better than the clinicians at the Fourth Street Clinic, who see about 6,000 people - 90 percent of whom are uninsured - each year. In 2007, said Jennifer Hyvonen, the clinic's communications director, 50 people homeless patients died from chronic diseases. Their average age at death: 46.
"We have a lot of patients who are being treated," she said. "They're diabetic, and then they have high cholesterol and then they have hypertension and then it just compounds from there because they haven't received any treatment."
Uninsured Americans between 55 and 64 years of age are at an even greater risk of premature death, the report says. The organization estimates that not having insurance to cover various illnesses is their third leading cause of death - behind heart disease and cancer.
The group includes Donna Doty, who was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer in July 2007 and was dead by Nov. 14, said her sister, Pamela Buss. The 60-year-old Salt Lake City woman worked as a waitress for most of her life and was uninsured.
"By the time she was diagnosed, she had extensive lung and brain cancer as well," Buss said. Had her sister had health insurance, "I'm pretty sure she would have had more regular screenings had it not been such a financial issue."
Because uninsured adults are unable to negotiate the discounts on hospital and doctor charges that insurance companies do, they also pay more - up to two-and-a-half times more - for their care, the report says. About 60 percent of uninsured adults under the age of 65 reported struggling with medical bills.
"Our safety net for many people is more holes than webbing," said Ron Pollock, executive director of Families USA.

Report: Uninsured Utahns are sicker and dying sooner than insured counterparts - Salt Lake Tribune

[Elgama]

that is true even with the NHS the poorer areas are less healthy. Poorer diet and less well educated are to blame plus greater incidences of stress and depression

-Charley

[Traveler]

I am always concerned with particular view points, especially if the party given a point of view has an ax to grind or incentive in the outcome.

We already have problems with our health care but let me point out something interesting. The two greatest health problems in the United States are caused from over eating and lack of exercise. The two most offered health solutions in our health system is drugs and surgery. How can people be better off because of health care?

I also read a study that indicated the 40% of the children in our health care system are made worse by incorrect doses of medication.

Just because 50% of our population can’t have babies does not mean that we need to act to correct the problem – Men cannot have babies and according to Mother Nature that is not a problem that should concern us.

The Traveler

[Alaskagain]

I think all health insurance should be eliminated. Private and government sponsored. Instead, pay doctors and dentists with the money you would have spent on monthly health insurance premiums. (Or with chickens and fresh vegetables from your garden.)

The savings in bureaucracy and paperwork would be phenomenal for hospitals and doctors offices. At one of our hospitals, over 50% of the entire payroll goes to the insurance department. It's ridiculous. Nurses should be getting that, not insurance clerks.

Imagine, no more insurance company CEO's walking around with $6 million or more in annual bonuses.

Doctors could afford to charge less, hospital stays would cost less, and more charitable/free care would be given - indeed, some insurance networks set limits on the percentage of reduced rate care a doctor can give.

(With the implementation of the Fair Tax, the doctor only needs to figure out what constitutes 23% of a chicken.)

[jadams_4040]

Originally Posted by Moksha

Report: Uninsured Utahns are sicker and dying sooner than insured counterparts - Salt Lake Tribune

This is ssoo true and getting worse every day, but there are certain groups pf people whom dont have this problem i:e... the politicians, the insurance company investotrs e,t.c....

[a-train]

Its just sad. The more government gets involved, the more people are harmed. When will we wake up and take our freedoms back?

-a-train

[skalenfehl]

Originally Posted by a-train

Its just sad. The more government gets involved, the more people are harmed. When will we wake up and take our freedoms back?

-a-train

Hopefully now! Every man and woman should be actively engaged in a good cause. Everyone should be involved in their local community. The more this happens, the less crooked politicians will have their way. Otherwise we just forfeit absolute power and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[a-train]

If Americans wanted to take our freedoms back, we would stop accepting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid 'benefits'. This is difficult for most to resist. We talk a lot about wanting lower taxes, but people hesitate when we talk about lower so-called 'benefits'.

-a-train

[Traveler]

Originally Posted by a-train

If Americans wanted to take our freedoms back, we would stop accepting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid 'benefits'. This is difficult for most to resist. We talk a lot about wanting lower taxes, but people hesitate when we talk about lower so-called 'benefits'.

-a-train

Just so you know I plan to apply for Social Security at the very first date I possibly can. I plan to use my Social Security to help pay for some of my taxes.

The Traveler

[SMG]

The way things seem to be going, I doubt I'll ever see the money they take away from my paycheck returned to me in any form, especially in the form of "social security." I'm under 30 and jaded, what can I say?