Posted on 08/15/2009 7:06:33 AM PDT by Marguerite
In "The Top Ten Myths of American Health Care," Sally Pipes points out that while there are some Americans who simply can't afford health insurance, many millions who can afford insurance choose not to buy it and "very likely would not want to be 'rescued' by mandatory socialized medicine."
In the first place, the 47 million number is grossly inflated. The Congressional Budget Office survey generating it included those who were uninsured for any part of a year, despite the fact that almost half of these remain uninsured for an average of only four months.
Some 38 percent of this 47 million -- almost 18 million -- make more than $50,000 a year, and 10 million of them make more than $75,000. Of all the uninsured groups, this is the only one that is growing, because in a still-free country, they've made their own decision not to buy expensive insurance while (most of them) are young and healthy. The Census Bureau also reports that more than 10 million of the uninsured are not American citizens.
But how about the very poor? Well, it turns out that the Democrats are shedding crocodile tears here, as well. Pipes explains that "as many as 14 million of the 45.7 million uninsured -- poor and low-income Americans -- are fully eligible for generous government assistance programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP." But "they're just not enrolling in the programs."
So while Obama tells us that almost 8 million children lack health insurance, he doesn't disclose that 5 million of them only lack insurance because they haven't been enrolled in the available programs. Not only would this fact undermine the urgency of his appeal; it illustrates that even under his "universal access" plan, not everyone would acquire coverage anyway. Indeed, the CBO has estimated that some 17 million would remain uninsured if the Democrats' plan were implemented.
But how urgent do you suppose Obama's call for universal coverage would sound if he were to come clean with these figures? The truth is he couldn't get to first base if he used the 8 million figure instead of 47 million.
But there's another important factor to keep separate, as well. There's a major difference between a lack of insurance and a lack of care. Under Obama's socialized medicine scheme, not only would universal insurance coverage be impossible to achieve but also access to medical care and the scope of care would be dramatically reduced, as it has been in every socialized system in the world and in our own government health programs.
They do not want no stinkin inshooance. They rather have tv and beer.
The Census Bureau report “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007.” The report was issued in August 2008 and contains the most up-to-date official data on the number of uninsured in the U.S.
The report discloses that there were 45.65 million people in the U.S. who did not have health insurance in 2007.
However, it also reveals that there were 9.73 million foreigners — foreign-born non-citizens who were in the country in 2007 — included in that number. So the number of uninsured Americans was actually 35.92 million.
And of those, “there were also 9.1 million people making more than $75,000 per year who did not choose to purchase health insurance,” CNSNews stated in a report based on the Census Bureau data.
That brings the number of Americans who lack health insurance presumably for financial reasons down less than 27 million.
The Census Bureau report also shows that the number of people without insurance actually went down in 2007 compared to the previous year — from 47 million to 45.65 million — while the number with insurance rose from 249.8 million to 253.4 million.
“They do not want no stinkin inshooance.”
Free country=Free choice
My sister works and is offered heath insurance through her employer. She would be required to pay a small part of the premium. She declined the coverage.
She also has a major illness and has had no problem receiving care. Her medical bills, according to her, are around a million dollars but she still is able to she her doctors and receive treatment.
I have a hard time believing anyone is without care in this country.
“I have a hard time believing anyone is without care in this country.”
If Obama nationalizes the health care, you can be sure that the gubmint bureaucreats will take care of that; who will get what kind of care.
very true.
Many larger corporations offer a limited or basic benefit plan to part timers. I know the company I work for, my son works for and my sister works for all offer it for around 27$ bi weekly for individuals and a couple hundred a month for families.
Anyone who didn’t qualify for that would most likely be eligible for medicaid or SCHIP.
Beyond that, I have seen numerous ads on TV for BCBS, Icanbenefit.com, and cinergy health all offering benefits, not discount plans, but actual insurance for everyone, no preexisting limits etc, starting at 30 per month for individuals and 160 per month for families. Catastrophic care is also available for any hospitalizations for around 150 per family per month.
Granted, none of this is “cadillac coverage”, but neither will any government program be either. If proponents of single payer are under the impression that they are going to get the same kind of benefits/service that congress gets, they are woefully uneducated. The govt plan will lower all benefits, while rationing care even more than is done right now. One only has to do a little research to see how this will affect them...........
Our family is on my wife’s medical plan. She just switched jobs as her old one was VERY tied to Chrysler...
We have 2 kids entering middle school this year and so they need vaccinations. We went to county services on the day before her old plan expired. (the new one won’t start for a while) We were advised by the folks there that we could reduce OUR cost for these by simply waiting a few days for our insurance to expire. Shots would have been $50. a piece will only cost us $15. next week.
Gee, I NEEEEEEEEEED the govermnent to overhaul our medical system!!! yeah, right...
Those who don’t have medical care/health insurance by no choice of their own are WELL taken care of. I don’t buy the line “they just DON’T sign up...” either.
When our ‘poor’ people in this country hear of a program that gives them FREE anything, they show initiative that would propel them above all their co-workers -if they got jobs.
In this country, it pays to not work.
Bump.
As exemplified by those who ‘work’ as congressman and senators.
“She voted for Obama, hoping for all kind a “free” benifits.”
A lot of people vote for the wrong reasons.
Freedom ain’t free.
Sweeping changes to 85% of Americans who currently have health insurance or medicare is not necessary to accommodate the other 15% of the supposedly uninsured.
“Figures don’t lie, but liars always figure.” - Mark Twain
Just because one is uninsured does not automatically mean they are also denied medical treatment or access to care.
The left wingers make it sound like people are denied health care in general. Many people are uninsured by choice. It is not our responsibility to provide them anything except a unlocked door to the emergency room.
Liability insurance for automobiles is mandatory in all states. How come there are still uninsured drivers and why do I still pay for uninsured motorist coverage on my premium??
Because uninsured people are already being subsidized out of our pockets in the prices we pay for all goods and services. We don’t need a tax or a law forcing compliance if people are already paying to keep the ER doors open.
Government needs to keep their hands out of my business. They are already too intrusive and overbearing.
bump
Marguerite, do you have the source for that chart? Very interesting!
“do you have the source for that chart?”
http://patdollard.com/2009/08/joker-math-the-myth-of-47-million-uninsured/
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