This problem has been studied ad nauseam. There is no basis for any political party to simply look the other way. This is a legitimate problem for this country. The Republicans need to have answers and not simply the party that opposed an answer to this American problem.
Obviously, the private sector is not interested in providing benefits such as health care. Thirteen percent is a huge number. In 1981 there were 99,955,000 Americans in our work force according to US Labor statistics. That means 13 percent meant 12,994,150 lost health insurance. Now multiply that by the number of family members in those households. It is a huge number of Americans without health insurance.
In 1988 when this study was completed there was nothing done about the fact there was no health insurance for at least 13 million Americans and their families. In 1992, the President Elect Clinton promised to pursue an answer to this American problem. We all know what happened.
The study from Kaiser listed the uninsured. The problem grew, it did not resolve over time. Sooner or later the Republicans needs to come to terms with the fact the private sector wants profits and not providing for something they obviously believe is the responsibility of the government.
The USA has to find a solution and end the trauma of lack of health care insurance to the American people.
This isn't about whether or not the private sector can 'do it better than the USA.' This is about the very clear fact, the private sector DOES NOT WANT TO DO IT!
Health Insurance:
A Profile of the Uninsured in Ohio and the Nation
HRD-88-83: Published: Aug 30, 1988. Publicly Released: Oct 5, 1988.
Pursuant to a congressional request, (click here) GAO studied: (1) the growth in the number of individuals without health insurance between 1982 and 1985; (2) the characteristics of uninsured persons in the United States and Ohio; (3) health insurance costs and affordability in Ohio; and (4) federal, state, and local health care programs in Ohio that assist the uninsured.
GAO found that: (1) the number of Americans without health insurance increased by 13 percent between 1982 and 1985; (2) reasons for the increase included a decrease in employer- or union-sponsored insurance, the growth of industries which typically do not offer coverage, and an increase in insurance costs; (3) the likelihood of being uninsured was significantly greater among individuals who were not full-time employees, were unmarried or separated, or had incomes below or close to the poverty level; (4) a disproportionate percentage of individuals who were nonwhite or young or who worked in the agriculture, construction, or retail trade industries lacked insurance; and (5) cost and health status were serious obstacles in obtaining health insurance. GAO also found that: (1) Ohio statistics regarding the uninsured and insurance availability and affordability paralleled national averages; (2) federal, state, and local health care programs in Ohio handled over 2 million visits from low-income patients, at a cost of over $2 billion in 1985; and (3) uninsured persons in Ohio did not have uniform access to publicly supported programs.
Obviously, the private sector is not interested in providing benefits such as health care. Thirteen percent is a huge number. In 1981 there were 99,955,000 Americans in our work force according to US Labor statistics. That means 13 percent meant 12,994,150 lost health insurance. Now multiply that by the number of family members in those households. It is a huge number of Americans without health insurance.
In 1988 when this study was completed there was nothing done about the fact there was no health insurance for at least 13 million Americans and their families. In 1992, the President Elect Clinton promised to pursue an answer to this American problem. We all know what happened.
The study from Kaiser listed the uninsured. The problem grew, it did not resolve over time. Sooner or later the Republicans needs to come to terms with the fact the private sector wants profits and not providing for something they obviously believe is the responsibility of the government.
The USA has to find a solution and end the trauma of lack of health care insurance to the American people.
This isn't about whether or not the private sector can 'do it better than the USA.' This is about the very clear fact, the private sector DOES NOT WANT TO DO IT!
Health Insurance:
A Profile of the Uninsured in Ohio and the Nation
HRD-88-83: Published: Aug 30, 1988. Publicly Released: Oct 5, 1988.
Pursuant to a congressional request, (click here) GAO studied: (1) the growth in the number of individuals without health insurance between 1982 and 1985; (2) the characteristics of uninsured persons in the United States and Ohio; (3) health insurance costs and affordability in Ohio; and (4) federal, state, and local health care programs in Ohio that assist the uninsured.
GAO found that: (1) the number of Americans without health insurance increased by 13 percent between 1982 and 1985; (2) reasons for the increase included a decrease in employer- or union-sponsored insurance, the growth of industries which typically do not offer coverage, and an increase in insurance costs; (3) the likelihood of being uninsured was significantly greater among individuals who were not full-time employees, were unmarried or separated, or had incomes below or close to the poverty level; (4) a disproportionate percentage of individuals who were nonwhite or young or who worked in the agriculture, construction, or retail trade industries lacked insurance; and (5) cost and health status were serious obstacles in obtaining health insurance. GAO also found that: (1) Ohio statistics regarding the uninsured and insurance availability and affordability paralleled national averages; (2) federal, state, and local health care programs in Ohio handled over 2 million visits from low-income patients, at a cost of over $2 billion in 1985; and (3) uninsured persons in Ohio did not have uniform access to publicly supported programs.
