By Art Cruz
Nearly 46 million Americans, including more than 8 million children, are living without health insurance—forced to gamble every day that they won’t get sick or injured. That’s a risk no one should have to take.
Uninsured Americans live sicker and die younger than those with health insurance. Just one serious illness or injury can wipe out an uninsured family’s bank account, and the problem is getting worse.
In Washington state, 48 percent of those who are uninsured say they did not get needed care because they could not afford it. And it’s not just a problem for younger people. The number of uninsured aged 50-64 is also rising. Many preventative screenings become routine at 50, from mammograms to colonoscopies. Those who cannot afford these tests are being forced to risk their health and their lives.
That’s why the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, AARP and some of the most influential organizations in the country last month organized the annual “Cover the Uninsured Week” event. This year’s effort mobilized thousands of individuals and organizations from many sectors of society to tell Congress that health care coverage must be their top priority.
Cover the Uninsured Week 2006 created a groundswell of activities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including press conferences, health and enrollment fairs, seminars for small businesses, campus activities, business leader summits, interfaith outreach, and more. These activities were designed to mobilize a mix of business owners, union members, educators, seniors, students, patients, hospital staff, physicians, nurses, faith leaders and their congregants, and many others.
Millions of people were alerted to the pressing needs of those living without health insurance. These 46 million Americans need our help.
Why are 46 million Americans uninsured? One answer is that health care is increasingly unaffordable. Do these high costs equate to good health? It seems not. An interesting study recently showed that while Americans pay much more than British citizens for health care, our health is not any better.
We deserve more for our health care dollars than we are getting. That’s why I am happy to report that in our state, there is progress on health care reform and covering the uninsured.
In early May, Gov. Christine Gregoire created a bipartisan blue ribbon commission to find ways to provide accessible, affordable, quality health care for all Washingtonians. By Dec. 1, the commission will recommend a sustainable five-year plan to substantially improve access to affordable health care for all state residents.
Organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (www.covertheuninsured.org) and leaders like Gregoire deserve our thanks for helping to spotlight health care reform. Unfortunately, until Congress acts to ensure coverage for all Americans and contain care costs, millions of uninsured families will continue gambling, every day, with their health and their lives.
Art Cruz is president of AARP of Washington state.
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