2 die each day in Mich. for lack of insurance

[michreject]

Source: Detroit Free Press

Not having health insurance can be deadly, a growing problem that accounts for deaths of 650 Michiganders a year, nearly two a day, a national report released Thursday concludes.

Uninsured people “live sicker and die earlier,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a national nonprofit consumer health organization, speaking in a telephone news briefing. He said that premature deaths among the uninsured nationwide are twice the rates of people who are killed by homicide. The problem is growing in Michigan as more employers drop health coverage and people find insurance premiums too costly to purchase their own coverage.

The report used mathematical methods used by two highly reputable agencies, the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit federal agency which studied the issue in 2002, and the Urban Institute, which updated the figures in 2006. Both reports took federal statistics on people who lacked insurance and estimated that 25% died prematurely.



Read more: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080313/BUSINESS06/80313034

[graywarrior]

1. It's really frightening when you are sick and know you cannot afford treatment.

I am astounded that no one cares enough to help people.

[flamin lib]

2. K&R for Kevin.

[michreject]

3. Thanks.. nt

[flamin lib]

4. . .

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/flamin%20lib/30

[H8fascistcons]

5. Please Remember

The two candidates that supported single payer health care are out of the race. Edwards plan took a little longer but the end result was the same. Corporations are laughing all the way to the bank, progressives you are fighting over two candidates who basically support the status quo, health care for profit...

[Hissyspit]

8. I haven't forgotten and it REALLY pisses me off.

It's one among many reasons I try not to get too involved in the primary wars.

[Donnachaidh]

10. Yup -- Obama AND Clinton are flunkies for the Insurance Corporations

BOTH of them.

[Plucketeer]

6. A cousin of mine just died

He went to the hospital with chest pains. They checked him out to the tune of $10K and THEN realized he had no insurance or bank balance to settle that debt. They very abruptly sent him home without further diagnosis or treatment. He was found dead at his work station some 5 days later.

[Hissyspit]

7. Even if you have it, you can die. It's a scam.

Scam.

[sadlybrown]

12. Obama will fix this problem n/t

[Donnachaidh]

9. They should do a breakdown per STATE.

I'll bet they will find MORE people in poorer states dying. And we can thank the Republican Party for THAT, too. :grr:

[Peace Teacher]

11. This situation is SOOO wrong!!!

[Orwellian_Ghost]

13. K&R n/t

[Karenina]

14. *Policies cull the herd...