If Healthcare Reform Isn't passed by the August Recess, More People Will Die Than in 9/11

[berni_mccoy]

According to a a report by the Institute of Medicine done in 2002, more than 18,000 people died each year due to lack of health insurance ( http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/healthcare/2002-05-22-insurance-deaths.htm ). The study examined those who aren't covered by insurance, not those who can't afford it or who are covered but still can't afford the deductibles or excluded health issues. That was seven years ago. The problem has only gotten worse.

This is why this legislation is urgent. This is why it cannot wait!.

If Congress is allowed to go to recess without passing the legislation, that will be at least a 3 month delay, resulting in at least 4,500 more Americans dying than if the bill was passed now. That's more than the number of people who died in 9/11. We passed the Patriot Act overnight. By the same measure of urgency of lives, the current Healthcare Reform Bill has been scrutinized to death. The deaths of those 4,500 Americans to be precise.

When will Republicans stop playing politics with this issue and accept that reality that healthcare is not just for the Americans who can afford it. This is a crisis and we are in it.

[BlueIdaho]

1. Maybe

We should start emailing lists of names to the Blue Dogs and the roadblock republicans so they know just exactly who they are killing while they are on their month long paid vacation.

[lindisfarne]

2. More people in the US die monthly than died in 9/11because of lack of access to timely medical care.

That study is very conservative - although conservative is good so the conservatives cannot try to undermine it by picking it apart and finding problems.

[berni_mccoy]

3. I agree it's a conservative number...

and as you said, that's probably good so as not to be nit-picked.