The Uninsured and Special Populations--Healthcare
UNINSURED AND SPECIAL POPULATTIONS
Introduction
There are 45 million (17%) Americans without health insurance. Uninsured and special populations are experiencing problems mostly linked to unemployment, cost of health care, low income and decreased employer-based coverage. Also, many people are unable to find health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions. For some, citizenship status may also disqualify them for benefits. One example is Personal Responsibility Act of 1996, which prevents legal immigrant population and their U.S.-born children to receive certain benefits. These people have since experienced decreased access to health insurance, among other problems. Uninsured and special populations are more likely to suffer from illnesses at advanced stages, require more acute care and hospitalizations, and have higher mortality rates because they have poor access to health care. There are many stereotypes and myths surrounding the uninsured and special populations. Some of these are that these people are not working, choose not to have insurance, are immigrants and get free or reduced health care services.
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The uninsured are most likely to be:
Eight in ten uninsured come from working families. They are mostly poor Americans who earn less than $25,000/year. 79% of all uninsured are American citizens. 29.6% of the uninsured are without high school diploma as opposed to 8.7% of the uninsured with Bachelor’s degree or higher. They tend to be people ages 18-24 (30.2%) and mostly male (16.8%).
Who are the special populations?
In 1995, it was estimated that some 19% of the insured citizens are underinsured. These people have poor access to health care and higher out-of-pocket expenses. Others who fall in the category of the special populations are children, women, and chronically ill, homeless, mentally ill, racial minorities, medically indigent and elderly.
What Has Been Done?
Starting 1965, the U.S. government began to be actively involved
Introduction
There are 45 million (17%) Americans without health insurance. Uninsured and special populations are experiencing problems mostly linked to unemployment, cost of health care, low income and decreased employer-based coverage. Also, many people are unable to find health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions. For some, citizenship status may also disqualify them for benefits. One example is Personal Responsibility Act of 1996, which prevents legal immigrant population and their U.S.-born children to receive certain benefits. These people have since experienced decreased access to health insurance, among other problems. Uninsured and special populations are more likely to suffer from illnesses at advanced stages, require more acute care and hospitalizations, and have higher mortality rates because they have poor access to health care. There are many stereotypes and myths surrounding the uninsured and special populations. Some of these are that these people are not working, choose not to have insurance, are immigrants and get free or reduced health care services.
[pic]
The uninsured are most likely to be:
Eight in ten uninsured come from working families. They are mostly poor Americans who earn less than $25,000/year. 79% of all uninsured are American citizens. 29.6% of the uninsured are without high school diploma as opposed to 8.7% of the uninsured with Bachelor’s degree or higher. They tend to be people ages 18-24 (30.2%) and mostly male (16.8%).
Who are the special populations?
In 1995, it was estimated that some 19% of the insured citizens are underinsured. These people have poor access to health care and higher out-of-pocket expenses. Others who fall in the category of the special populations are children, women, and chronically ill, homeless, mentally ill, racial minorities, medically indigent and elderly.
What Has Been Done?
Starting 1965, the U.S. government began to be actively involved
References: 1) Modules 6-10 2) http://www.case.edu/med/epidbio/mphp439/Safety_Nets.htm 3) www.immigrationpolicy.org 4) http://www.healthcare.gov/law/index.html 5) Robert Moffit, “At What Cost to Freedom?” National Review Online, October 5, 2009. Copyright @2009 by National Review, Inc. 215 Lexington Avenue, NY 10016. 6) Timothy Noah, “Can Obama Make You Buy Health Insurance?” Slate.com, August 2004. Copyright @2009 Washingtonpost Newsweek Interactive. All Rights Reserved. 7) http://www.cbo.gov/ 8) http://www.census.gov/ 9) http://articles.cnn.com/2009-06-05/health/bankruptcy.medical.bills_1_medical-bills-bankruptcies-health-insurance?_s=PM:HEALTH 10) http://online.wsj.com/video/faces-of-health-care-leukemia-leads-to-bankruptcy/3FFD1AFA-FD10-4BDE-8EED-CDDBFEE01F19.html?mod=googlewsj