The North Carolina Justice Center is highlighting a new national report, "Dying for Coverage," which indicates that lack of health insurance is, indeed, killing people around the country and here in North Carolinia.
Rob Schofield, writing for the center's NC Policy Watch project, says the report, released last week by the national health-care advocacy group Families USA, looked at health outcomes across the country for the 47 million Americans without health insurance. In North Carolina, it was found that 21.1 percent of residents between ages 25 and 64 are uninsured. The study attributes the deaths of an estimated 5,600 such adults between 2000 and 2006 to lack of health-care insurance. Across the United States, deaths similarly attributed reached twice the number of deaths from homicide in 2006.
The health effects of being uninsured, according to Families USA, include going without medical screenings and preventive care, delaying or forgoing needed medical care, experiencing more severe illnesses and dying earlier than the population of people with health insurance.
— Nelda Holder, associate editor
Rob Schofield, writing for the center's NC Policy Watch project, says the report, released last week by the national health-care advocacy group Families USA, looked at health outcomes across the country for the 47 million Americans without health insurance. In North Carolina, it was found that 21.1 percent of residents between ages 25 and 64 are uninsured. The study attributes the deaths of an estimated 5,600 such adults between 2000 and 2006 to lack of health-care insurance. Across the United States, deaths similarly attributed reached twice the number of deaths from homicide in 2006.
The health effects of being uninsured, according to Families USA, include going without medical screenings and preventive care, delaying or forgoing needed medical care, experiencing more severe illnesses and dying earlier than the population of people with health insurance.
— Nelda Holder, associate editor
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Doesn't this go along with reports that the well-to-do and well-insured live longer than the poor, the uninsured and even -- more and more -- the middle class? Big-time media has, unfortunately, been focused on the live-longer facts, and not the notion that deaths related to being uninsured exceed the number of homicides in the U.S.
I wonder what N.C. and Buncombe stats are?
By Margaret Williams
04/08/2008
It's about time the government started giving free health care. And all the homeless should have free housing, clothing and food. And a six-pack now and then. Hey America, it's a new day. We have an African American who will be elected president. It's about time we had full social justice. Let's eat the rich!
By Jim Bob Thornton
04/09/2008
You know, the opposite is true. Going to the doctor too often will shorten your life because of all the drugs they hand out and the surgery they want to do, whether it is necessary or not. You're better off going to a medicine man and praying in church.
By Elijiah Goldberg
04/09/2008
This is now at crisis stages, and the unfortunate reality pointed out in the movie SICKO is that, even if you have health insurance and are paying crazy money into the system, you may be denied, or you may resist going to the doctor because of co-pays and deductibles. This system is broken. People's lives and health should not be tied into a for-profit system. It just won't work. It just gets worse and worse. Go to http://Healthcare-now.org and support HR 676, John Conyer's single payer medicare for all health plan. Time to stop griping and start acting.
By Kristin
04/09/2008
Socialized healthcare sounds reasonable...until you consider that the government is then given the power to mandate vaccinations, deny care to such groups as smokers, drinkers, the elderly, etc., and ultimately decide who lives and who dies. In a word, eugenics. Forgive me for not trusting the government with my health and well-being.
By Matt Mercy
04/09/2008
I agree with Matt. Who better to trust our health care to than for-profit insurance companies. We all know that corporations, not government, with its intrusive regulation, have what's best for Americans in their hearts (cold and black as they may be). Besides, who has ever heard of an insurance company denying treatment to one (or millions) of its customers?
By shadmarsh
04/10/2008
Exactly, shadmarsh. HR 676 ensures that all decisions are made by patient and doctor, not bureaucrat or capitalist. I know that the government has screwed up socialized education, but for the most part, the fire departments and police departments do a good job. It certainly couldn't be worse than it currently is. Oh, and no one will be denied, even if they smoke. Unlike now, where you can be denied because you are SICK! That does not make sense.
I do agree that we are better off with an alternative health practitioner and prayer, but western medicine sure is handy when you have a crisis (like a broken bone or a terminal illness).
By Kristin
04/10/2008
My son died last week because he didn't have insurance coverage. He had a high risk of colon cancer, but when he started having symptoms, the doctors in Savannah, where he lived,blew him off. When they finally did a colonoscopy, his colon was blocked, but they didn't tell him because then they would have had to treat him. He was near death a month later when they finally did surgery and found Stage 3 colon cancer.
People do die from lack of insurance. My son was 33.
By Leslie Boyd
04/10/2008
I'm so sorry, Leslie. You've been a tireless advocate for health issues and a fierce reporter on those issues.
You're in my thoughts.
By Gordon Smith
04/10/2008
Dead Doctors dont lie, they are the blind leading the blind, doctors die before most of those that they pump drugs into, average age for death of a doctor.....56 years
They like lawyers are governemnt licenced fools!
By DR.ANTINEOCONUS
04/10/2008
Senator Hillary Clinton has a good plan for universal coverage. She is experienced. Obama is not and does not have a real plan. Obama is all talk and no detail. Vote for Hillary Clinton May 6. Vote for true change with Hillary!
Leslie, sorry to hear of your loss. What happened to your son is disgraceful. I wish he had been treated at Mission here in Asheville. He would've been treated better.
Dr Antiwhatever, I've seen some of your posts. Be nice, OK? You often call people idiots and fools. Honey, you only advertise your own foolishness. Post as if you were talking to people face to face.
By Jeanette Mac
04/11/2008
I thought Mountain X-Press had a policy against doing national stories.
By Alan Ditmore
04/17/2008