The Dangers In Misrepresenting Uninsured Statistics
Did you know that since the early 1990s, the percentage of uninsured Americans has not experienced much change? In 1996, the 16.2 percent of Americans where unemployed, compared to 15.8 percent in 2006.
What many overlook when they see the information presented in this fashion is that during that decade long gap, America faced an increase of 3.5 million in the number of uninsured individuals. This increase occurred at the same time that the number of insured Americans increased by 25 million and the percentage of uninsured Americans dropped by 0.4 percent. The effects of population and immigration growth have become a major factor in the number of uninsured individuals in America.
One of the main reasons that this has become such a key issue as of late is centered around the decrease in available government aid for those uninsured or underinsured. Budget cuts have caused a significant amount of programs to fold, leaving individuals without the ability to bounce back into a safe and insured state that previous statistical data claimed they would be without for no more than 12 months, the numbers continue to increase.
Even with all the cuts to healthcare support, nearly 30 percent of Americas uninsured population is currently eligible for government based assistance, but have not enrolled for it. By aiding those who are uninsured in determining their eligibility for government benefits programs and even the pharmaceutical company operated patient assistance programs, it is possible to reduce the number of uninsured Americans greatly and provide assistance for those in need but unfortunately do not meet the eligibility requirements.
By staying informed on healthcare related news, you will continue to expand your knowledge thus allowing you to safeguard yourself against unforeseeable issues and aid those you know who are currently in this situation.