14,000: Number of Americans losing health coverage each day.
By on Feb 17th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
14,000: Number of Americans losing health coverage each day.
Since spring 2007, 3.5 million Americans have lost their health benefits and are now uninsured. And while the stimulus begins to address the skyrocketing health costs and lack of access to coverage, the ranks of the uninsured will only grow as the recession persists. In fact, according to a forthcoming analysis by The Wonk Room’s James Kvaal and Ben Furnas, approximately 14,000 people a day are losing their health coverage:
As the Wonk Room points out, “the stimulus is no substitute for health reform. Congress must now turn the page to reforming the health care system, dragging conservatives kicking and screaming across the finish line.”
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But on the plus side they don’t have jobs to go to either so they don’t have to get healthy right away. /sarc
February 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pmThis is the larger crisis of the current “economic crisis” we hear so much about – Americans, primarily older Americans, are being laid-off in unprecidented numbers.
Not only does each lay-off represent an inability to maintain current financial commitments and support a family – each one represents another person that is slipping into the horror of being uninsured – often when they desperately need to continue healthcare.
Americans have consistently shown that they overwhelmingly support single payer healthcare, yet our political leaders have always worked to together to take this off the table.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:33 pmHow come when a few large bankers need help, politicians cry out that they need a bailout.
And when typical Americans need healthcare, the system ignores them.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:34 pmAnd as explained by the great thinker troll_5, it is all their own fault. /very sarc
As a side note, how healthy does one have to be to carry a pitch fork and a torch?
February 17th, 2009 at 2:35 pmWe are a pathetic nation to let this embarrassment happen here…
…my Swedish friends think we are all idiots….
…or at least the conservative half.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:37 pmI haven’t had any health coverage since 2000, so excuse me if I’m not entirely sympathetic to those getting booted now.
My family’s only hope is that some kind of universal coverage is implemented.
-Fingers crossed and waiting.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:37 pmLet’s just think of Health Care Reform as an investment in our human infrastructure, and get the hell on with it!
February 17th, 2009 at 2:38 pmLTDan, are you in a wheelchair too?
Signed, Forrest Gump.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:38 pmtombaker, I find it reprehensible you cannot find health coverage. But I also find it sad you have little sympathy for those facing your predicament.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pmSpeaking of pitchforks:
Did anyone see Morning Joe today? I heard it briefly, but what a segment. Uncle Pat and Brzezinski were on talking about the serious income disparity we have in the U.S., brought up our commonality with China in this regard, and how public money has basically been shifted upwards by modern day robber barons.
I mean, I know all of this is true, but we’ve got to be in a $hitload of trouble to hear those men say it on Joe Scarborough’s show.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:41 pmRushpublicans are ignorant to the effect that small businesses having to provide health insurance to their employees has on our economy
February 17th, 2009 at 2:42 pmFrosty, just like the ‘Roaring Twenties’! and we know all about the thirties, now don’t we.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:42 pmDon’t feel bad tombaker. My health coverage is now $12,500 per yer per employee. I can’t afford to use mine because the co-pays are so high and I can’t give myself a raise because of insurance costs.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:43 pmLTdan Says:
I bet you’re a real hit down at the Leukemia ward…
February 17th, 2009 at 2:44 pmCall me evil but when health care reform does come to pass (and it will) there should be a blank on the form about political affiliation. Not to deny coverage (though that would be a sort of justice) just to find out how many whining repugs que up.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:45 pmExactly, I don’t need a tax cut, I can’t make a profit because of insurance. The higher medical coverage is the higher workman’s comp is. What would help small business is single payer healthcare that makes it more affordable for all.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:48 pmJust like money from the stimulus bill shouldn’t go to states where no senators or reps voted for it. Apparently that’s the only way to get people to stop voting based strictly on party affiliation instead of their best interests.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:50 pmI wonder if LtTroll will be whining when he can no longer be covered on his parents health care plan? Then again, the troll re-enforces the stereotypical right winger.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pmoh Dan – you special, specical boy.
if only you knew anything…
…poor lil feller – never got to go to the special ed.
your helmet’s nice and shiny today though – you put new foil on it last night?
February 17th, 2009 at 2:53 pmI don’t feel too bad – I’m not one of those lameass hypochondriacs that need a specialist every time their nose runs. I’ll surely outlive pussies like Dan.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pmLTdan Says:
boo hoo. work harder, get more education, get a better job and stop being an unhealthy slob.
*
sarah’s 2012 campaign slogan.
(thanks dan!)
:)
February 17th, 2009 at 2:56 pmOh, come on! Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the expansion of SCHIP.
Those of us too old for SCHIP and too young for Medicare are the only one’s at risk. To borrow a concept from McCain, let’s just call it “Generational Death.”
PEACE
February 17th, 2009 at 2:58 pmLTDan – is proof of the dumbing down of America…
…he reminds me of the movie “Idiosynchrocy”, and is obviously living proof that that is exactly what is going on.
…he LoserTrollDan, is your dad and his sister still married?
February 17th, 2009 at 3:01 pmy’know – i wouldn’t mind Dan if he weren’t such a complete coward.
“cutting and running” ring any bells?
we stand our ground. dan hides in the bushes (literally and metaphorically).
February 17th, 2009 at 3:02 pmLTfabulous says:
Is this your to-do list?
February 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pmLoserDan is so dumb he thinks everybody rich worked hard for their money. Well that’s what the old money folks want us all to believe isn’t it.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:06 pmDemocratic “Leaders” took healthcare “off the table” right after the election. Not sure if you guys caught that one:
http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/85647/index.php
February 17th, 2009 at 3:08 pmFor those that don’t know, the majority of my pharmacy business is helping the mental health community. When the first of the year rolled around, we experienced quite the chaos with those unfortunate to lose their medical benefits. Now, these individuals were not on $4 medicines like Amoxicillin or Zantac.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:26 pmWe are talking extremely expensive, 3rd generation anti psychotics that even the upper middle class couldn’t afford.
One particular med costs in excess of $1000 per month. Obviously, most couldn’t afford such expense. Which meant they were left untreated. Which meant there was potential for danger, to themselves or others.
This is a continuing national disgrace~!
February 17th, 2009 at 3:41 pmAnyone for National Healthcare needs to go down to the DMV every once in a while. That will give you the cure.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:45 pmLtDan,
look what backup Says:
LTdan. she’s not a perfect democrat or a perfect republican. She is a perfect human. She (and Levi) have been given the perfect human urges to reproduce. The same urges responsible for all of our existence. For our genesis.
The problem is not that she had a baby out of wedlock, but that she was not given the readily available information, contraception and understanding that would have prevented the unplanned pregnancy.
Trying to persuade people to abstain from having sex, is about as reasonable (and as moral) as persuading them not to breath.
*
your thoughts LT?
*
February 17th, 2009 at 3:48 pmShayne, you need to spend a little energy finding a better insurance agent. State Farm provides great employee benefits at much cheaper rates.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:50 pmJoe Cantwell repeats; she’s not a perfect democrat or a perfect republican. She is a perfect human. She (and Levi) have been given the perfect human urges to reproduce. The same urges responsible for all of our existence. For our genesis.
The problem is not that she had a baby out of wedlock, but that she was not given the readily available information, contraception and understanding that would have prevented the unplanned pregnancy.
Trying to persuade people to abstain from having sex, is about as reasonable (and as moral) as persuading them not to breath.
The problem is that she had a baby out of wedlock. I’m pretty sure everyone on the planet knows what causes babies. I am constantly amazed at the silliness from my own party. Demonstrable demographics proving single parents destroy children. You want to feel sorry for these stupid women rather than expecting more. Will they, can they, abstain? Not as long as everyone thinks these idiots are bringing a precious child into the world. Call ‘em whores and bastards and see how long this foolishness continues. Society’s continued support of this destructive behavior will curtail nothing. I wish my party could muster the womanly anger they have over cigarettes for these stupid women. At least smokers are only killing themselves. The prisons are overflowing with bastard children.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:57 pmso the stimulus just signed into law today by the President apparently contains provisions for health insurance for unemployed folks, does anybody know how this will work?? where/how are folks supposed to apply??
February 17th, 2009 at 4:01 pmactually, having this much of the public driven off the cliff will prompt some action on the healthcare front, no matter what the cable talkers say.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:08 pmUnquestionably having such a large number of people without healthcare is unconscionable.
But I also not that on the graph, the “break point” appears to be around March 08. Long before the repubs would admit that there was a problem.
And long before Obama (the so-called cause of the depression) was elected.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:30 pm“Don’t feel bad tombaker. My health coverage is now $12,500 per yer per employee. I can’t afford to use mine because the co-pays are so high and I can’t give myself a raise because of insurance costs.”
I’m Canadian, I wish you folk knew what it feels like not to worry about Health Care. Things are slowing down fast over here thanks your your ex Prez (A-Hole)but the one thing Canadians don’t worry about is our health care.
The only way to force single payer system…is for a mass dumping of policies. Go to your employer and trade your health care for a better salery. Your employer saves and you get more money. When someone falls sick…just go to the hospital…they will treat you. If you can’t afford to pay the deductables, WHY ARE YOU PAYING FOR YOUR PREMIUMS????
IF the masses took this approach….the current system (Insurance companies)will collapse…it’s as simple as that. They (the GOP)did this in the employment department…shifted jobs overseas and make the remaining jobs harder to get therefore people will offer to work for less in order not to starve themselves.
Time to shift the FU on the other side!!! Don’t you think?
February 17th, 2009 at 4:44 pmdrew3rd Says:
Your post is stupid. You should come down to Flagstaffs DMV it is as efficient and well run as any office you have ever been in. Besides which the government wouldnt have to run healthcare it COULD be set up to only run the INSURANCE part of the healthcare. Your cliched and predictable repititions of screechmonkey radio talking points are boring and worthless. You can do better. We are the only industrial country in the WORLD without a national healtcare system it puts our industries at a competitive disadvantage and we are ranked 37th in the world in healthcare with a whole lot of national healthcare systems a lot better than ours except we pay MORE per capita than ANY OF THEM. Keep regurgitating what you were TOLD to think though
February 17th, 2009 at 4:56 pmGee only 14,000 a day? So what’s the problem? No need for health care like other countries. No need for legislators to give us what we give them. For us it would be socialism. And for them it is deserved, part of the perks for doing so much for the country.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:38 pmHow about this drew, go to an emergency room when you need an antibiotic.
February 17th, 2009 at 6:25 pmMaybe many black people have lost health coverage. But Obama is not the kind of person who would help black people: Obama is trash.
Obama is a disgrace to black people.
Is Obama going to financially reward black Katrina victims for having been racially discriminated against by Bush?
Where is the money?
I don’t think Obama would have any problem, hypothetically, with slavery happening all over again.
Maybe one remembers that Kanye West said, “Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
We have uncovered something far more horrifying.
It is practically like Obama “doesn’t care about black people.” (And Obama is black.)
There are all sorts of personalities.
There actually are screwed up black people who secretly don’t like their own kind.
There may even be black lunatics or freaks who would fancy themselves prancing around wearing a KKK outfit or uniform with the swastika on it.
Maybe Obama even fantasizes about hanging black people by nooses.
I like black people.
Black people are cool!
Black people are great.
But now, white people don’t have to worry about Obama interfering with racial discrimination inflicted by white people against racial minorities while Obama is president of the United States.
It is practically just as bad as if the white supremacist at heart, George W. Bush, is still running the country.
For example, Bush murdered a black woman—Margie Schoedinger.
“One of those very least were George Bush’s personal complicity in the death (murder to be precise) of my friend Margie Schoedinger in September of 2003. Determining the exact whereabouts and contacts of [then] president-elect George Bush on September 21 thru 22, 2003, should be entirely lacking in difficulty” (Leola McConnell (Nevada Progressive Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010). Retrieved November 29, 2008, from http://leolaforussenate.blogspot.com/2008/02/leola-mcconnell-for-us-senate.html).
Obama should have the guts to assemble workers from the FBI and/or one or more state attorney general offices and say something similar to the following:
“I, Obama, am the most powerful person in America now. Bush is no longer the president and thus no longer the most powerful person in America. I, Obama, am in control now. I, Obama, demand that the ultimate law-enforcement workers in this country investigate Bush and then proceed to have him locked away for life or executed for murdering the black woman—Margie Schoedinger. I, Obama, am black, and I find Bush’s murder of Margie Schoedinger to be personally offensive. I, Obama, feel it is once again like the time of slavery when white people killed black people with no sheriff, prosecutor, or court to stop it from happening or prosecute it. I, Obama, am not going to go around in the modern-day democracy feeling like a black slave of white people—especially while I am the president of the United States. I, Obama, want Bush brought down for murdering a black woman. I, Obama, want Bush brought down for racially discriminating against black people pursuant to Hurricane Katrina. I, Obama, am going to supply financial rewards to the black people who were harmed by Bush’s racial discrimination and who are still alive. I, Obama, am taken aback by Bush having been so evil in wrongfully causing the deaths of so many black people pursuant to his racist response relative to Hurricane Katrina. I, Obama, am going to take advantage of my time as a racial-minority president and not allow “Bush’s KKK-Neo-Nazi mentality” to rule over and oppress black people in America.”
Obama is not doing anything about Bush’s murder of Margie Schoedinger.
Obama has not given a penny to any black victims of Bush’s racial discrimination.
Obama needs to say: “I can change and act like a black person instead of disgracing myself all over the place!”
Obama needs to say: “Change—Yes I can!”
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
February 17th, 2009 at 8:24 pmB.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
This is getting old, Wang. We’ve all seen this post. No one is impressed. No one is jumping on the bandwagon. No one thinks that it’s Obama’s job to drop everything he’s doing and focus on race issues.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:17 pmbut you
February 17th, 2009 at 9:18 pmDoes anyone know where Andrew Yu-Jen Wang went to school? Unlike everyone else, I really give a shit…
February 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm1. How much have we spent on the war in Iraq?
2. How much have we spent to bail out the greedy, irresponsible investment companies?
3. Finally how much does it cost taxpayers to provide free health insurance to ALL members of Congress??
Why don’t we just take these three amounts and use the total to provide adequate health care for Americans who need it?
February 18th, 2009 at 3:26 pmYou think health insurance is expensive now, just wait till it’s FREE!
Get creative with your health care premiums. Health insurance is for asset protection. Living right and eating healthy protect your health. Stop insuring for for sniffles, sneezes, coughs and colds.
Check out http://www.HSABasics.com and http://www.FlexShop.com for some ideas on saving money on health insurance cost.
February 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 am