the uninsured

Here's a brief excerpt from the intro to an interesting "in focus" piece in the C-J by Mimi Hall and John Fritze, describing five "faces of the uninsured"...

While Congress and the White House wrestle with finding answers, those who live without insurance say they are waiting scared...The uninsured come from different backgrounds, but as a group, they are vulnerable, they are frightened and some of them are angry. These are their stories.

And here are the links to the five profiles:

• Salaries, pre-existing conditions free some out
• After expenses, little left on middle income
• Heart disease puts coverage out of reach
• Single mom wants action from Congress
• Lacking coverage, she fears return of cancer

What's interesting is that all five cases fit under something that shouldn't be a problem &/or could easily be fixed by a basic reform to health insurance. Unfortunately, health insurance is too regulated and too heavily-subsidized to get us there at present.

#1 had a health status change that has become a "pre-existing condition"-- and was probably connected to lifestyle choices.

#2 claims to have had an income of $85K but could not afford insurance of $625 per month. She wants tax breaks or subsidies-- and if we're going to keep the subsidies available through the employer, then it would be appropriate to extend it to her as well.

#3 and #5 had a health status change that has become a "pre-existing condition".

#4 is the most likely case to receive an additional subsidy. But insurance for her would be far cheaper if government didn't regulate and subsidize insurance so heavily.