No Health Insurance? 18,000 Deaths a Year
Americans from all socioeconomic walks of life don't have health insurance plans, according to USA Today.
The hardest hit group seems to be working-class folks. They make too much money to qualify for subsidized medical insurance, but can't afford to pay high health insurance premiums.
The Robichaux family, for example, makes a combined income of $39,000 a year. That puts them over the $34,340 maximum for a family of 3 to qualify for state aid in Louisiana. They have an autistic child who's currently receiving limited occupational therapy at school. When the family looked into a private health plan for their child when he was 3, it was $700 a month, an amount they couldn't afford.
The Robichaux family isn't alone; millions of people across American are without health insurance. 18,000 deaths a year result from people not being insured, according to a 2004 Institute of Medicine Report.
Some people, like Joe Cesa, who owns a coffee house, strongly believes that Americans should receive Universal health coverage; "Everyone contributes to our society. I don't have children, but I pay school taxes. I don't have a problem with that. There should be a basic system where coverage is provided for everyone." Mr. Cesa can't afford to pay for health insurance for himself or for his employees, but pays for doctor bills and prescriptions when his employees need help.
Even though a lot of people are without coverage, it's always a good idea to have health insurance. Affordable health insurance quotes can be found online, and it's a good idea to get a plan right away, so that you're covered in case of an unexpected illness. Just ask Susan Squire of Michigan who had to declare bankruptcy after having a heart attack and being faced with a $92,000 bill because she was uninsured.
The hardest hit group seems to be working-class folks. They make too much money to qualify for subsidized medical insurance, but can't afford to pay high health insurance premiums.
The Robichaux family, for example, makes a combined income of $39,000 a year. That puts them over the $34,340 maximum for a family of 3 to qualify for state aid in Louisiana. They have an autistic child who's currently receiving limited occupational therapy at school. When the family looked into a private health plan for their child when he was 3, it was $700 a month, an amount they couldn't afford.
The Robichaux family isn't alone; millions of people across American are without health insurance. 18,000 deaths a year result from people not being insured, according to a 2004 Institute of Medicine Report.
Some people, like Joe Cesa, who owns a coffee house, strongly believes that Americans should receive Universal health coverage; "Everyone contributes to our society. I don't have children, but I pay school taxes. I don't have a problem with that. There should be a basic system where coverage is provided for everyone." Mr. Cesa can't afford to pay for health insurance for himself or for his employees, but pays for doctor bills and prescriptions when his employees need help.
Even though a lot of people are without coverage, it's always a good idea to have health insurance. Affordable health insurance quotes can be found online, and it's a good idea to get a plan right away, so that you're covered in case of an unexpected illness. Just ask Susan Squire of Michigan who had to declare bankruptcy after having a heart attack and being faced with a $92,000 bill because she was uninsured.
