Health Insurance, Once Lost, Stays Elusive As Americans Remain Uninsured

More than one-quarter of Americans surveyed went without health insurance for at least part of 2011. A majority of them were uninsured for two years or longer, according to a new report.

Americans aren't just becoming uninsured. They're staying that way. More than half of people who went without health insurance in 2011 were uninsured for at least two years, a survey shows. Cost was a leading cause of people going without health coverage for extended periods.

Twenty-six percent of people ages 16 to 64 had no health insurance for at least part of last year, according to the Commonwealth Fund, a research organization based in New York. Almost 70 percent of that group were uninsured for at least a year and 57 percent had no coverage for two years or longer, the Commonwealth Fund reported Thursday. The survey included 2,100 people who will be re-interviewed later this year.

Nearly 50 million Americans had no health insurance in 2010, according to the latest census data. Health care costs, which have risen tenfold since 1980, are putting an increasing burden on families, employers, and government programs. Costs also are driving up the ranks of the uninsured and leading fewer companies to offer health benefits to their workers. From 2001 to 2011, the percentage of companies offering health benefits dropped from 68 percent to 60 percent, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation reported.

More than two-thirds of those who lost health insurance in 2011 cited losing their job or getting a new job without health benefits as the main reason they were uninsured, according to the Commonwealth Fund survey. Among these people, 45 percent said that they were discouraged from buying health insurance on their own because of the high cost. Sixty-two percent of the uninsured responded that finding a new health plan was "very difficult or impossible," the Commonwealth Fund said.

"The individual insurance market is a weak stopgap option for people who lose health insurance," Sara Collins, the Commonwealth Fund vice president for affordable health insurance, said during a conference call with reporters on Wednesday.

The consequences of being uninsured were clear from the survey. While 92 percent of people with health insurance said they have regular access to a physician, only 46 percent of those uninsured for at least two years did. Not having insurance made people less likely to get tested for high cholesterol, breast cancer, and high blood pressure, the survey showed. The sluggish economy and the growing number of uninsured led to fewer people using prescription drugs or visiting the doctor last year, IMS Health reported this month.

President Barack Obama's health care reform law aims to provide health insurance coverage to more than 30 million people. Beginning in 2014, 24 million people are projected to get private insurance through the program and an estimated 17 million people will be enrolled in Medicaid, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The Supreme Court heard arguments in a lawsuit last month challenging the law's constitutionality and is expected to rule by the end of June.

Meantime, people who lose their health insurance confront a marketplace that doesn't make it easy to find coverage. The Commonwealth Fund survey found that 31 percent of those who were uninsured last year had pre-existing conditions and were either turned down for coverage, offered a plan that didn't cover their ailment, or were charged a higher rate.

Photo by Flickr user CarbonNYC

Comments

[RPJHuffPost]

10:34 PM on 06/19/2012

I have a business link; www.everyonebenefits.com/robert52 ... My contact info. is [e-mail] ... I offer Medical Discounts that starts from 14.95$. what I provide is discounts 20-80% Providers in your area. You will be able to see a Medical Provider, Optical Provider, Dental Provider, Retail and independent Pharmacy, Doctor Office Visits, Hospital, Medical Services, and much more our Ameriplan Memebers recieve 20-80% discounts. There is no limit on visits or services. This is good with, or without Insurance. This has been working for our Members for more than 20 years. I can also be reach at [phone].

[ScottinSanford]

11:49 PM on 05/03/2012

I'm self-employed and have managed to maintain my health insurance coverage. It hasn't been easy. Even some of the major medical coverage plans are pretty expensive. If any of us have the audacity to have a pre-existing condition we're truly asking for trouble. No one has come up with the right answer for health care..and I truly think the health insurance companies want to keep it that way. Prescription drug cards can help with expensive medications especially if you're dealing with a pre-existing condition. http://www.mymedssavingscard.com/

Doing some of your own homework/research can help you save money as well. When I found out that there was a compound prescription that could replace the $300 dollar a month medication I was being prescribed, I saved almost 80% off that amount. My doctor hadn't even brought it up to me...I found it out on my own.

A few people have said here that they are young and don't need health insurance...no one knows what tomorrow or next week may bring. If you can afford it, it's worth it.

[shangrolah]

02:41 PM on 04/22/2012

This is just getting worse and worse. The difference between the haves and have nots only the more extreme. And whatever reforms-- they are soon gone.http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/prescriptions/2010/05/obama_vs_wellpoint.html Time for a single payer system.

[Julia Searl Moore]

09:20 PM on 04/20/2012

I have just recently joined the ranks of the uninsured. My husband and I are both self-employed. We were on a portability plan but they kept raising the rates and raising the rates. The coverage was pretty poor anyway. We figured if we saved the same amount of money we would have paid and used that to pay our actual medical bills we'd come out ahead instead of paying for insurance with a huge deductible and poor coverage. Yes, we have pre-existing conditions so it's scary as hell. But it was that or not be able to pay the mortgage. At the time we made the decision, it wasn't clear that the supreme court was going to dismantle the reform so we figured worst case, we could find catastrophic insurance in 2014. Now it all looks pretty bleak. I live in Oregon, where we consistently vote for Democrats and ask them to fix this problem. But the rest of the country has to do their part too. If our business takes off, I may just move to Hawaii.

[JohnTheMac]

11:25 PM on 04/20/2012

"but they kept raising the rates and raising the rates."

Hey! That Lobbying Congress stuff is EXPENSIVE, and we need YOU to share the cost of keeping your payments to us high!

[DEmusicman]

01:39 PM on 04/20/2012

Only people deemed worthy by republinuts (usally kiss ups, incompetents and other dead fromt eh enck up sympthazisers) are covered by heath insurance or have a decent paying job or are allowed to pursue a dream....the rest of us are told to go die quiety in the corner....for we are disturbing the republinut new world order...

[OldTulsan]

10:43 AM on 04/20/2012

As of 2010, there were only three industrialized countries that did not have universal health care:

o Mexico
o Turkey
o the United States

http://www.cfr.org/health-science-and-technology/healthcare-costs-us-competitiveness/p13325
Healthcare Costs and U.S. Competitiveness

"The United States spends an estimated $2 trillion annually on healthcare expenses, more than any other industrialized country. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United States spends two-and-a-half times more than the OECD average, and yet ranks with Turkey and Mexico as the only OECD countries without universal health coverage. Some analysts say an increasing number of U.S. businesses are less competitive globally because of ballooning healthcare costs. U.S. economic woes have heightened the burden of healthcare costs both on individuals and businesses..."

In 2012, the U.S. will be the last:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/09/mexico-nears-universal-health-care-goal.html
Mexico Nears Universal Health Care Goal | The Rundown News Blog | PBS NewsHour | PBS

http://www.todayszaman.com/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=241952
WB lauds improvements in universal health care in Turkey

[JohnTheMac]

11:27 PM on 04/20/2012

It's the only solution. F, F'd!

[OldTulsan]

11:40 PM on 04/20/2012

F&F back.

http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-faq
Single-Payer FAQ | Physicians for a National Health Program

"What is single payer?

Single-payer national health insurance is a system in which a single public or quasi-public agency organizes health financing, but delivery of care remains largely private. Under a single-payer system, all Americans would be covered for all medically necessary services, including: doctor, hospital, preventive, long-term care, mental health, reproductive health care, dental, vision, prescription drug and medical supply costs. Patients would regain free choice of doctor and hospital, and doctors would regain autonomy over patient care.

Is national health insurance ‘socialized medicine’?

No. Socialized medicine is a system in which doctors and hospitals work for and draw salaries from the government. Doctors in the Veterans Administration and the Armed Services are paid this way. The health systems in Great Britain and Spain are other examples. But in most European countries, Canada, Australia and Japan they have socialized health insurance, not socialized medicine. The government pays for care that is delivered in the private (mostly not-for-profit) sector. This is similar to how Medicare works in this country. Doctors are in private practice and are paid on a fee-for-service basis from government funds. The government does not own or manage medical practices or hospitals.

The term socialized medicine is often used to conjure up images of government bureaucratic interference in medical care..."

[Stewart Goss]

10:50 PM on 04/22/2012

Thanks but I'd rather be able to get a doctor rather than wait 1-36 months for urgent needs.

[OldTulsan]

11:54 PM on 04/22/2012

And if you can't afford a doctor, then what ?

[kamachanda]

09:00 AM on 04/20/2012

Spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam spam
wonderful spam!

[MeinNH]

09:17 AM on 04/20/2012

Flagged dearie....this is spam

[AlanBannacheck]

04:57 AM on 04/20/2012

I don't have health insurance, but I would love such a luxury! I'm not offered it at work, and can't afford 300 a month. Luckily being 27, I rarely ever have to see someone. If forced to pay a "tax" I'd be ok with that, because I'm not immortal and having a safety net would be relieving!

[Redtom]

11:17 AM on 04/20/2012

I'm 48 and pay 150/month with Blue Cross. You should check around.

[DEmusicman]

12:31 PM on 04/20/2012

Check your policy...whta's covered? Probably not much for that price....

[dkay1211]

02:00 PM on 05/03/2012

Do you have a smart phone with a data plan? Cable Television? Are those "luxury" items you choose to purchase instead of health insurance?

[scndchnchtr]

12:39 AM on 04/20/2012

I lost my Health Insurance. Went to get another policy and No. I still don't have any. It comes down to cost and prescriptions. I am not eligible for prescription cost. But, I can get Insurance with out it. Well, I can't afford the insurance, plus the cost of the prescriptions each month. So, need the prescriptions more and that's that. This is something new. Before, there was a 6 month wait period before they would cover prescription costs. Now, that wait period is gone. It is the same for blue cross blue shield and what the state has set up for when you get turned down for insurance. So, as much as I dislike some aspects of AHCA. I am hoping it solves that problem.

[jcaunter]

06:44 PM on 04/19/2012

So what? Most people who file for bankruptcy due to medical bill have insurance. I don't see what good it does anyone.

And that's why Obamacare is so rotten; the insurers should be destroyed, not given generous government subsidies and mandated customers.

[chaz]

05:27 PM on 04/19/2012

Sorry but you can't be considered the worlds greatest country without universal single payer health care. Fact!

Keep electing Republicans,"conservatives" and especially tbaggers and keep getting ******!

[Tquin]

07:55 AM on 04/20/2012

That is not going to happen even if Obama is reelected. You are dreaming.......

[chaz]

12:01 PM on 04/20/2012

Tquin,

It has nothing to do with President Obama. If you put the right people in Congress we will have universal health care. If you don't we will have less health care. It's your choice.

[DEmusicman]

12:32 PM on 04/20/2012

"Keep electing Republicans,"conservatives" and especially tbaggers and keep getting ******! "

Exactly!

[marlie mar]

04:09 PM on 04/19/2012

Well of course they stay that way. We are self-employed and have been without insurance for years. Now and then I'll check rates and of course for a small family of three, I could get a reasonable payment of $300-$400 a month providing I pay a $10,000 deductible per person. Forget that. We exercise, eat fruits and veggies and go to a clinic down the street where you pay $50.00 for an issue that comes up. They even have well-women's checkups if you make an appointment. Eventually if we don't get nationalized healthcare, we'll probably look into catastrophic insurance and do that. My son is on the state's health plan so at least he's covered, and we'll just do the best we can. I know there are millions of others like me who recognize how much money you pay into it and still get very little in return.

[cbrown4115]

01:00 AM on 04/20/2012

That health care plan that your son is on? I'm paying for it... as well as the clinic down the street and the well woman's clinic. If you are self employed and making (or claiming) so little money that your son qualifies for state aid... perhaps you need to rethink the whole self employment thing. Your realization that there are "million of other's like me who... still get very little in return"... is a grossly immature statement. You are not exempt from illness or accidents no matter how many fruits you eat... you are either really young or really naive... or both.

[JohnTheMac]

09:10 AM on 04/20/2012

"That health care plan that your son is on? I'm paying for it.."

Thanks! And thanks for the public schools too! Both of our kids are on the state plan.
It costs us les than $50 a month with our income. That's a great deal since one of my kids is Type1 Diabetic. The supplies alone are worth about $200/month. So thanks.
The state is getting a great deal though, by keeping us happy to be residents.
To start with, both of our kids are honors students at the public schools, and test at the 97%+ for kids their age. I run a small business providing service to businesses in a 200 mile radius. I save sooo much money for a lot of businesses! It really makes a big difference and keeps a lot of people in business during these hard times.

[JohnTheMac]

09:16 AM on 04/20/2012

(cont.)
I also feel that the state DOES owe me.
There was a large food packing plant near me. They had been there 100 years+, and the choice was between renovating and moving . The state and local gov't offered them $21 million in tax breaks and incentives to stay, but they moved anyway, about 150 miles away, where things are cheaper. There were about 400 jobs or so involved.
At the time, I read that article and quickly did the math. They were going to get $120,000 in tax incentives, per job, for each of the 400 plus jobs they were going to maintain. I thought to myself, Hey! Wait a minute! If I'm self employed, and provide my own job! It only seems to me that I should be getting $120k in incentives too! Plus, I'm not beating up the local roads with huge tractor trailers, etc.

[Tquin]

07:57 AM on 04/20/2012

You just keep playing that game all the way to the poor house. My son had a trip to the emergency room and the bill to my insurance was $25,000. Just wait until that happens to you.

[JohnTheMac]

09:19 AM on 04/20/2012

Negotiate that down!
Your insurance didn't give any hospital $25k! Look for the "Allowed Amount". I would guess it's around $7,200. (I'm a good guesser!)
Tell them to accept $7,500, and you'll mail a check out this week, otherwise, they'll go on the $25/month plan, for 1,000 months. Their choice.
Cheaper than my cable bill!

[ttsgw]

03:40 PM on 04/19/2012

Cost is just an indirect reason for not being insured, laziness is the main reason. Just look at Mitt Romney, as he's not poor, no one need to be poor in America if they don't choose to, or are punished by god.

[MeinNH]

09:19 AM on 04/20/2012

He inherited his wealth, he never worked for it...

[Dileas]

11:41 AM on 04/20/2012

Seems your god is punishing way to many these days

[demilieu]

02:01 PM on 04/19/2012

without a public option, all we will have is a private insurance industry cartel.

[sophie M]

03:22 PM on 04/19/2012

whose fault is it............we do not have a public option?

[elfin12u]

06:16 PM on 04/19/2012

Essentially true. Even as a dem I'm torn about the mandate that everyone pays for health care unless there is a public option. With the public option for everyone that needs it, it could at least be affordable. What we really need is to do is eliminate private health insurance and progress to the single payer option.

Right now though, in these tough economic times that would also eliminate too many jobs. After the public option is up and running and has become cost effective we could start the dialogue about converting to the single payer option. Health care earnings should only be for the providers of goods and medical services, not for intermediaries that only add cost to the system.

[Tquin]

07:59 AM on 04/20/2012

What makes you believe that it would be affordable. This is the USA. No doctor is going to go to school for 10 years and then give to a treatment for free. Wake up..

[demilieu]

01:43 PM on 04/19/2012

sign on for any public assistance. and then use it. when the public system is strained to the point of breaking, we'll finally see some change. otherwise, it's business as usual.