Battle Fatalities in the Fight Over Health Care Reform

A recent study in the Journal of American Public Health concluded that 45,000 people die each year for lack of health insurance.

Another study in 2002, from the Institute of Medicine, put the number at 18,000. Still another, put it at 22,000.

As a back of the envelope calculation, that means that somewhere between 300,000-650,000 people died prematurely between 1994, when the last major health care reform effort was defeated, and today.

If you take the low end of that estimate, more Americans died from Congressional inaction on health care than died during those years as a result of the first Gulf War, the Iraq War, the Afghanistan war, the 9/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina and all of the nation's homicides -- combined.

 

Comments

[RepugsOut08]

10:14 PM on 09/24/2009

Thanks Steven. People really need to get this in their gut.
9/11 scared the hell out of this country, and allowed unscrupulous politicians to get us into a war with Iraq.
Why aren't people equally frightened and mobilized to end the true death squads that threaten all of us us via the insurance and pharma industries?
Aetna scares me WAY more than Al Qaeda.

[textynn]

07:21 PM on 09/24/2009

And the cost to taxpayers is never calculated. Such a number would blow away the Teabaggers who don't want to pay for the health care of "irresponsible losers". What happens to people that are damaged as a result of disenfranchisement of medical treatment. People die leaving minor dependents and elderly parents that need government services that can be extensive such as payment for Foster care and elderly care for years and years. Even more people become disabled through lack of care will need services, as well as, all their dependents. These costs are shoved on the taxpayer so the medical insurance industry can save that money and make those profits.

This is a complete example of socializing the losses and privatizing the profits. I have no doubt that the numbers that represent these costs would pay for, completely if not pay most of, health care for all. Unfortunately, we are forced to continue subsidizing the medical insurance industry with lives and taxpayer money to tend to those damaged and left without their needed family members.

[abbyrose86]

08:31 PM on 09/24/2009

You brought up some very poignant important points.

Cause and effect and long terms costs to society as a whole. These people don't seem to be able to grasp the concepts.

[worldlyhick]

06:02 PM on 09/24/2009

One person dying from not having access to health care is too many.

I've heard so many sad stories relating to many aspects of health care. If some of the sadness of this world can be avoided, we need to take steps to do so.

[Jim Oneil]

06:41 PM on 09/24/2009

I so agree, one is too many. This whole mess of trying to stop a good health care bill falls on the right and will be like a hammer on an anvil shock to the American people when(hopefully before it's too late) they realize that they have been duped by a bunch of loud mouthed fools. I cannot believe that our country can be so controlled by this mean spirited group. Americans deserves what they get if they continue this stupid behavior of being led around by a nose ring like mindless animals. With all my love Jim O

[hoosier96]

03:47 PM on 09/24/2009

The calculation of 45,000 deaths is an extrapolation based on a number of actual deaths. No investigation went into exactly why these people died, just that they were not covered by insurance.

[Gidster]

02:57 AM on 09/25/2009

The report showed they were either canceled, dropped, denied claims or reimbursement, or unable to obtain coverage.

They died because their illnesses went untreated.

[Aaror]

02:25 PM on 09/24/2009

I love the three comments so far.
Placebo points out that thousands die each year from drug interactions or adverse reactions (aka medical malpractice), and unionave points out that the medical profession is in favor of tort reform (to protect them from malpractice suits).
I know doctors make mistakes and people die, but the juxtoposition was awesome!

[unionave]

01:40 PM on 09/24/2009

I wonder if the relatives of the dead or seriously ill know why the medical profession is in favor of tort reform .

[unionave]

01:33 PM on 09/24/2009

If Steven is running for public office I would like to know where the line starts so I can join the crowd . This is something the MSM will not even hint at .

[PlaceboStudman]

01:23 PM on 09/24/2009

How come no one talks about, or even mentions the 106,000 people who die annually, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association, from interactions from and adverse reactions to the medication they are taking?

Avoidable death is avoidable death, and to only discuss one form of fatality is disrespectful and does a disservice to the whole issue of Health Care that extends beyond lack of insurance