Millions of Americans are about to lose their health insurance in a pandemic ( Wendell Potter )

[BeckyDem]

Fri 27 Mar 2020 06.26 EDT Last modified on Fri 27 Mar 2020

The tragic effects of our battle with the novel coronavirus are seemingly endless. But arguably the most mind-blowing is this: the very pandemic that threatens to infect and kill millions is simultaneously causing many to also lose their health coverage at their gravest time of need.

Here’s how: the virus has caused a public health crisis so severe that people have been forced to stay home, causing businesses to shutter and lay off workers. And with roughly half of Americans getting their health insurance from their employer, these layoffs mean not only losing their income but also their medical coverage. In other words, just as our need for medical care skyrockets in the face of a global pandemic, fewer will have health insurance or be able to afford it. According to one recent report, the cost of treatment for Covid-19 can run around $35,000. As the patient in the report exclaimed: “I was pretty sticker-shocked. I personally don’t know anybody who has that kind of money.”

So, how did we get to such a dire place? Many will sadly lose their jobs over the coming weeks – with one estimate projecting as many as 30%. And as they do, Americans are about to learn something horrifying: how irrational and irresponsible it is for so many to be dependent on employers for health insurance. Take it from me. I’m a former health insurance executive who once profited from this system. It’s time for it to stop.

America needs to finally get out of the business of linking health coverage to job status. Even in better times, this arrangement was a bad idea from a health perspective. Most Americans whose families depend on their employers for coverage are just a layoff away from being uninsured. And now, when many businesses are shutting down and considering layoffs, it’s a public health disaster. Across the country we’re seeing reports of layoffs in almost all industries. As we approach a global recession, some analysts suggest that a million or more US workers will lose their jobs in April alone. Consider what this means for health care in this country.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/27/coronavirus-pandemic-americans-health-insurance?CMP=share_btn_tw

[theaocp]

1. Since we don't want government insured health care

I guess we deserve this. This is why you negotiate from “pie in the sky” positions.

[BeckyDem]

2. Thank you.

Couldn't have said it better.

[DBoon]

4. supposedly people "love" their employer health insurance

until they no longer have an employer

[CaptYossarian]

7. Aw, hell no!

[BComplex]

8. Exactly! n/t

[2naSalit]

9. Or they actually need to use it.

[BeckyDem]

25. Exactly.

[MoonlitKnight]

6. Those great union plans

Aren’t so great when you no longer have that union job.

[lunatica]

16. And I guess non union jobs are doing just great right?

[mr_lebowski]

27. Not sure I follow your logic ...

One could posit, for example ... 'A Pinto is a great car ... until you get rear-ended at high speed' ... and it would be a valid argument.

Pointing out that there is a non-zero number of other cars that are also dangerous to be in when rear-ended does not invalidate the original argument.

Just sayin'

[Demsrule86]

28. My union son has insurance until a year from April...he is on layoff. And Italy has single payer...

didn't seem to help. I want universal coverage but not M4A.

[burrowowl]

3. Kick

[smirkymonkey]

5. K&R

I have health insurance through my employer, but I completely agree with every word of this.

[BeckyDem]

10. +1

[smirkymonkey]

14. Hi Becky!

Hope you are doing well and staying healthy!

[BeckyDem]

15. We are hanging in there, so far so good!

You be safe too!

[stopbush]

11. So happy to finally be on Medicare, and not subject to the whims of an employer.

We need to move in this direction as a country.

[BeckyDem]

12. My husband and I too. Its a relief because he was self employed.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. Ironic a submicron virus may do what Republicans said universal healthcare would do.

One crucial difference: In the current instance, they may have no insurance whereas with universal healthcare they would!

How will the Rethugs answer to that one?


KY..............

[customerserviceguy]

18. A year from now

Single payer will look very, very good indeed. This crisis is not just the straw that broke the camel's back, it is a full bale.

[BeckyDem]

19. A great deal of suffering to get there, but yes, I agree.

[customerserviceguy]

20. It took the Great Depression

to bring us the New Deal, with Social Security among it's best effort.

[BeckyDem]

21. Yes, our country came out for the better too. We can do that again.

[customerserviceguy]

22. There's an old saying

"It's always darkest before the dawn."

[BeckyDem]

23. And here we are.

To better times for all of us, customerserviceguy.

[customerserviceguy]

24. Cheers. n/t

[Newest Reality]

26. Yes,

Unless you are on the dark side of the Moon, which is somewhat like being in the shadow of a bulbous dictator.