Uninsured Americans Cost Medicare More

[OzarkDem]

Pay now or pay more later...

"Americans who weren't insured before they reached age 65 and gained access to Medicare cost the program a lot more than those who did have health insurance, a new study finds.

Data on more than 5,000 older people from a national study found that the previously uninsured needed 13 percent more doctors visits, experienced 20 percent more hospitalizations and had 51 percent higher total medical expenditures after their care began to be covered by the government program.

"Providing health insurance coverage for these adults could not only improve their health but also partially offset the costs of expanding coverage," said Dr. J. Michael McWilliams, a research associate in the Harvard Medical School department of health care policy and lead author of a report in the July 12 New England Journal of Medicine."


http://www.patientlinx.com/healthday/20070711/H606311.cfm

[wilt the stilt]

1. They have coverage

they can go to the emergency rooms.

[OzarkDem]

3. Uninsured?

Not likely, and it doesn't cover routine, preventive care. That's the point of the study - that people who don't get routine, preventive care end up much sicker at a higher cost.

[wilt the stilt]

7. that was sarcasm

because Bush said it in his speech to the Cleveland Clinic.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. They don't get treated for free

And no ER is required to treat them at all unless their illness is life-threatening.

[BlueManDude]

2. Covering these people will aid the terrorists

[Tanuki]

4. Why does Dr. McWilliams hate America? n/t

[PA Democrat]

5. CNN's Dr. Gupta will be right on this story to argue that

the 51% higher total medical expenditures figure is "fudged". It's actually 50.89%.

[raccoon]

6. This goes in the "no shit, Sherlock" category.

AMericans who are over 50 and under 65 who don't have insurance through their employers are truly fucked.

[wilt the stilt]

9. 55 and self insured

you can't believe what I pay and what I get. absolutely highway robbery