Middle Class Losing Health Insurance Faster Than The Rich Or Poor

[babylonsister]

Arthur Delaney
Middle Class Losing Health Insurance Faster Than The Rich Or Poor
Posted: 03-17-10 01:00 AM


It's the biggest "doughnut hole" of them all: Members of the middle class are losing their health insurance faster than any other income group, according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The number of middle-income earners covered by employer health insurance fell by three million from 2000 to 2008, and government programs and the individual market aren't picking up the slack. The total number of uninsured middle-income earners rose from 10.5 million to 12.9 million, representing 16.2 percent of the income bracket -- a bigger increase than for any other income group.

"It really underscores how the problem of uninsurance is not something simply affecting lower-income Americans but is increasingly affecting the middle class," said Brian Quinn, the foundation's research and evaluation office. The most recent Census Bureau estimate puts the total uninsured population at 46.3 million.

Just 66 percent of people in families earning between $45,000 and $85,000 are insured through an employer plan -- 52.7 million people, down from 55.5 million eight years prior -- a drop of nearly seven percentage points.

People who earn less money were more likely to lose employer coverage, but also more likely to be covered by a government program like Medicaid. According to the report, only about half of the decline in employer-sponsored coverage for middle-income earners was offset by government insurance programs.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/17/middle-class-losing-healt_n_501098.html

[MadHound]

1. So the solution is to deliver the middle and working class up to the insurance industry

On a silver platter. Great. And as premiums continue to go up, up, up with a mandated monopoly, the middle and working class will continue to be decimated, at an ever faster pace.

[inna]

3. +1

Also, see this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7935517

[Echo In Light]

5. Sacrifice

[raccoon]

2. C'mon, let's get this one on Greatest! Recd. nt

[mmonk]

4. Yes that is the problem.

It's as if the purpose of American politics is to eliminate middle class interests. I remember a time it was the opposite.

[izzybeans]

6. We have a government for the needy and the greedy.

The rest of us are screwn and we will continue to be until our government becomes responsive to the needs of all, the middle class included.

Everyday forward we should be working to eliminate fees and premiums, etc. and ensure that the health care and social services we all need (e.g. education, childcare, etc.) are a part of our basic tax structure. Everyday. Until. It. Is. Done.