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Health Policy

Health Insurance Coverage

Saving On Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Nearly 4 million Medicare recipients received $2.1 billion in discounts for out-of-pocket prescription drugs in 2011, for an average savings of $604 per person under the Affordable Care Act. The health care reform law requires drug manufacturers to provide discounted brand name drugs to seniors and people with disabilities and the act subsidizes generic drugs.

Source:  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Uninsured at Premium Rates

Without the individual mandate to obtain health insurance under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 40-42 million non-elderly would remain uninsured. Private health insurance would drop by 11 million people without a mandate, while non-group premiums would increase between 10 to 25 percent.

Source:  The Urban Institute

Estimated 29 Million to Remain Uninsured

While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides more quality, affordable health coverage options to many individuals and families, an estimated 29 million will remain uninsured in 2019.

Source:  Congressional Budget Office

No More Denial of Health Coverage

Because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Americans will no longer be denied health coverage because of a preexisting condition and will have access to insurance when they need it most, without lifetime and annual benefit limits.

Source:  Alliance for Health Reform

Gaining Coverage

By 2019, it is estimated that 29 million uninsured Americans will gain coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Source:  Congressional Budget Office

State Insurance Coverage Eligibility

Most states cover children whose families earn up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), or about $44,000 per year for a family of four. Eligibility levels vary in each state and are based on family size, and may also take into account higher costs of living.

Source:  Kaiser Family Foundation

School Versus the Emergency Room

Kids who are covered by Medicaid or CHIP have better quality of care than uninsured children, and go to the doctor more and the emergency room less. Children who have health coverage also miss less school than uninsured children.

Source:  Institute of Medicine

Uninsured Rates in the U.S.

48.6 million Americans lacked health insurance coverage in 2011. This accounts for 15.7 percent of all Americans.

Source:  U.S. Census Bureau

Medical Care Can Cause Bankruptcy

For the uninsured and underinsured, one serious illness or injury can wipe out a family's bank account. More than 60 percent of all bankruptcies in the U.S. are attributed to the cost of medical care.

Source:  American Journal of Medicine

Uninsured Raise Premiums

When the uninsured seek inpatient hospital care, people who are insured end up paying for part of this care through hikes in health insurance premiums. It is estimated that this extra cost of care for the uninsured added $1,000 to family insurance premiums.

Source:  Families USA

Small Health Problems

Uninsured children are 70 percent less likely than insured children to receive medical care for common childhood conditions, such as a sore throat, which means small health problems can grow into bigger ones.

Source:  Mathematica

Uninsured Kids with Working Parents

Most uninsured kids come from families in which at least one parent works full time.

Source:  State Health Access Data Assistance Center

Jobs Don't Guarantee Coverage

Having a job--even a full-time job--does not guarantee coverage. More than three-quarters (77 percent) of the uninsured are in working families.

Source:  Kaiser Family Foundation

Uninsured Rates Higher in Communities of Color

People from communities of color are more likely to be uninsured. In 2011, 30.1 percent of Hispanics; 19.5 percent of African Americans; and 16.8 percent of Asians were uninsured compared with 11.1 percent of non-Hispanic whites.

Source:  U.S. Census Bureau

Uninsured Children

Today, 7.0 million children nationwide do not have health insurance. They make up 9.4 percent of all children.

Source:  U.S. Census Bureau

The Difference Between Life or Death

It is estimated that approximately 22,000 Americans die each year in large part because of a lack of health insurance. Making sure people have access to the care they need can mean the difference between life and death.

Source:  Urban Institute

 

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