Why is it that16% of Americans have no health insurance & of those who do, 40% have such inadequate insurance?

Question

That they can't even afford their co-payments, deductibles or drugs? (unless they're generic).
And FYI, yes, I'm including those who have medicaid & medicare in the numbers of those that are insured. I am NOT including illegals in the numbers that are not insured, as they are not citizens or even legal residents. Nor have I included people that choose not to be insured because they don't feel they need it. I am just talking about legal Americans that need it.

Answer 1

Because so many people have bought into the insurance companies propaganda that service would be even worse under a federalized system.

We currently have people dying in hospital beds while waiting for service, we have wait lists for service, we have people being denied life saving procedures. How could it get worse? We're smart enough to learn from other countries.

Answer 2

Because Americans are sheep. They have bought into the Republican Propaganda that if we work for less than a North korean our economy will prosper. That and the myth that buying imported goods somehow helps the economy.

Hey People The Communist Chinese don't allow WALMART to run a NON UNION Shop. The economy is best in the areas where the minimum wage is highest. Most of the United States lives at a third world level. Can you sell everything youy have and walk away with enough cash to buy a Condo in Mexico?

Answer 3

In my entire family and friends, only a couple do not have insurance, because they would rather have a nice car and a nice house. I have no problem with helping those who really cannot afford it like we are for everyone on welfare. I do not want to give ANYTHING to sorry people that will not work, or people that choose luxuries over their families welfare.

For children, most states have free health care for those who qualify.

I hear this number of 40-45 million all the time. Where are they? You would think we would have people dying in the streets everywhere with that many that can't get care. Something does not add up, or where I live we are just lucky I guess.

Answer 4

Why should the poor, the indigent, and the lower-incomed citizens of this country even have to have insurance? One of the government's Constitutional mandates is to "promote the general welfare" of its citizenry. Instead of a health insurance program, all citizens who can't afford private doctors, hospitals, insurance or health care should have an inalienable right to doctors, hospitals, and health care without the need for insurance. Only those who can afford to pay insurance premiums should be expected to; those who cannot afford such a luxury, should be provided with competent government health care at no cost.
Yes, that would put a lot of insurance companies out of business. Yes, that's unfair to the wealthy. Yes, that would be costly for the federal government (but not nearly as costly as an immoral, insane, unconstitutional, illegal, unjustifiable trillion-dollar war). -RKO- 08/18/07

Answer 5

I agree with some of the above posters. America is not "withholding" insurance from people. Everyone who is a citizen of this country has the opportunity to get a free education. Everyone has the opportunity to go to college. I don't believe there is such a thing as "too poor" to go to college...the less money you have, the more you get in financial aid, grants, etc. With that education, everyone has the opportunity to get a job..and usually to choose a job with benefits. If your job doesn't give benefits your options are
1) Change employers
2) If you need a new field, go back to school to get aforemetioned education and find a field where you can get benefits.

And if by "inadequate" insurance, you mean that they can't go to any doctor anywhere for anything and have it 100% paid for...think about this. People who have no insurance can go to any doctor, anywhere for anything and have it 100% paid for, so why would they pay the premiums for the plans when the rest of the American people are paying it for them???

THAT'S the reason...they choose to!

Answer 6

What your stats do not mirror is what proportion individuals have the possibility and funds to purchase medical well being coverage yet prefer to not. they only choose for to not be insured with a view to apply their money for different priorities of their lives... and NO, i'm not speaking approximately foodstuff... merely "stuff". it fairly is a user-friendly tale, exceptionally between youthful, healthful adults who have not found out they're actually mortal yet. in spite of the undeniable fact that, accepted well being care advocates like to tout those numbers to make it sound like there are literally hundreds of folk who won't be able to get well being care. that's totally deceptive and disingenuous.

Answer 7

People like to believe the uninsured(like the homeless) just choose to be without insurance. And those with terrible insurance don't realize it until they need it. By then, it's too late. People in the US would rather believe that if you work hard and are responsible, everything's good. So, that have to believe that anyone financially destroyed by medical problems wasn't responsible, didn't save, etc.

So, people vote against their own interests because they are afraid of being called names like lazy, irresponsible, unamerican, pro-socialist, whatever. It works the same way.

Just like Jr high school.

Answer 8

Many choose to have other priorities. Anyone with a HS diploma can get a job where health insurance is offered by the employer. Self-employed, unemployed, HS drop outs would have to pay for it themselves. It's about the same as a big car payment.

Answer 9

Compare health insurance, 2insure4less:
http://compactsource.info/rdnet/2insure4less/1

Answer 10

Because we are the only modern western nation without nationalized health care. We are an international disgrace.