IMPACT OF UNINSURED POPULATION PROJECT

Impact of Uninsured Population Project



Impact of Uninsured Population Project

Introduction

According to the United States Census Bureau, 41.2 million Americans or 14.6 percent are without health care insurance, compared to 14.2 percent or 40.1 million in 2007. Of this uninsured population, 28.2 percent of them are children and the majority of the population is low income minorities. Furthermore, these numbers would be higher if not for the public programs of Medicaid and State Children Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Another concern is that of the partially insured or underinsured. In 1995, sixteen to nineteen percent of insured people were underinsured, meaning that they had decreased access to care and an increased risk of out-of-pocket expenses (Stroupe, Kinney, & Kniesner, 2007).

In total, 91.1 million or almost one third of the people in the United States are uninsured or underinsured. The number of uninsured and underinsured is predicted to increase in the future. It is estimated that by 2008, there will be 55 million Americans without health insurance (Higgs, Bayne, & Murphy, 2008). In light of the economy and aftershocks from September 11 attack some experts predict that at least 6 million more Americans will lose their health insurance by the end of 2007. With the recent economic decline causing a decrease in employer coverage of health care and market pressures raising health care cost and insurance premiums, the number without health care insurance may continue to rise.

Due to consequences of their insurance status, this growing population of Americans is more likely to suffer from a variety of adverse health outcomes. Several studies have outlined the consequences of inadequate health care compared to the insured that includes: not seeking necessary health care as often as insured clients, lack of preventive care, diagnoses of malignancies at more advanced stages, more acute care and hospitalization needed for preventable illnesses and complications, and higher mortality rates (Saha & Bindman, 2008). These health and shifting financial burdens affect not only the individuals, but their families and community.

The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the understanding of the impact of a growing uninsured and underinsured population on a specific health care organization.

Population Demographics Of The Group

With approximately 34.4 million persons under the age of 65 uninsured and millions more underinsured, "16 percent of the population under 65 are uninsured. For minority populations, the statistics are worse--for example, 21.7 percent of blacks are uninsured, and 34.9 percent of Mexican Americans are uninsured." (Holahan, 2009, pp99)It is remarkable that there has been no real progress in access to health care in the most current decade. It is not common knowledge that millions of workers are not covered by any kind of health care plan. (U. S. Department of Commerce, 2008)

A great deal of research has been done to assess the effects of not having insurance on general health status. Research has found that having health insurance is associated with better health outcomes. This association with well-being most likely is a result of access to ...