Why We Really Need Health Care
Hey, everyone, we’re privileged again to have Andy Stern, president of SEIU, contributing a guest blog about the growing health care gap for young people. Here’s what Andy has to say:
“I feel and know in my heart that my daughter Janelle would still be alive today if only she had had health insurance.” That’s how SEIU’s contact began with Lisa Scott almost one year ago. Lisa is a mom from western Iowa, and she lost her 18-year-old-daughter Janelle from a chest condition that was never diagnosed.
At the age of 18, Janelle never expected to face a health care crisis, never thought she would have to challenge a system to get health care. She was working two jobs and engaged to be married. But she and her fiancée didn’t make enough to afford health insurance. Shortly before she died, Janelle needed a chest x-ray, but she couldn't afford it without insurance.
Under “Cause of Death,” Janelle’s death certificate reads only “Unknown,” since her condition was never diagnosed. What we do know, however, is that our health care system failed her.
And she is most certainly not the first one or the last. We’ve reached the point where the health care we receive is determined solely by our ability to pay for it. This is a full-blown crisis, and young people like Janelle are more likely to fall victim to its dramatic effects.
Nearly 13 million young adults age 19-29 have no health insurance. Between 2000 and 2002, more than two million Americans age 19-29 lost their health coverage. The bottom line: If you are young, you are twice as likely to have no insurance.
There are a number of forces driving the health care crisis for young people. For example:
The "Family Plan Gap": Young people are frequently dumped as dependents from their family plans and government plans after age 19 or on graduation day.
The "School Gap": Many part-time students cannot remain on family plans and are not eligible for school plans, or their schools do not offer insurance.
The "Work Gap": Young workers are more likely to have temporary or part-time jobs, which are less likely to offer health coverage. And they are more often jobless.
The "Cost Gap": Young workers cannot afford premiums even when they are available because they earn too little income.
Despite these dramatic problems, young people have really been absent from the national debate about health care. Policymakers and politicians have overlooked them. No more. I’m pledging to do my part to bring young people into the national dialogue about health care: I need you to do yours! Help us build momentum for real change. Get out and vote!
Janelle Scott should be with us still. We need to win quality, affordable health care for all young Americans and put an end to this needless crisis. That's going to mean supporting candidates who make health care a real priority. Be an educated voter! It’s essential that you check out the candidates' positions, understand the differences, and then get out and vote.
“I feel and know in my heart that my daughter Janelle would still be alive today if only she had had health insurance.” That’s how SEIU’s contact began with Lisa Scott almost one year ago. Lisa is a mom from western Iowa, and she lost her 18-year-old-daughter Janelle from a chest condition that was never diagnosed.
At the age of 18, Janelle never expected to face a health care crisis, never thought she would have to challenge a system to get health care. She was working two jobs and engaged to be married. But she and her fiancée didn’t make enough to afford health insurance. Shortly before she died, Janelle needed a chest x-ray, but she couldn't afford it without insurance.
Under “Cause of Death,” Janelle’s death certificate reads only “Unknown,” since her condition was never diagnosed. What we do know, however, is that our health care system failed her.
And she is most certainly not the first one or the last. We’ve reached the point where the health care we receive is determined solely by our ability to pay for it. This is a full-blown crisis, and young people like Janelle are more likely to fall victim to its dramatic effects.
Nearly 13 million young adults age 19-29 have no health insurance. Between 2000 and 2002, more than two million Americans age 19-29 lost their health coverage. The bottom line: If you are young, you are twice as likely to have no insurance.
There are a number of forces driving the health care crisis for young people. For example:
The "Family Plan Gap": Young people are frequently dumped as dependents from their family plans and government plans after age 19 or on graduation day.
The "School Gap": Many part-time students cannot remain on family plans and are not eligible for school plans, or their schools do not offer insurance.
The "Work Gap": Young workers are more likely to have temporary or part-time jobs, which are less likely to offer health coverage. And they are more often jobless.
The "Cost Gap": Young workers cannot afford premiums even when they are available because they earn too little income.
Despite these dramatic problems, young people have really been absent from the national debate about health care. Policymakers and politicians have overlooked them. No more. I’m pledging to do my part to bring young people into the national dialogue about health care: I need you to do yours! Help us build momentum for real change. Get out and vote!
Janelle Scott should be with us still. We need to win quality, affordable health care for all young Americans and put an end to this needless crisis. That's going to mean supporting candidates who make health care a real priority. Be an educated voter! It’s essential that you check out the candidates' positions, understand the differences, and then get out and vote.
posted by Anonymous at 8:22 PM
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