Uninsured Hits All-Time High

Posted by Kathy Quan Aug 30, 2007

The number of uninsured Americans rose to an all time high of 47 million in 2006. This number has risen consistently since 2001. Although wages have also increased, the cost of individual health insurance is prohibitive to most. An increasing number of employers have also found this cost to be prohibitive and have been eroding medical benefits for employees for several years.

Medical costs have been increasing at a rate almost twice that of wages for the past several years which gives rise to the increasing costs of medical insurance. Presidential candidates have outlined a number of possible solutions and debate this issue openly as health care is one of the top issues voters want to see addressed by the candidates.

Americans can make their voices heard as Congress reconvenes and approaches a vote on the issue of helping provide medical care for uninsured children. SCHIP expires this year and Congress is scheduled to vote by October 1.