CRITICAL CONDITION

CRITICAL CONDITION

Last month, the local PBS station in Austin presented a Point of View documentary on the healthcare crisis in America.   Most of the information pertained to 2007, so the statistics may be even worse now, considering the deepening financial crisis and job loss.

The documentary contained the following information:

>In 1980, the cost of healthcare in America was 254 billion; in 1990, it was 714 billion; 1.4 trillion in 2000, and 2.1 trillion in 2006.

>We spend 50% more on healthcare than any other country, yet we rank 15th in preventable death; 24th in life expectancy, and 27th in infant mortality.

>2.2 million American became uninsured this year.

>Hospitals typically charge uninsured two and half times more than insured.

>Over 80% of the uninsured are from working families.

>Uninsured adults are four and a half times more likely to go without medical care than insured adults.

>Lost productivity of the uninsured costs the economy up to $130 billion a year.

>Cancer patients without insurance are nearly twice as likely to die within 5 years of diagnosis as the insured.

>Covering the bills of the uninsured increases health premiums for the average family by $922 yearly.

>60% of the uninsured had to forego medical care this year.

>An estimated 22,000 Americans died prematurely this year simply because they were uninsured.

>In the time it took to watch this film (90 minutes), an additional 377 Americans became uninsured.

As you can see, having a universal healthcare system is not only a humanitarian issue, it is also a dollars and cents problem.  What we pay now goes to large corporations, who, more often than not, deny claims.  I appreciate the info Nan gave me on Obama's healthcare plan, which seems to be sensible.  The $5000 tax rebate McCain proposes is meaningless to those struggling to provide the basic necessities for their families.

The film, titled "Critical Condition" is available from PBS.org, or on podcast.