Since we're basically asking physicians for rough estimates, there is a certain amount of reporting error that goes into it. In the current context of increasing numbers of uninsured and policy initiatives to increase the relative supply of primary care physicians, that particular change raises a concern about the future ability of indigent patients to obtain needed care outside the emergency room. This decline is attributed to the increased use of part-time workers and workers in alternative work arrangements such as temporary workers and independent contractors. Some segments of the population report significantly higher rates of uninsurance than others. The Census Bureau found that Hispanics were more than three times as likely to be uninsured as non-Hispanic whites.
Single men fare even worse.
If you're an able-bodied single male, you're basically out of luck. The bottom line for uninsured sick people is they are at risk-at risk of not being able to afford care, at risk of being turned away, at risk of suffering major financial hardship. Other countries don't have these problems. We have to do something, either through expanding public programs or mandating private insurance. For a printed copy of this issue of Psychiatric Times , use the information at the top of this page.