Medicaid currently insures 44 million poor people. But 11 million poor are still without health insurance, despite recent Medicaid expansions. Three-fourths of the working uninsured are not offered or eligible for coverage in their workplace. While half of the uninsured are White, only 14 percent of Whites are uninsured as compared to 35 percent of Hispanics and 23 percent of Blacks. Consequences abound as a result of Americans being uninsured.
Uninsured individuals are more likely to be in fair or poor health.
Also, they are roughly half as likely to get vital preventive services such as mammograms, prostate exams and routine physicals compared to individuals with medical coverage. A recent article in the September issue of Consumer Reports concluded that while the U.S. spends more money on health care than any other country, the nation's 44 million uninsured face a system of second-class health care. We urge you to join us in our effort to put universal health care back on this nation's agenda. By signing this letter to the President, you will be exhibiting your willingness to dedicate funds from the budget surplus towards universal coverage for all Americans. This letter will be shared with Senate and House leadership and will serve as evidence of Congressional willingness to dedicate budget surplus funds for this purpose.