Study: Senate health reform would cover an additional 482,000 Marylanders
With the Senate in a pinch to meet a Christmas deadline to pass a health reform bill, a new report paints a bleak picture for Maryland if reform doesn't happen.
Some 482,000 people in Maryland will gain coverage by 2019 under the Senate health reform bill, according to the report by the national consumer advocacy group Families USA. Without it, about 125,000 people in Maryland will lose coverage by that same date.
In 2007 and 2008, the average number of uninsured in Maryland was 715,000, but that figure could rise to 840,000 if the Senate goes home for Christmas without a bill, the report estimates. Nationally, the number of people without insurance could hit 54 million in 2019 without a health care overhaul.
The group, which if you haven't noticed, has been lobbying big time for the Senate to hurry up and pass legislation to expand coverage to millions. It has come out with similar sobering figures on the impact that the status quo could have on the states.
A few months ago, the group released a report estimating that 114,780 people will lose health coverage in Maryland from 2008 through December 2010.
photo courtesy of Brooks Elliot @ flickr
Comments
So you are saying it is my responsibility as a low/middle income earner to pay additional taxes to insure these people? That is Socialism, plain and simple! Maybe even unconstitutional and discriminatory!!!!
Posted by: Mac | December 24, 2009 9:17 AM