November 20, 2009 in City

Ranks of uninsured swell in state

Numbers threaten health care system, report says

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Washington state is on pace to reach a dangerous milestone within 14 months, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said Thursday: 1 million uninsured residents.

The 1 in 5 adults lacking insurance stand to sink the financial stability of the state’s health care providers, he said.

Kreidler released a new report that predicts Washington hospitals and other health care providers will be forced to write off $1 billion each year unless reforms are enacted to control costs and extend coverage to the uninsured and the underinsured.

Many health care providers have softened the losses by charging more for those with insurance.

A family of four in Washington now pays an extra $917 a year in higher premiums and deductibles to offset the losses related to patients who lack insurance or can’t pay their bills, according to the report.

If the costs keep climbing and more working-class families begin dropping into the ranks of uninsured, the health care crisis could worsen, Kreidler said.

“We’re reaching a point where we can’t sustain this system,” he said.

The report found 11 percent of Spokane residents lack insurance.

Statewide, 11.6 percent are uninsured; that could rise to 14.4 percent within two years.

Rural areas have the highest rates. That’s because they have fewer large companies and government operations that offer health insurance benefits to employees, Kreidler said.

About 7.5 percent of the state’s uninsured are undocumented migrants.

Working-age adults constitute most of the uninsured.

Older Americans have Medicare coverage, and the state has blended state and federal funds to ensure most children have at least basic coverage.

Kreidler, a Democrat, expressed support for the health insurance reforms wending through Congress.

The insurance commissioner is establishing a Health Care Reform Realization Committee.

The 15- to 20-person panel will begin meeting in December to figure out the best way to implement any reforms passed by Congress, such as health insurance exchanges, insurance reforms, and expansion of public health programs.

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Five comments on this story so far. Add yours!

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  Ninch on November 20 at 5:56 a.m.

  OK… sounds foreboding unitl broken down. For example 11.6% of Washington State residents are uninsured… and about 7.5 percent of the state’s uninsured are undocumented migrants. So what government health care plan (state or federal) is going to use taxpayer dollars to insure undocumented migrants? (Obamacare is supposedly not covering undocumented workers.)

  So that leaves 4.1% (41,000 persons) which includes a large number who are eligible for EXISTING government programs and have not signed up (Medicaid, SCHIPS, High Risk Pool, misc. state programs).

  Kreidler needs to be HONEST about the total number of uninsured… and support for Obamacare, which does not address the real issues of uninsured in Washington State. For example, how does Obamacare provide more real ACCESS to health care in rural areas? Answer: It does not. Americans can be mandated to BUY insurance, but federal mandates do not increase access to services in underserved areas.

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  drdocument on November 20 at 7:43 a.m.

  So currently the average family of four pays $917 per year more.

  I wonder how much more the average family of four would pay under the “overhauls” currently being considered. I bet it would be a lot more than $917 per year.

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  newtonious on November 20 at 10:21 a.m.

  Ninch, you gotta work on your math. You don't subtract 7.5% from 11.6%; you multiply. Your math appears a little fuzzy.

  Residents of WA 6,000,000
  % uninsured 11.6%
  No. of people uninsured 696,000
  % of uninsured that are migrants 7.5%
  No. of uninsured that are migrants 52,200

  Honest mathematics is needed.

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  chelsita on November 20 at 3:38 p.m.

  Thanks newtonious! I saw the same mistake. Another reason why we should not cut spending on our education system. :)

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  spokelooneh on November 24 at 9:32 a.m.

  Some people just can't learn. They hate Mexicans and other brown people and blame them for all the nation's woes. You can show them the facts, but it doesn't matter to them. They enjoy remaining bigoted and ignorant.

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