New State-by-State Analysis Shows Health Reform Can't Wait, Carson Says

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New State-by-State Analysis Shows Health Reform Can't Wait, Carson Says

September 16, 2009

Washington, D.C. – A new state-by-state analysis of U.S. Census data by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shows that the ranks of the uninsured are growing at an alarming rate in Indiana and across the country, Congressman André Carson said today.

Nationally, the data show that the number of uninsured increased from 39.8 million in 2001 to 46.3 million in 2008.

The numbers for Indiana were sobering, as well:

· The ranks of the uninsured in the Hoosier state have increased from 669,000 in 2001 to 772,000 in 2008.

· The percent of non-elderly adults without insurance increased from 13.8 percent to 17.4 percent.

· The overwhelming majority of uninsured Hoosiers are also employed (485,000 of the 772,000).

· The percentage of Hoosiers with employer-based coverage decreased from 79 percent of the population in 2001 to 70.6 percent in 2008.

· The percentage of employed individuals from Indiana without insurance has increased, from 13 percent in 2001 to 16.4 percent in 2008.

· NOTE: All of the data only took into account people who were uninsured for an entire year – it does not include the thousands of people in Indiana who have more recently lost coverage through the recession, or who had shorter gaps in their coverage.

“Anyone who questions the urgency of health reform need only review this new data,” Congressman Carson said. “The growing trend of people losing their health insurance will only get more severe as job loss continues in these difficult economic times.

“We have a choice. We can let this crisis continue to get worse by maintaining the status quo—which will cost us billions more to fix down the road. Or we can grab the bull by the horns, invest now to save billions later, and fix this broken system once and for all-- ensuring everyone, both those with insurance and those without it, have access to consistent, stable health coverage.”

Details of the HHS analysis can be found by visiting:

http://www.healthreform.gov/healthcarestatus.html

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