Families USA has produced a wealth of reports and other materials exploring various aspects of the health care crisis: How many Americans are uninsured? How many are bearing a heavy burden of health care costs? How are communities of color affected by the health care crisis? This section draws together our latest publications that examine how and why people are not getting the health care they need.
Expanding Access to Coverage
One-Two Punch: Unemployed and Uninsured takes a more in-depth look at the link between unemployment and uninsurance to get a clearer picture of the crisis of the uninsured. The report provides state-by-state numbers showing the likely magnitude of the increase in the uninsured due to rising unemployment. (October 2009)
The Clock Is Ticking: More Americans Losing Health Coverage provides the first ever state-by-state data on the number of people who may lose health coverage between the beginning of 2008 and the end of 2010. Numbers are broken down per week, per month, and per year. (July 2009)
Investing in Health Coverage: It Just Makes Sense explores four key reasons why we all have a stake in making sure everyone has health coverage. (June 2009)
Americans at Risk: One in Three Uninsured presents data showing that 86.7 million people were uninsured for some period of time during 2007-2008. The report also offers a closer look at the number of uninsured, who they are, and how long they are uninsured, and it discusses the major reasons for the growth in the number of uninsured. | State Reports (March 2009)
Unemployed and Uninsured in America analyzes the health coverage status of unemployed workers with low and moderate incomes, including national and state-level data. (February 2009)
Five Good Reasons to Increase Health Coverage for Parents discusses the reasons why states should strengthen the health and economic security of families by expanding health coverage for parents. (July 2008)
America's Health Care Crisis: Cities on the Front Lines Families USA surveyed a sample of mayors from across the country on the topics of health care and the uninsured. We found that cities are profoundly affected by the rising number of uninsured and the rising cost of providing coverage for their own employees. This report presents the results of our survey and examines cities’ role in the health care safety net, the impact of the growing number of uninsured on city services, and the ways that state and federal leaders might come together with city leaders to improve health coverage and access for all Americans. (June 2008)
Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers takes a closer look at the latest data and finds that communities of color continue to bear the brunt of the uninsured crisis. This fact sheet looks at who is uninsured, poverty levels of different racial and ethnic groups, and why public programs are vital to communities of color. (September 2009)
Health Care Reform: Critical to Closing the Gap for Communities of Color presents a more in-depth look at data on the uninsured, which reveal alarming racial and ethnic disparities in health coverage. (March 2009)
An Unequal Burden: The True Cost of High-Deductible Health Plans for Communities of Color discusses the full costs associated with high-deductible health plans and why these expenses are disproportionately unaffordable for racial and ethnic minorities. It also examines several myths about health savings accounts (HSAs), which are often coupled with such health plans. (September 2008)
Health Coverage in Communities of Color: Talking about the New Census Numbers takes a closer look at the 2007 uninsured data. The number of uninsured was considerably higher in 2007 than it was in 2000, and communities of color continue to bear the brunt of this crisis. This fact sheet looks at who is uninsured, where people get their health insurance, and why public programs are vital to communities of color. (September 2008)
Costly Coverage: Premiums Outpace Paychecks examines how the combination of stagnant wages and skyrocketing health insurance costs is placing a growing strain on family budgets. These state-specific reports show how health insurance premiums for families and individuals have risen over the last decade compared to earnings. (August 2009)
Have Health Insurance? Think You're Well Protected? Think Again! This one-page fact sheet provides quick stats on how health care expenses overwhelm even insured working families, forcing many into bankruptcy. (Updated March 2009)
The Hidden Link: Health Costs and Family Economic Insecurity examines the crisis in family health care costs and shows why it will be impossible to restore family economic security without health reform that achieves quality, affordable coverage for all. (January 2009)
Premiums versus Paychecks: A Growing Burden for Workers: Throughout the first eight years of the new millennium, health care costs have skyrocketed, while working families’ wages have stood still, putting a significant strain on family budgets. This series of state-by-state reports, which are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Health and Human Services, examine what these trends mean for working families. (September-October 2008)
Empty Promise: Searching for Health Insurance in an Unfair Market discusses how the individual health insurance market differs from the employer market and examines what happens to consumers who seek coverage in the individual market. Problems in the individual market include policies that don't provide quality coverage; policies that are very expensive or that cost more than advertised; and the fact that many applicants cannot obtain a policy at any price. (August 2008)
Fighting Revocations and Limitations of Health Insurance Policies addresses the insurance company practice of revoking an individual's health insurance or suddenly eliminating coverage for health services long after the person has enrolled (known as "post-claims underwriting"). It also discusses what consumers and advocates can do about the practice. (July 2008)
Retail Medical Clinics: Okay in a Pinch, but No Substitute for Real Health Coverage provides an overview of the growing trend of clinics popping up in stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, and CVS. While their convenience is appealing, the trade off may be piecemeal services that lack appropriate oversight. Consumers should use such clinics only to supplement care from their regular primary care physicians. (August 2007)
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