Two Million Americans Lost Their Health Insurance in 2001 - Largest One-Year Increase in Nearly a Decade

SEE CHART- Loss of U.S. Health Coverage in 2001 due to Increased Unemployment 

SEE MAP - Number of Uninsured Now Exceeds Population of 23 States Plus the District of Columbia

Ron Pollack, Executive Director of Families USA made the following statement today at a press conference to launch a new national coalition effort to seek solutions to the problem of the uninsured.

"The Census Bureau, in its last report, tells us that, during calendar year 2000, there were 39 million uninsured Americans. Incredibly, that number exceeds the aggregate population of 22 states plus the District of Columbia.

"Unfortunately, many more Americans recently joined the ranks of the uninsured. The numbers released today, compiled by Families USA for the Covering the Uninsured campaign, show that millions of people became uninsured in the past year (2001) as a result of job layoffs. There are several notable aspects of this analysis:

• First, more than 2.2 million people lost health coverage in 2001 due to increased unemployment. [see loss of U.S. health coverage chart]
• Second, this is the largest annual increase in the number of uninsured Americans since 1992 - nine years ago, during the last recession.
• Third, approximately one-half of this increase occurred in the period from September through December, thereby reflecting the impact of September 11.
• Fourth, as a result of this increase, the number of uninsured Americans now exceeds the cumulative population of 23 states plus the District of Columbia. [see number of uninsured map]
• And fifth, these numbers only depict the loss of health coverage caused by job layoffs. They do not include the health coverage impact of increased health costs or cutbacks in state Medicaid programs. Hence, these numbers are conservative.

"These numbers, however, only paint part of the picture about America's uninsured. The most poignant parts of the picture are the millions of people and families who are deferring unaffordable, needed health care - often with tragic results.

"Certainly, we can do much, much better - and we must.

"That is why Families USA is honored to join the dozen other distinguished organizations in making expanded health coverage a top national priority and our act of conscience."

The "Covering the Uninsured" partnership includes The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, The Business Roundtable, Service Employees International Union, American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, Health Insurance Association of America, Families USA, American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, Catholic Health Association of the United States, AARP and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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Families USA is the national organization for health care consumers. It is nonprofit and nonpartisan and advocates for high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.

1201 New York Avenue NW, Suite 1100 · Washington, DC 20005
202-628-3030 · Email: info@familiesusa.org · www.familiesusa.org