Two separate New York Times reports show that health care tops the list of concerns as the economy moves into recession.
The first points to how unemployment increases the burden on federal and state health insurance programs "low-income uninsured" at the same time that state and local revenues decrease :
"The study projected that each rise in unemployment of one percentage point would also add 600,000 children and 400,000 adults to the two primary state and federal health insurance programs for the low-income uninsured. That would require an additional $3.4 billion for Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, with $1.4 billion of it from the states."
"... A percentage point increase in unemployment typically translates into a drop in state general fund revenues of 3 percent to 4 percent, the Urban Institute said. A survey found that 27 states and the District of Columbia were forecasting budget deficits for the coming year, collectively exceeding $39 billion. Cuts to Medicaid or the children’s health program have been proposed in 13 states. "Because of state balanced-budget requirements, Medicaid and other assistance is most likely to be cut when state residents have the greatest need for help," the study concluded."
The second report looks at those with health insurance who are now struggling to pay for routine health care, due to unemployment, under-employment and employer increases in the burden-sharing of health care to employees:
"The economic slowdown has swelled the ranks of people without health insurance. But now it is also threatening millions of people who have insurance but find that the coverage is too limited or that they cannot afford their own share of medical costs."
"Many of the 158 million people covered by employer health insurance are struggling to meet medical expenses that are much higher than they used to be — often because of some combination of higher premiums, less extensive coverage, and bigger out-of-pocket deductibles and co-payments."
[snip]
"... the soft economy is making some insured people hesitant to get care they need, reluctant to spend a $50 co-payment for an office visit ..."
[snip]
"Since the recession of 2001, the employee’s average cost of an annual health care premium for family coverage has nearly doubled — to $3,300, up from $1,800 — while incomes have come nowhere close to keeping up. Factor in other out-of-pocket medical costs, and the portion of the average American household’s income that goes toward health care has risen about 12 percent, according to the consulting and accounting firm Deloitte, and is now approaching one-fifth of the average household’s spending."
[snip]
"Even so, more companies may see themselves as having little choice but to require employees to pay even more of their health expenses, said Ted Nussbaum, a benefits consultant at the firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide. And when a weak economy undermines job security, he said, workers may simply have to accept reduced benefits."
It's prudent to remember these warning signs if we should ever consider - even for a moment - supporting John McCain for POTUS.
Next Up: More About McCain's Health Care Plan (aka "Let The Health Insurance Industry Take Over Our Health Care The Way We Let Private Lenders [Country Wide] Take Over Our Home Mortgages").
Speaking of health care...here's a peek at Hillary Clinton on "Ellen" where she introduces a special breast cancer initiative as part of her health care plan.
