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New Data Puts Deaths From No Health Insurance at 45,000 Per Year
Formerly it was 18,000. I always considered that number too small. New numbers from Harvard Medical School. That works out to almost 30,000 deaths due to no health insurance since Obama and the Democrats took office.
We should consider what these numbers will be in the aftermath of any bill. Compromises translate into deaths. Just to be clear.
We should consider what these numbers will be in the aftermath of any bill. Compromises translate into deaths. Just to be clear.
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No need to worry. Baucus Bill has the obligatory universal mandate built-in.
September 18, 2009 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wish we could also spend a trillion dollars on the approximately 20,000 people that die from drunk driving each year. Or the 20,000 people who are victims of homicide crimes each year.
What if we spent an extra trillion dollars on cancer research? Almost half a million people will die from cancer this year.
September 18, 2009 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bill - Even if deaths were the only source of adversity related to insurance lack, rather than the even larger burden for tens of millions of individuals of suffering from pain, debilitation, income loss, and other consequences, it would still be a moral imperative for us as a caring community to spend one trillion dollars to save 450,000 lives over ten years.
If an extra trillion could also save the lives of 450,000 cancer patients, that too would be worth it, but as someone familiar with the cancer scene, I would say that at this point, the life saving value of investing an extra trillion in cancer research would be less than the life saving value for cancer patients of providing them the insurance needed for early detection and treatment.
September 19, 2009 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
For further perspective, we're talking about one trillion out of approximately 150 trillion in GDP over ten years. If that would save 450,000 lives, it seems like a bargain to me.
September 19, 2009 1:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
It might be a bargain if we were running surpluses and flush with cash. But unforunately it's just going to put us deeper in debt.
Should we do it anyway to cover more people? Yes. But it's no bargain.
September 19, 2009 3:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
More here: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/lack-health-insurance-raises-death-risk/story?id=8606408
September 18, 2009 7:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought of you when I saw these numbers at huffpo.
Good to see you again.
You have been pushing this a long time and NOBODY SEEMED TO GIVE A SHITE.
Damn. WE ARE ALL NOTHING BUT FRICKING BARBARIANS
September 19, 2009 12:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
I would be quite appreciative if others would keep these numbers updated. What's important is that we somehow keep the human cost as real as possible. I'm convinced that plenty of people in the media read TPM. If they see the numbers coming from a lot of posters, I think they will have more effect. Also, any new spin on the numbers.
September 19, 2009 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Although the 45,000 deaths are correlated with lack of insurance, it's impossible to prove a causal relationship from this type of epidemiologic data alone. However, the study has controlled for confounding factors (income, demographics, etc.) and so a cause-effect relationship is very likely.
The lethal hazard of insurance lack is now relevant to the decision of Congress and the President to appease the anti-immigrant forces by excluding illegal immigrants from mandated coverage. Penalties for immigration law violations already exist, but we have now added the death penalty.
September 19, 2009 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if you have ever lost a friend or a family member from lack of health insurance. Analytic data at that point is just bullshit.
September 19, 2009 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you are referring to my comment, Kali, what's your point?
September 19, 2009 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink