But wait, it gets better--check out the numbers for 2010:

By 2010, health insurance premiums for families who have insurance through their private employers, on average, will be $1,502 higher in 2010 due to the unreimbursed cost of health care for the uninsured (Table 2).

In 11 states, health insurance premiums for families will be at least $2,000 higher due to the unreimbursed cost of health care for the uninsured in 2010. These states are New Mexico ($3,169); West Virginia ($2,940); Oklahoma ($2,911); Texas ($2,786); Arkansas ($2,748); Alaska ($2,248); Florida ($2,248); Montana ($2,190); Idaho ($2,152); Washington ($2,144); and Arizona ($2,028) (Table 2).

Health insurance premiums for individuals who have insurance through their private employers, on average, will be $532 higher in 2010 due to the unreimbursed cost of health care for the uninsured (Table 2).

In eight states, health insurance premiums for individuals will be at least $800 higher due to the unreimbursed cost of health care for the uninsured in 2010. These states are New Mexico ($1,192); Oklahoma ($1,127); West Virginia ($1,037); Arkansas ($943); Texas ($922); Alaska ($857); Idaho ($820); and Montana ($807) (Table 2).

(emphasis added)

By the way, all except one (Washington) went for Bush in '04. Smart voting, red-staters...

The first impulse conservatives will have in reaction to these numbers will be to blame the uninsured themselves. But they're pulling their weight--uninsured Americans pay for over a third of their health costs out of pocket. From the report:

To pay for their health care, the uninsured use up all their savings, borrow money from family and friends to pay for costs up front, work more than one job, charge credit cards for large bills that will take years to repay, or take out a loan or mortgage on their home. When those resources are gone, the uninsured are often forced to skip utility bills, cut other family expenses, and even cut back on the family food budget. Eventually, many uninsured people are forced to file for bankruptcy due to medical bills; about half of all personal bankruptcy cases are due to medical reasons.

That's right: forced to declare bankruptcy, which will be harder now thanks to that shameful Republican bankruptcy bill that too many spineless Democrats voted for and Bush signed into law.

This shit has to stop: we need a decent universal health care system and we need it yesterday. There are many good plans on our side, like Jacob Hacker's Medicare Plus plan (bottom of page) or American Progress' "Progressive Prescriptions for a Healthy America." So pick a plan, America--any plan!