Health Care
We have 1.8 million uninsured people in Illinois and over 47 million uninsured people in America. These numbers will increase over the next several months because 80% of people who are insured are so as a result through work-base insurance.
From 2006-2010 the cost for work-base insurance has increased by 7 to 9 percent. With the large amount of job losses in the past few years, these numbers will continue to increase during these hard times.
We need to find ways to make sure that all Americans have accessibility to healthcare.
The Americans who are uninsured or underinsured are most likely using the emergency room as their primary doctors. People with an illness that started out as something treatable, if caught early, could have been easily prevented; instead, they culminate to a hospital’s emergency room, which now is the highest cost of healthcare. Early diagnosis and preventive care is crucial in reducing the cost of healthcare.
Elect Fred Smith
First Congressional District of Illinois
March 20, 2012