A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that 45,000 deaths each year stem from a lack of health insurance. That’s more than double a prior estimate from the Institute of Medicine, which put the number at about 18,000. Notes lead researcher Andrew Wilper, M.D. (now with the Univ. of Washington Medical School):
The uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors and baseline health. We doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes and heart disease – but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.
So here’s conclusive proof we need more private health insurance…or more government-run health plans…or both.
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