Health Care Facts

Quality health care that once seemed reliable is quickly being priced out of reach for millions of hardworking, taxpaying Americans. The health care crisis affects us all regardless of age, race or employment.
Nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured. That's over 15 percent of the population.

And that number doesn't even scratch the surface of the number of Americans who are underinsured in this country.
In Nevada:

  • 486,000 Nevadans don't have health insurance.
  • 36% of Hispanic people are uninsured.
  • 16% of Caucasian people are uninsured.
  • 12% of Asian people are uninsured.
  • 21% of women in Nevada are uninsured.
  • Kids up to 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible for health coverage in Nevada.
  • The price of health care for the uninsured increased health insurance premiums for individual private employer coverage by $490 in 2005. If nothing changes, in 2010, the increase in price will be $748.

Health Care Costs Are Skyrocketing
Health care cost increases are easily outpacing wages. These rising costs make it difficult for small businesses to provide basic coverage, and corporations are shifting the growing burden directly to their employees, leaving many Americans without affordable coverage.

  • In 2005, employer health insurance premiums increased by 9.2% - nearly three times the rate of inflation.
  • Under an employer health plan, the annual premium for a family of four averaged nearly $11,000. For single coverage it's over $4,000. In 2006, it will have cost about $13,382 – a 9.6% increase over 2005.
  • In 2004 national health expenditures rose 7.9% – over three times the rate of inflation.
  • Total spending in 2004 was $1.9 trillion. That's 16% of GDP and $6,280 per person. By 2015 it is projected that annual spending on health care will skyrocket to 4 trillion dollars – 20% of GDP. This means:
  • Americans will spend $421 billion of their own money, up from $248.8 billion in 2005.
  • Prescription drug spending is expected to reach $446 billion, up from $188 billion in 2004.
  • Medicare spending will reach $792 billion, up from $309 billion in 2004. Medicaid spending will reach $320 billion, up from $293 billion in 2004.

Over 46 Million Americans Have No Health Care
Every minute, nearly 3 people lose their health insurance in the U.S.

  • Nearly 91 million people went without coverage for part of the last two years. This equates to a third of the entire U.S. population.
  • 81% of those without insurance come from working families.
  • 8.3 million children in America have no health care.
  • At least 18,000 Americans die every year solely because they cannot afford private health insurance. Odds are the number of deaths is even higher.

Employer-Based Coverage Has Decreased

  • Between 2000 and 2005, the percentage of employers offering health benefits has fallen from 69% to 60%, with the decline occurring predominantly among small firms (3-199 workers).
  • Costs for employers with 3 to 199 workers jumped about 10% last year from 2004, higher than the 9% bump for those with 200 or more.
  • The percentage of workers covered by health insurance offered through their own employer has fallen from 63% of workers in 2000 to 60% in 2005.

The Crisis Affects Everyone
The scope of the health care crisis is reaching record proportions and touches the lives of Americans from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, education, employment, or age.

  • 33% of Hispanics living in the U.S. are uninsured.
  • 20% of African Americans and 17 % of Asians are uninsured, compared with 15 % of Caucasians.
  • 22% of the uninsured are in families with incomes of $50,000 and over.
  • 3.9 million people aged 55-64 were uninsured in 2004.
    8 out of 10 uninsured women are in families with at least one person in the workforce, either part-time or full-time.
  • Two-thirds of uninsured women (65%) are in families with at least one adult working full-time. Just 20% of uninsured women are in nonworking families.

Small Businesses and the Self-Employed Can't Afford Health Care

More than 25 million Americans own a small business. But since small businesses and the self-employed aren't able to purchase insurance as cheaply as large corporations, rising health costs are making it increasingly difficult for them to afford basic health coverage for their employees and their families.

  • Less than half of small businesses offer health insurance.
  • Workers in small firms are three times as likely to be uninsured as workers in large firms.