Issue Brief: Healthcare
Health care in the United States is a tragedy; it does not assume the right to care and necessary medicines is a human right. Instead, health care has become a direct reflection of the amount of money we have or if we are fortunate enough to still be covered through our employer. Over 46 million Americans are currently without care, and that number ...... more

Highlighting the Number of Uninsured
Kitty Loepker, a Rapid Response Team Member at Local 1899 in Granite City, IL, talks to reporters about the connection between her brother's death and his lack of health insurance. Local 1899 and Granite City SOAR members participated in a rally in downtown St. Louis that kicked off Cover the Uninsured Week. During Cover the Uninsured Week, organizations ...... more

Administration Report Shows Health Care Costs will be a Fifth of GDP in a Decade
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, reports that spending on health care will top $3.6 trillion in 2014. That is equivalent to 18.7 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) or $11,045 per person annually. The current per person annual amount is $6,423. This rate of growth is considerably ...... more

Study Shows Nearly Half of Personal Bankruptcy Filings Result from Medical Bills
A Harvard University report confirms what many facing bankruptcy already know; costly medical bills are often the cause of financial problems leading to bankruptcy. The study showed that many of those filing for bankruptcy were middle-class, owned homes and had health insurance at the start of their illness. Health problems often sparked a downward ...... more

Funding Health Care for All
A report released on October 7, 2004 offers a solution for funding health care for all. This report, released by Jobs with Justice and the Center for Economic Policy Research, discusses how cutting insurance and drug industry waste could insure 160 percent of those who currently lack health care coverage. If the insurance industry was run as efficiently ...... more

Record Numbers Lack Healthcare Coverage
A recent report issued by Families USA stated that 82 million lacked healthcare coverage for all or part of 2002 and 2003 - that’s one out of every three people living in the United States under the age of 65. Additionally, the report found that one in every four middle income families went without coverage. The report, entitled One In Three: Non Elderly ...... more

Winning a Healthcare Bill of Rights
Tackling the healthcare problem in the United States requires a new approach. This new approach must include: · Universal Coverage – Everyone has a right to quality health care, regardless of financial standing. The government must insure that no American is denied needed health care services because of inability to pay. · Cost Control – Health care ...... more