'Cover the Uninsured Week' raises awareness

Last year in the United States, people died from complications from easily treatable illnesses such as strep throat, chicken pox, and even the common cold because they could not afford medical care. Many more suffered lingering deaths from cancer or other diseases because they did not get diagnosed soon enough, if at all.

Too many times we hear about people suffering and we think of it as someone else's problem. But what about people suffering from illness or injury simply because they do not have health insurance? Unfortunately, this is not someone else's problem, it's ours. Over 252,000 Idaho residents are living without health insurance and nearly half our population is without dental insurance. May 1-7 is Covered the Uninsured Week, a week designated for raising awareness of issues surrounding our nation's lack of health coverage.

Four out of five uninsured people in Idaho are working families. When they get sick, these families try to ignore their symptoms as long as possible, but may eventually have to get treated by a doctor or hospital. Without insurance to pay the bill, they struggle to cover as much as they can. However, they very seldom can pay it all, leaving a national debt of about $43 billion dollars annually. The government picks up the tab for about a third of this through funding programs, but the rest is absorbed through higher premiums for people who do have health insurance.

So begins the vicious cycle. More and more companies are dropping health insurance because they cannot afford the premiums, therefore increasing the number of uninsured and exacerbating the problem. In 2005, only sixty percent (60 percent) of American businesses were able to offer health insurance coverage for their employees. Right now, the average cost of coverage for a family of four is nearly $11,000 per year. If these numbers seem shocking to you, they are, but the sad fact is that they are real.

More and more communities are striving to create solutions to these problems locally with low or no-cost clinics. Bonner Partners in Care is a prime example of this type of solution, and the clinic has helped hundreds of people since it's opening in 2003. However, due to lack of consistent funding and overworked volunteers, these clinics are struggling as well.

Hospitals are also doing their part. It is Bonner General's priority to work with patients to develop affordable payment plans and provide support for those who qualify for state and federal assistance programs. They work hard to keep costs low and have provided treatment options such as ancillary clinics like Bonner General Immediate Care and Priest River Medical Clinic. Support is also provided to Bonner Partners in Care through medical and office supplies.

Despite local efforts, the problem is still growing. Just one serious illness or injury can wipe out an uninsured family's entire bank account. Uninsured Americans live sicker and die younger than people with health insurance. Obviously, this is not just a financial issue, but a quality of life issue for millions of people.

Awareness is the key to finding a long-tern solution. Cover the Uninsured Week was established to help open our eyes to the health insurance issues facing our nation today. You can help by supporting health professionals and organizations that offer volunteer care. Support public programs for the uninsured by writing to local and national government representatives. As a community, we can help support businesses that offer health insurance to their employees. Though we have a long way to go in finding long-term solutions to this problem, remember that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.