Growth of gov't insurance outpaces private care

[uscitizen]

Growth of gov't insurance outpaces private care


Sep 10, 8:24 PM (ET)

By HOPE YEN and FRANK BASS

WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of Americans covered by government-sponsored health insurance plans surged to 87.4 million last year - or 29 percent of the U.S. population - amid a fierce, national debate about whether to create a new U.S.-run plan that any American could join.

The number of people covered by federal Medicaid, Medicare and military insurance plans was an increase from 83 million in 2007, according to census figures released Thursday. It partially offset the eighth straight year of declines in the percentage of people with employer-provided plans and highlighted the growing role of a government-offered insurance safety net.

Overall, the number of Americans without health insurance rose modestly to 46.3 million last year, up from 45.7 million in 2007. The poverty rate hit 13.2 percent, an 11-year high.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090911/D9AKPHD00.html

 

[Cypress]

The number of Americans coverled by government-sponsored health insurance plans surged to 87.4 million last year -

Wierd.

When Cons fish around for a "reason" for why we can't have universal public healthcare (a' la Sweden or Denmark) they've always lectured me that it's only feasible in small nations, with a few million population.


I never understood why they came up with that magical formula of a population limit, -- and the magical formula was never explained to me.

I'm astonished that the numbers quoted in this article undermine the very premise of the Con/Libertarian message board contingent.

 

[uscitizen]

And it will continue to grow as more boomers reach medicare age.
Bush also grew the numbers of veterans getting medical care thru the VA.