Census reports nearly 17% in N.C. uninsured

RALEIGH, N.C. — New census data show about one out of six North Carolina residents lacked health insurance coverage.

The U.S. Census Bureau released annual population and community data Thursday that contains information about health coverage across the United States.

The census data shows that over the past three years an average of 1.5 million North Carolinians were without health insurance, or nearly 17 percent.

That was worse than the national average of 15.5 percent of the population lacking coverage. Texas led the country with about a quarter of its residents uninsured.

"These numbers demonstrate the need to pass comprehensive health reform this year," Adam Searing, director of the North Carolina Justice Center's Health Access Coalition, said in a statement. "More and more North Carolinians are losing their jobs and their insurance. We must ensure that these families have access to affordable, quality health coverage regardless of age or health status."

A state health research agency reported in March that recession-fueled layoffs gave North Carolina the country's highest growth rate of people without health insurance.

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My wife got bit by a fie ant one night last week and had an allergic reaction. It looked severe, but was easily treated with a drug in the ER. Total cost $3000, not including the doctor's separate fee. WakeMed is one reason why medical costs are so outrageous. Honestly, there is absolutely no sense for that kind of charge. Had our doctor's office been open, I suspect he could have done the same thing for her for $150.

There is something terribly wrong with our healthcare system. Whether it is insurance to blame, lawsuits, or other -- something needs to be done. If I was one of those 17% without insurance, what would I do? Let my wife risk dying?

paulej
September 11, 2009 4:42 p.m.

Yawn- the media is doing everything they can to prop up BO.

This article is completely insane.

MarcoPolo
September 10, 2009 7:47 p.m.

The perinatal mortality rate is Cuba is 15.5 and in the US it is 6.74. The MATERNAL mortality rate in Cuba is 52.5 per 1,000 and in the US it is 12 - these are HUGE numbers!

Overall, with stats like these, I'd say the US is outperforming Cuba by a long shot!

gsmbaby19
September 10, 2009 6:26 p.m.

The CIA gets their information from death statistics. If the country puts "Miscarriage" on the death certificate because they do not count births before 30 weeks as a Live Birth then they would not be counted as an infant mortality. They use public records to calculate these rates. It isn't rocket science to figure out how the rate could be different between countries. A miscarriage would have no death certificate, right?

In fact, you could argue that if you calculate perinatal mortality rates, that the US would then show to come out on top and if you read the research from the WHO (you know the article you are quoting) despite being lumped in with Canada, the US has the LOWEST perinatal mortality rates! This is because we treat them and attempt to save them See section 6 here: http://www.who.int/making_pregnancy_safer/publications/neonatal.pdf You cannot use infant mortality without also considering perinatal mortality. We are lumped with Canada in the survey and our actual

gsmbaby19
September 10, 2009 6:12 p.m.

gsmbaby-so Cuba has high abortion rates. So do we. We're still in the bottom third of countries despite being the richest. Being neck and neck with Cuba isn't something to be proud of.