One of the valid arguments against universal health care for Wisconsin is that access to insurance isn't as big of a problem here because of programs like BadgerCare and BadgerCare Plus. A government mandate that all citizens have health care coverage certainly addresses access issues. Whether it is effective in driving down health care costs isn't anywhere near as certain.
Nationally, access to health care is a greater concern, as nearly 50 million people are uninsured. When Barack Obama becomes president, with his Democratic Party in strong control of the House and Senate, there becomes a much greater chance that universal health care becomes the law of the land. That possibility has dimmed, however, as the economic crisis deepens.
The irony is that the economic crisis has a direct, adverse effect on access to health care. It's one of many cruel spirals Americans are experiencing in this recession that's threatening to become a depression.
The Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health policy, this week estimated that for every 1 percent jump in the unemployment rate, an additional 1.1 million Americans become uninsured. Last month, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent, up from 4.7 percent a year ago.
The connection between health coverage and employment is obvious, since most people have insurance through their jobs. Because employers nationally pay on average 84 percent of the cost of health insurance, people without jobs usually find coverage too expensive to afford on their own.
So as unemployment continues to surge - and given Thursday's Senate rejection of a bailout of U.S. automakers, there may well be a big wave of job cuts coming soon in a number of industries - the number of the uninsured in America is sure to swell.
And don't think that won't worsen the situation in Wisconsin, either. As a story planned for Saturday's Times will tell, unemployment is rising in Green County. Anna Schramke, executive director of the Green County Development Corporation, said the county's jobless picture looked better this year than last year until September. The pain felt nationwide will be felt here, too.
As the economy worsens, the case may be able to be made stronger for a universal plan that guarantees health care coverage for everyone, whether they are working or not.
Nationally, access to health care is a greater concern, as nearly 50 million people are uninsured. When Barack Obama becomes president, with his Democratic Party in strong control of the House and Senate, there becomes a much greater chance that universal health care becomes the law of the land. That possibility has dimmed, however, as the economic crisis deepens.
The irony is that the economic crisis has a direct, adverse effect on access to health care. It's one of many cruel spirals Americans are experiencing in this recession that's threatening to become a depression.
The Kaiser Family Foundation, which studies health policy, this week estimated that for every 1 percent jump in the unemployment rate, an additional 1.1 million Americans become uninsured. Last month, the U.S. unemployment rate rose to 6.7 percent, up from 4.7 percent a year ago.
The connection between health coverage and employment is obvious, since most people have insurance through their jobs. Because employers nationally pay on average 84 percent of the cost of health insurance, people without jobs usually find coverage too expensive to afford on their own.
So as unemployment continues to surge - and given Thursday's Senate rejection of a bailout of U.S. automakers, there may well be a big wave of job cuts coming soon in a number of industries - the number of the uninsured in America is sure to swell.
And don't think that won't worsen the situation in Wisconsin, either. As a story planned for Saturday's Times will tell, unemployment is rising in Green County. Anna Schramke, executive director of the Green County Development Corporation, said the county's jobless picture looked better this year than last year until September. The pain felt nationwide will be felt here, too.
As the economy worsens, the case may be able to be made stronger for a universal plan that guarantees health care coverage for everyone, whether they are working or not.
