Many Americans Lack Adequate Health Insurance

WashingtonThe number of Americans who lack sufficient health care coverage rose 5.7 percent to 43.6 million in 2002 according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the report, 15.2 percent of Americans were uninsured, an increase for the second year in a row. This is the largest decrease in health care coverage since 1992.

Social workers urge lawmakers to increase health care coverage to uninsured and underinsured people until universal health and mental health coverage is achieved, says Elizabeth J. Clark, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Due to the lagging economy and people losing jobs, its no surprise that there is an increase in the poverty rate and an increase in both uninsured and underinsured Americans, she adds.

Its not just low-wage earners who are uninsured, but those workers who can no longer afford employee benefits as those costs continue to rise, Clark states. Even though states continue to provide coverage through Medicaid or CHIP, without more federal funding, its difficult to see how that can continue long-term with state budget deficits increasing, she adds.

NASW supports a national health care policy that ensures the right to universal access to a continuum of health and mental health care to promote wellness, maintain optimal health, prevent illness and disability, treat health conditions, ameliorate the effects of unavoidable incapacities, and provide long-term and end-of-life care.

For more information on NASWs legislative agenda and social works role in promoting sound social policies, please go to https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/default.asp

To read more about social work and health care, go to http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/features/issue/health.asp

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 145,000 members. It promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families and communities through its advocacy.