Susan Jackson works 30 hours a week as manager of Meadow Garden, the historic home of George Walton.
"I feel like it's full time," she joked.
Like many jobs, hers did not come with health insurance, and she could not afford to buy it on her own, leaving her feeling a little anxious and vulnerable.
"You think, 'God, please let me stay well,' " said Ms. Jackson, 63.
She has a lot of company in Georgia, South Carolina and across the country. Consumer group Families USA released a report Tuesday that showed one in three people younger than 65 -- nearly 3 million people in Georgia and 1.3 million in South Carolina -- were without health insurance at some point in 2007 and 2008. And that was before the worst of the recession hit, said Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack.
"Undoubtedly, it got worse," he said. "The huge number of people without health coverage in the United States is worse than an epidemic."
Most are like Ms. Jackson -- nearly 78 percent in Georgia and nearly 80 percent in South Carolina were working full or part time, according to the report.
The numbers are even worse for minorities -- the rate of the uninsured among blacks is nearly dou- ble what it is for whites in Georgia, and Georgia and South Carolina lead the nation in the rates of un- insured Hispanics -- more than two out of three lack coverage.
It is possible that the data from the Census Bureau and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is picking up some migrant workers, said Kim Bailey, senior health policy analyst for Families USA and the author of the report.
But it is also likely that Hispanics are working in jobs in the agricultural or service sectors where health benefits aren't offered and low wages don't allow workers to buy their own, she said.
The numbers point to an urgent need for health care reform this year, which Mr. Pollack said he believes will happen.
"It is our hope and expectation that the Congress, working together with the president, will achieve meaningful health care reform," he said. "And that reform can lead to access to high-quality, affordable health care for everyone."
The group favors subsidies for those who can't afford to purchase insurance on their own and a "floor" for Medicaid eligibility that will ensure minimum coverage in each state.
Because a lot of this depends on how those limits are set, Mr. Pollack said he couldn't offer a price tag, but key committees in Congress are at work now gathering this sort of detail.
Ms. Jackson, who has been without coverage since 1993 after a divorce and a job change, considers it "a blessing" that she found a medical home at the Belle Terrace Health and Wellness Center, which charges her a sliding-scale fee.
About half of the center's 4,000 or so patients are uninsured and, judging by the popularity of after-hours appointments, they are working families as well, said Executive Director Melinda Rider.
Ms. Jackson needs ongoing care for her asthma and cholesterol, and she said it is both affordable and top-notch.
"When you're left without health insurance, you feel helpless," she said. "You feel like, 'What am I going to do?' It's just good you've got a place like this. But it's also a good medical staff and a good doctor."
Reach Tom Corwin at (706) 823-3213 or tom.corwin@augustachronicle.com.
BY THE NUMBERS
The number of people under age 65 without health insurance at some point in 2007 and 2008.
| Number uninsured | Percent uninsured | |
| Georgia | 2,929,000 | 34 |
| South Carolina | 1,301,000 | 34.2 |
| U.S. | 86.7 million | 33.1 |
Source: Families USA
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Let's see - 1 in 3 without insurance sometime during 2007-2008.. Okay, that would include a college graduate who graduated on May 1st and did not start a new job until May 3rd; that would include any 'young' person who chooses to put his/her money towards that BMW banking on the fact that they are young and healthy (ie - uninsured by choice). How about a study showing how many people who are uninsured NOT BY CHOICE. I know 3 people who say they cannot afford health insurance - 1 drives a BMW, 1 a Lexus, 1 a Lincoln - all less than 2 years old; all have cell phones - acually 2 have blackberries - all eat out MORE than they eat at home; all have gigantic plasma TVs - 2 have complete home theater systems; lawn services to cut their grass (er - that would be maintain their landscapes) - and the list goes on and on - but they cannot afford health insurance? One affords what they choose to afford in many cases... The people doing this study have an agenda that they choose not to tell!
if you do not have health insurance that is a you problem not a me problem, you and you alone are responsible for you, not the rest of us that have made good decisions to protect our families. as far as the hispanics "workin the fields" they made the decision to take the job. if you as a grown person take a job, that does not offer health ins. and does not pay enough to allow you to afford health ins. you need to take a look at your priorities. i bet the lady in this article is driving a car with a 500 a month payment, and she has cable cell phone gets her hair done once a week. grow up people and take care of yourself, its not my job to take care of you!!!!!!
Whats new, Blacks statistics are always high in every category reported by the news media.Don't believe the hype.Every time I read a story about health problems statistics like high blood pressure,diabetes,stroke they say blacks are a greater risk.But, why every time I go to work at the hosptials they are pack with whites who are been seen for treatment?
The problem with these stats, if accurate, the hospitals, doctors, labs,etc. will go after the ones with insurance with legal action if
the insured doesn't pay the deductables. If you have insurance,
the medical field apparently feels like you are able to pay 100%
and that may not be true because your insurance is so high, your
budget just can't take another bill. Most uninsured, either get
indigent care or they just don't pay. The insured have to pay for
the high fees to cover for indigent care, malpractice insurance,
and a lot of non medical fees because of people not being responsible for paying their bills.
Ever since the government started "helping" in the health care field, the cost of health care and health insurance has skyrocketed. The "competition" was determined by government parameters. (no competition) Controlled prices and services mean that about are unable to afford or unwilling to spend the money for the high priced health care. Thanks for the help Mr Government Man.
How many of these uninsured are part of the 48-50+% high school dropouts? Of course they won't get a job good enough to pay medical. Wasn't it a couple months ago they said only 23% of black men graduate high school? I bet most of the 77% that dropped out won't get a decent job either, by choice, because we know high school was too much of a pain in their butt to finish.
Why get a job when they can make their beer money dealing crack for the man as they stand on the corner waving to all their working buds, or live off their woman drawing EBT and AFDC and use her card to buy what they want!!!!
We all know too, when the government steps in to provide "affordable" health, it will be a form of Medicaid. Those of us already paying for our health insurance will have to pay more because O does not think we do enough already.
Because 3headszerobrain, you only SEE white.
We can fix this problem but not the government. The Bible says the poor will be with you always so we can assume the un-insured will be with us always. The government is to defend our country not give us all we want or even need. 80% of all health problems can be fixed with exercise, water. sunshine, no-junk food or eating out. The health problems then become few and far between. The love of money is the root of the health problems.
This may sound harsh, but are we supposed to provide health care insurance for part-time workers who don't pay for their own insurance? Mrs. Jackson chooses to work part-time instead of full-time apparently. Why should we feel sorry for those who don't work enough to be able to purchase their own health care insurance? In addition, someone in their 60's should have been saving enough over the years to provide for themselves. If she chose not to work and save earlier in life, that's not my problem either nor should it be the state's concern.
Not my responsibility to provide health care to those who chose to drop out of school, thus unable to afford health insurance and those young folks who choose nice cars, big TVs, etc., over health insurance.
My wife and I are in our late 50's and our BC/BS premiums went to $1,200 each. That's $2,400 per month for two people who had never filed a claim?????? That's $ 28,800 per year!!! Needless to say we had to drop our coverage. We have 2 Chev vehicles that are 9 and 4 yearsold. Help, help, help
I know a married couple, with no kids, who have no health coverage. If they bought coverage they would not be able to pay bills. So they just do not go to the dr. She is high risk for diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure which runs in her family. there are people out there who need coverage but can't afford it.
Sooo, update your resume and get a job w/bennies. If you're under-qualified/educated, I guess those early decisions came back to bite.
There are a lot of college educated people without jobs.Haven't you been watching or reading the news?
Whether your underqualified/educated or not, sometimes it's part-time work that's available and you take what you can just to pay the bills. It's insane to have to pay $2,400 a month for insurance. Most employers will only work you 36-38 hours a weeks so they are not responsible for carrying certain benefits because you don't work 40 hours a week and not classified as full time work. To be honest, I'd rather my taxes go to help Ms. Jackson who is working and trying to do what's right than to pay for some bum who's sitting on his/her butt not doing a thing, collecting benefits.
And if we do get coverage, the insurance company screams....PRE EXISTING :( IT SUCKS and then the price goes up 90% higher.... Who can afford it?
Insurance cost are ridiculous so this info comes as no surprise. Sometimes even when you have a job that offers insurance the deductables are so high that you still can't afford to get sick. I agree we need reform but I still blame alot of the cost on frivolous lawsuits. We pay for money that other people pocket, not to say that medical mistakes are not made because they are but sometimes people file and win lawsuits over nothing and everytime you turn on the tv a lawyer is wanting you to sue someone. and also employers will keep you just under 40 hours in order to not have to provide you with benefits and that isn't right either, if you are being worked 38 hours a week you should qualify.
Rose, there are also many people w/o college ed that have the drive to improve their employment to include health ins. Most of the people I work with only completed hs. I know other people that make a decent wage w/o benefits, but could work for a little less gross somewhere else, have insurance, and still be better off. I'm just saying there are alternatives besides just accepting your situation.
good point gnumbgnuts...life IS what you MAKE it..I'm learning this everyday..
That is why it is imperative for me to finish school so that I may have an education and be able to get health insurance...it's an uphill climb...but I'm gonna do it.
Main thing right now is that my children have it..That is what is most important right now.
We have insurance through my husband's job. He did not go to college, but he makes a plenty for the 2 of us. We are not well off, but we are happy. It does not take much to make us happy.
With a wife, an x, 3 kids, and a bad back, I'd be sunk w/o insurance. Thank you bc/bs!
"But it is also likely that Hispanics are working in jobs in the agricultural or service sectors where health benefits aren't offered and low wages don't allow workers to buy their own, she said." Why on earth would they buy health insurance when they now get indigent care, paying NOTHING?
just charge her insurance to my cigarette budget...
Being a high school drop out or not has little to do with Insurance. I am not a drop and I went to college. I have a full time job. I just can't afford the 250.00 out of my check every month and feed my kids and pay all my other bills. And NO I do not get any assistance.
I work and I don't have health insurance.. I have to make a choice between feeding my child and paying 500.00 something for health insurance... The choice is obvious!!!.. I don't have any handouts or food stamps or none of that.. I am college graduate and I am well educated...if there was something that is truly affordable and well worth the big chunk of paycheck than I would buy it.. But the medical field is a business and as a business they need to make the money so they can go to the Masters when it comes in April and they can drive around in their Bentley and BMW and Mercedes.. meaning by ripping off the patient..
Are you uninsured in America? You should check out the website http://UninsuredAmerica.blogspot.com - John Mayer, California