One-fifth of Miss. citizens uninsured
Cost of health care causes many to remain uncovered
Aubra Whitten
Issue date: 9/11/07 Section: News
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Last week's U.S. Census Bureau report revealed that one-fifth of Mississippi's population was without health insurance in 2006.
From 2005 to 2006, the number of uninsured Mississippi residents rose 24 percent, totaling 600,000 people. The total for 2005 was 483,000.
The number of uninsured children increased from 85,000 to 146,000, a 72 percent increase.
Roy Mitchell, director of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, said the costs of health care and prescription drugs are spiraling upward.
"Unfortunately some working families can't afford to put food on the table and afford health care, and immediate priorities take precedence," Mitchell said.
The number of small businesses in Mississippi, as well its agrarian economy, affect the number of uninsured people in the state, he said. Small business owners cannot always afford to provide full health care insurance to employees, and even when they can, employees cannot always afford the high premiums.
All states are experiencing escalating health care prices and some are expanding Medicaid and other federal and state programs aimed at providing medical services, but Mississippi is not, Mitchell said.
"We are doing nothing to expand coverage in this state," he said. "While other states are moving forward, we are moving backward."
American government professor William Hatcher said cost restraints on Medicaid have forced many states to reduce their coverage.
"These public programs cannot continue in their current forms," Hatcher said. "If they are not reformed, individuals will lose their coverage."
The cost of Medicaid has skyrocketed across the nation, placing financial stress on state governments, he said.
"When the fiscal burden is too much for state budgets, the requirements for Medicaid coverage are often tightened. This leads to individuals who were once covered being removed from the Medicaid rolls," Hatcher said.
Medicaid provides some health care services for low-income families, but many cannot afford insurance. High-income families can afford insurance, but this leaves some of the lower middle class residents out.
From 2005 to 2006, the number of uninsured Mississippi residents rose 24 percent, totaling 600,000 people. The total for 2005 was 483,000.
The number of uninsured children increased from 85,000 to 146,000, a 72 percent increase.
Roy Mitchell, director of the Mississippi Health Advocacy Program, said the costs of health care and prescription drugs are spiraling upward.
"Unfortunately some working families can't afford to put food on the table and afford health care, and immediate priorities take precedence," Mitchell said.
The number of small businesses in Mississippi, as well its agrarian economy, affect the number of uninsured people in the state, he said. Small business owners cannot always afford to provide full health care insurance to employees, and even when they can, employees cannot always afford the high premiums.
All states are experiencing escalating health care prices and some are expanding Medicaid and other federal and state programs aimed at providing medical services, but Mississippi is not, Mitchell said.
"We are doing nothing to expand coverage in this state," he said. "While other states are moving forward, we are moving backward."
American government professor William Hatcher said cost restraints on Medicaid have forced many states to reduce their coverage.
"These public programs cannot continue in their current forms," Hatcher said. "If they are not reformed, individuals will lose their coverage."
The cost of Medicaid has skyrocketed across the nation, placing financial stress on state governments, he said.
"When the fiscal burden is too much for state budgets, the requirements for Medicaid coverage are often tightened. This leads to individuals who were once covered being removed from the Medicaid rolls," Hatcher said.
Medicaid provides some health care services for low-income families, but many cannot afford insurance. High-income families can afford insurance, but this leaves some of the lower middle class residents out.
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