Where do most of the uninsured live?

[HM2VikingRN]

So, here's the big takeaway: The overwhelming majority of uninsured U.S. residents are adult American citizens without children living in the south with moderately good health status. Oh, and one more thing: They're predominantly white. I didn't make a slide for that, but just trust me. The reason behind that is simple: There are many more white people in the U.S. than there are other persons of any other single race. So, the po' white south makes up most of the uninsured. Chew on that for a while. Then ask yourself where the strongest opposition to health reform comes from (hint: it's red states) and contemplate how much sense that makes.

Link embedded.

[Onekidneynurse]

Why wouldn't it? Po' whites and po' blacks, po' Asians, po people. I don't think anyone really gives a *expletive deleted*

You're kidding..... right? LOL

[tewdles, RN]

I am currently a po white person, I didn't mind too much. I might have been offended if they had referred to "white trash".

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

The deeper issue that the original source was addressing was "why are some people voting against their own interests?"

[Jolie, BSN]

It is incredibly presumptious of one to assume he knows the "best interests" of another.

Many would look at my family's present situation and assume that it is in our best interests for a government option to be enacted. My husband, the principal breadwinner and provider of benefits for the last 12 years, was laid off 5 months ago. I work for a non-profit that does not provide employee health insurance. (I know that's a shocker! It is not just greedy corporate America that declines to provide insurance to employees!) We are currently carrying COBRA coverage, which, for several reasons, we do not wish to continue for any longer than absolutely necessary. So many would assume that we favor or would benefit from a public option. They would be wrong.

While it may provide a short-term option for us, I realize that a government plan would be highly unacceptable to us in the long run. I am willing to endure a short period of hardship to avoid an expensive and unacceptable "non-solution" that would represent a loss of freedom for myself and my family.

So don't assume that anyone knows what is best for another, "po" and Southern or not. It is entirely possible that they, like me, are willing to endure short term problems to avoid life-long ones.

[SilentMind]

It is incredibly presumptious of one to assume he knows the "best interests" of another.

..... It is entirely possible that they, like me, are willing to endure short term problems to avoid life-long ones.

If you weren't married, I would marry you. True story.

[tewdles, RN]

In medicine we often "presume to know the best interests" of others...and we make recommendations for care based upon that. I also have had no insurance, have had the option of cobra, etc. It is not ok really...certainly not a place to be if you have a condition which requires routine meds or physician interaction. I understand the choices that we are faced with in those situations. I also understand that these situations are not in the best interests of American citizens in general. That the best interests of the general public would be better served by creating a system that has options for the citizens which are portable, affordable, and comprehensive. It is unfortunate that a worker losing a job also loses the ability to maintain his/her health insurance because the premiums are so high that the premiums are unaffordable. It is unfortunate that a worker who then has no insurance also has NO OPTIONS for other insurance...we must "endure" and pray that nothing happens. I believe that this country has the greatest health resources in the world. I believe that we can do better in making delivery of basic care more universal and less personal in availability. We are AMERICA, we can do better.

[Onekidneynurse]

In medicine we often "presume to know the best interests" of others...and we make recommendations for care based upon that. I also have had no insurance, have had the option of cobra, etc. It is not ok really...certainly not a place to be if you have a condition which requires routine meds or physician interaction. I understand the choices that we are faced with in those situations. I also understand that these situations are not in the best interests of American citizens in general. That the best interests of the general public would be better served by creating a system that has options for the citizens which are portable, affordable, and comprehensive. It is unfortunate that a worker losing a job also loses the ability to maintain his/her health insurance because the premiums are so high that the premiums are unaffordable. It is unfortunate that a worker who then has no insurance also has NO OPTIONS for other insurance...we must "endure" and pray that nothing happens. I believe that this country has the greatest health resources in the world. I believe that we can do better in making delivery of basic care more universal and less personal in availability. We are AMERICA, we can do better.

I doubt basic care costs that much. And unfortunately that's all we will probably get for little amounts of $$$ Basic care. A physical, a couple of visits, some meds cheaper..

When a person loses their job they could lose their access to food and a home. Should everyone chip into that also?

[Onekidneynurse]

In medicine we often "presume to know the best interests" of others...and we make recommendations for care based upon that. I also have had no insurance, have had the option of cobra, etc. It is not ok really...certainly not a place to be if you have a condition which requires routine meds or physician interaction. I understand the choices that we are faced with in those situations. I also understand that these situations are not in the best interests of American citizens in general. That the best interests of the general public would be better served by creating a system that has options for the citizens which are portable, affordable, and comprehensive. It is unfortunate that a worker losing a job also loses the ability to maintain his/her health insurance because the premiums are so high that the premiums are unaffordable. It is unfortunate that a worker who then has no insurance also has NO OPTIONS for other insurance...we must "endure" and pray that nothing happens. I believe that this country has the greatest health resources in the world. I believe that we can do better in making delivery of basic care more universal and less personal in availability. We are AMERICA, we can do better.

"We are AMERICA, we can do better" Sorta like AMERICA is great now let's change it?

[GCTMT]

I think America is a great country, but there are definitely some things that need improvement and issues that needed to be adressed. I believe, that might have been what Tewdles meant, of course, he/she can speak for his/herself.

[Onekidneynurse]

I think America is a great country, but there are definitely some things that need improvement and issues that needed to be adressed. I believe, that might have been what Tewdles meant, of course, he/she can speak for his/herself.

He/she can't have health care on his/her terms though. Right?

[tewdles, RN]

"We are AMERICA, we can do better" Sorta like AMERICA is great now let's change it?

Very little is the same in America as it was when America was born. If we cannot change according to the needs of the population then we, as a country, will become weak and obsolete. We change our military according to the threats before us. We change our banking according to a variety of industry issues (I am not well educated on this, but my sis is a stock broker and I hear about it on holidays...lol), we change our manufacturing based on market and technology, etc. Many of us feel that we are in dire need of changing the way we pay for and deliver health care in this country. I, for one, am optimistic that the greatest nation on the face of the planet can successfully reform it's healthcare delivery system in a meaningful and successful fashion.

[Onekidneynurse]

Very little is the same in America as it was when America was born. If we cannot change according to the needs of the population then we, as a country, will become weak and obsolete. We change our military according to the threats before us. We change our banking according to a variety of industry issues (I am not well educated on this, but my sis is a stock broker and I hear about it on holidays...lol), we change our manufacturing based on market and technology, etc. Many of us feel that we are in dire need of changing the way we pay for and deliver health care in this country. I, for one, am optimistic that the greatest nation on the face of the planet can successfully reform it's healthcare delivery system in a meaningful and successful fashion.

It's been trying to for over 40 years. Right now we are basically broke. If we keep throwing money at problems soon we will have nothing.