Americans turned to public health insurance in 2010

[Liberal_in_LA]

Americans turned to public health insurance in 2010


(Reuters) - More Americans became reliant on public health insurance and lost coverage sponsored by their employers in 2010, the U.S. government said on Tuesday.

The U.S. Census Bureau's annual report on income, poverty and health insurance coverage showed that more people turned to state and federal programs as employer-based plans became more expensive and as unemployment levels stayed stubbornly high.

About 1.5 million fewer Americans got their health insurance plans covered by their employers in 2010, while 1.8 million more joined government insurance plans.

"What (the Census report) means is that more and more people are dependent on safety-net coverage, specifically the Medicare program, as their lifeline," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a patient advocacy group.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/13/us-usa-economy-uninsured-idUSTRE78C6Y420110913