During the debate over health care reform, you may have heard of the estimate done in 2004 by the highly respected arm of the National Academy of Science, the Institute of Medicine, which established a frequently cited figure of 18,000 deaths each year caused by a lack of health insurance in the U.S. Among other places, I have heard Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) refer to this total often on television interviews.
Today, a new study has been posted by the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) that has re-examined the evidence and finds a new and shockingly higher figure: 45,000. The research is well-done and substantial. I am linking to the entire Health Care Now article because the whole piece deserves study. This is critical evidence that reveals just how damaging the health care status quo will be to the U.S. if reform is not passed.
Unfortunately, I don't have access to the entire original AJPH article itself which requires a membership fee. If anyone has this access and feels generous enough to post a link to the original article, I am sure we would all appreciate it.
U.S. Uninsured Study