UFCW | The Health Care Crisis

America’s Health Care System Is Broken

Over the course of his administration, President Bush has watched the number of uninsured Americans, including children, increase to 47 million.

Under the president’s watch…

The cost of health care has risen three times faster than inflation and wages.
Health care costs have been a factor in half of personal bankruptcies, and an estimated 5 million families have filed for bankruptcy in the aftermath of serious medical problems since 2000.
One in four Americans and their families have had problems paying for medical care in the past year, and health care costs have contributed to an estimated 25 percent of housing problems.
More than one-third of people who have health insurance are worried about losing their coverage. (Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Education Trust 2006 Employer Health Benefits Survey; U.S. Census Bureau; ABC News/Kaiser Family Foundation/USA Today, Health Care in America 2006 Survey)

More Money for Less Care

The United States spends more on health care than any other country, and U.S. health care spending totaled $2 trillion in 2005—representing 16 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).

Health care spending accounted for 11.6 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.8 percent in Canada and 11.1 percent in France. (Kaiser Family Foundation; Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)

In spite of spending more on health care than other countries, America has…

a lower life expectancy;
a higher infant mortality rate; and
a greater number of uninsured and under-insured citizens.

In fact, U.S. life expectancy, at less than 78 years, ranks behind Japan, Jordan, Guam, the Cayman Islands and most of Europe. In addition, people of color in America fare worse, and African American men have a live expectancy of 69.8 years—slightly longer than in Iran and Syria, and slightly shorter than in Nicaragua and Morocco. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Database)

Employers Are Shifting Health Care Costs

Health insurance premiums have risen three times faster than inflation and wages and American workers are struggling to balance the cost of food, fuel, housing and education on stagnant wages.

To add to that burden, more and more employers are shifting the growing cost of health care coverage to their workers—forcing them to pay high out-of-pocket premiums, deductibles and co-payments.

As a result, many workers and their families are being forced to join the growing population of the uninsured in America. (Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Education Trust 2006 Employer Health Benefits Survey; National Coalition on Health Care)

Where Is the Money Going?

While millions of Americans are trying to cope with rising health care costs, insurance and drug companies are making stunning profits and have spent millions of dollars to influence policy and legislation.

In 2006, the insurance industry generated more than $15 billion in profits and pharmaceutical manufacturers saw a profit increase of 19.6 percent.
The average compensation for health and disability CEOs was $8.7 million in 2006, and $4.4 million for pharmaceutical CEOs. (Kaiser Family Foundation; AFL-CIO totals based on data from The Corporate Library at www.paywatch.org)

It’s Time for a Change

The 2008 election provides us with an opportunity to hold presidential candidates accountable for reforming our country’s health care system.

America’s health care system should…

Offer a comprehensive, affordable, high quality health plan for all Americans.
Give every family the opportunity and responsibility for preventative care.
Control costs and make sure everyone pays their fair share, including families, individuals, employers and the government.
Restore the balance to the system by curbing greed and incompetence and ensuring fairness and efficiency.

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