In 2008, an estimated 9.1% of the U.S. population (27.4 million) delayed seeking medical care during the preceding year because of worry about the cost, and 6.4% (19.5 million) did not receive needed medical care because they could not afford it. According to the CDC, persons whose health was assessed as fair or poor were more than three times as likely as persons whose health was excellent or very good to delay seeking or not receive needed medical care because of cost.
The last year has been full of political posturing and debates around healthcare reform-- all of which boil down to "do we want to live in a society that takes care of another or do we not". We have endured comments like those by South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer comparing the poor to stray animals.
So I say, let's not play this game anymore. Let's commit to a society that is about counting the cost of not caring for our needy and for each other.
