CDC National Center for Health Statistics HHS News
February 4, 2002
“In 2001, 4.8 percent of the population–up slightly over the past four years– was unable to obtain needed medical care in the past year due to financial barriers.”
Comment: Fortunately, most people are relatively healthy and have only nominal health care needs. For those that do need health care, nearly one out of twenty, over 13 million people, were unable to obtain care simply due to the lack of a comprehensive system that equitably funds health care. A significant proportion of those that did not need care still lacked the security that would be provided by such a system, even though they may not have realized it.
How can the wealthiest nation on earth shut the door on 13 million people that already need health care? How can the wealthiest nation on earth fail to assure health security for an even greater number of individuals that eventually also will need health care? Have we no sense of solidarity?