The Center for American Progress released their report "Why Arkansas Needs Health Reform: By the Numbers," which details how our broken health care system affects the people of Arkansas. Here are just a few of the startling statistics:
- 80 residents of Arkansas are losing health insurance every day, and 14,000 Americans nationwide lose insurance daily.
- The average family premium in Arkansas costs $1,500 more because our system fails to cover everyone-- and $1,100 more nationally.
- Our broken health insurance system will cost the Arkansas economy as much as $2.4 billion this year in productivity losses due to the uninsured-- and up to $248 billion nationally.
- In Arkansas there has been a 6 percent increase in the uninsured rate since 2007.
- 500,000 are uninsured today in Arkansas.
Read the entire CAP report here:
Behind every sobering statistic and astronomical number is a story of our failed health care system. Kanisha from Little Rock, shared her story-- she is a recent college graduate who is unable to find a full-time job and has no health insurance. Kanisha's studies were in the health field and she is committed to health care reform with her activism and volunteer work at a local health clinic.
As the Congress embarks upon their August recess, we must continue to remind them that these staggering numbers and projections represent people. Join Change that Works Arkansas as we continue to press Congress for a health care reform bill that will provide quality, affordable health care with a public option for Arkansans like Kanisha.
