Uninsured Wisconsinites at higher risk for premature death [Fond du Lac Reporter]
WASHINGTON - More than 200 uninsured Wisconsinites a year die prematurely because they don’t have access to preventive care or consistent treatment, a health advocacy group said Tuesday.
An estimated 1,600 early deaths occurred among uninsured Wisconsin adults between 2000 and 2006, nearly enough people to double the populations of Iola in central Wisconsin or towns of Rockland and Rushford in Northeast Wisconsin, according to the Families USA report.
…Kagen, a freshman lawmaker with about 30 years experience as an allergist, said there are 59,000 to 80,000 uninsured people in his 8th Congressional District.
In his practice, Kagen said he has had patients without insurance struggle to afford treatment.
“We took care of patients regardless of their insurance. We worked with them to help them afford their medication and gave them (pharmaceutical) samples as long as possible,” he said.
Kagen, who supports universal health care, touted his bill to bar insurance companies from using pre-existing medical conditions to deny or limit coverage as one way to provide more access to health care. Kagen said the bill also would increase transparency on insurance premiums and create broad regional pricing markets that could lower insurance costs.
