How Many Uninsured People Are There?

New census figures released in late August show that fewer Americans are without health insurance.  The number of uninsured dropped from 47 million (15.8 % of Americans) in 2006 to 45.7 million (15.3%) in 2007, partly due to expanded Medicaid roles and better coverage for children.  But the problem of uninsured Americans remains very real in Wake County and beyond.

At WakeMed, we had 211,004 visits from patients without insurance last year.  That represents nearly 600 visits a day — provided by WakeMed at a total cost of at least $59 million in 2008.  Unfortunately, those with insurance ultimately wind up paying for much of these costs.

The number of uninsured patients is extraordinary – the total population of Wake County is only 866,000 – and demonstrates that the need for health insurance reform remains very real despite the slight decline in the overall number of uninsured people.  And remember that much of the country is in worse shape than Wake County because our community has not been hit as hard by the recession.

WakeMed is one of the largest safety-net hospitals in North Carolina, providing more than 80 percent of all charity care in Wake County.  That is why we are so committed to health care reforms that will help those without insurance.  Because every single day, WakeMed cares for those people who are falling through the cracks of the current system.

Our commitment to serve the people in our community – regardless of whether they have the resources to pay for medical care – has been a fundamental part of WakeMed’s mission for nearly 50 years.  And as we look toward the next 50 years, we remain hopeful that we can soon find better ways to help those people in our community who cannot afford health insurance.