Universal Care?

[Guest guest]

Being uninsured and having diabetes is a lethal combination according to a

new study.

A new study shows uninsured American adults with chronic illnesses like

diabetes or high cholesterol often go undiagnosed and undertreated, leading

to an

increased risk of costly, disabling and even lethal complications of their

disease.

The study, published online in Health Affairs, analyzed data from a recent

national survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC). The researchers, based at Harvard Medical School and the affiliated

Cambridge Health Alliance, analyzed data on 15,976 U.S. non-elderly adults

from

the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a CDC

program, between 1999 and 2006.

Respondents answered detailed questions about their health and economic

circumstances. Then doctors examined them and ordered laboratory tests.

The study found that about half of all uninsured people with diabetes (46

percent) or high cholesterol (52 percent) did not know they had these

diseases.

In contrast, about one-quarter of those with insurance were unaware of their

illnesses (23 percent for diabetes, 29.9 percent for high cholesterol).

Undertreatment of disease followed similar patterns, with the uninsured

being more likely to be undertreated than their insured counterparts: 58.3

percent

vs. 51.4 percent had their high blood pressure poorly controlled, and 77.5

percent vs. 60.4 percent had their high cholesterol inadequately treated.

Surprisingly, being insured was not associated with a widely used measure of

diabetes control (a hemoglobin A1c level below 7), a finding the authors

attribute

to the stringent definition of good diabetes control used in the NHANES

survey. Even with excellent medical care, many diabetics fail to achieve

A1c's

below 7%. Using less stringent hemoglobin A1c thresholds of 8 and 9,

uninsured adults had significantly worse blood sugar control than their

insured counterparts,

the researchers found.

Lead author Dr. Wilper, who worked at Harvard when the study was done

and who now teaches at the University of Washington Medical School, said,

" Our study should lay to rest the myth that the uninsured can get the care

they need. Millions have serious chronic conditions and don't even know it.

And they're not getting care that would prevent strokes, heart attacks,

amputations and kidney failure. "

Referring to a study released in the American Journal of Public Health last

month, which has been widely quoted by Sen. Max Baucus and others, he added,

" Our previous work demonstrated 45,000 deaths annually are linked to lack of

health insurance. Our new findings suggest a mechanism for this increased

risk of death among the uninsured. They're not getting life-saving care. "

Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, professor of medicine at Harvard and study

co-author, said, " The uninsured suffer the most, but even Americans with

insurance

have shocking rates of undertreatment, in part because high co-payments and

deductibles often make care and medications unaffordable. We need to upgrade

coverage for the insured, as well as covering the uninsured. Only

single-payer national health insurance would make care affordable for the

tens of millions

of Americans with chronic illnesses. "

Dr. Himmelstein, associate professor of medicine at Harvard and study

co-author, said, " The Senate Finance Committee's bill would leave 25 million

Americans uninsured and unable to get the ongoing, routine care that could

save their lives and prevent disability. No other wealthy nation tolerates

this,

yet Congress is turning its back on tens of millions of Americans. "

" Hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol among insured and uninsured

U.S. adults, " P. Wilper, M.D ., M.P.H.; Steffie Woolhandler, M.D .,

M.P.H.; Lasser, M.D ., M.P.H.; Danny McCormick, M.D ., M.P.H.;

H. Bor, M.D.; U. Himmelstein, M.D. Health Affairs, Oct. 20, 2009

(online).

[Guest guest]

Yes, individuals are stupid and incompetent. Only the government knows how to

take care of others, especially sheeple. This is a great ad for Democrats and

Obama. Only a medical care like Canada and England will suffice.

[Guest guest]

Yes, individuals are stupid and incompetent. Only the government knows how to

take care of others, especially sheeple. This is a great ad for Democrats and

Obama. Only a medical care like Canada and England will suffice.

[Guest guest]

I understand the negativity with regard to Universal Health Care, but let me

ask you this, what other solution do you have for the uninsured or

underinsured? Just saying " they need to get insurance " doesn't cut it, they

can't afford it. Nobody ever talks about lowering medical costs so that

anyone can afford what's already out there, we all talk about programs to

help people pay those high costs to big pharma and big medicine, no one ever

talks about making those greedy money-mongers loosen their grip on

everyone's wallets instead. Solutions anyone?

Bill

[Guest guest]

Amen, Bill. I have seen too many people without insurance and no hope of

getting any and they end up in the hospital with us paying the bill anyway.

RE: Universal Care?

I understand the negativity with regard to Universal Health Care, but let me

ask you this, what other solution do you have for the uninsured or

underinsured? Just saying " they need to get insurance " doesn't cut it, they

can't afford it. Nobody ever talks about lowering medical costs so that

anyone can afford what's already out there, we all talk about programs to

help people pay those high costs to big pharma and big medicine, no one ever

talks about making those greedy money-mongers loosen their grip on

everyone's wallets instead. Solutions anyone?

Bill

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

Speaking of the uninsured this is the battle Crystal has been fighting ever

since she was terminated by Wal-Mart for medical reasons.

I dearly hope something happens because, you are absolutely correct, being

uninsured and a Diabetic is the absolute pits.

Cy, The Anasazi

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Bill Powers

Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 9:26 AM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: RE: Universal Care?

I understand the negativity with regard to Universal Health Care, but let me

ask you this, what other solution do you have for the uninsured or

underinsured? Just saying " they need to get insurance " doesn't cut it, they

can't afford it. Nobody ever talks about lowering medical costs so that

anyone can afford what's already out there, we all talk about programs to

help people pay those high costs to big pharma and big medicine, no one ever

talks about making those greedy money-mongers loosen their grip on

everyone's wallets instead. Solutions anyone?

Bill

[Guest guest]

Not a specific solution, Bill, and others, but I think I can safely say

government won't help, and will only make it cost more and work even worse.

Dave

America doesn't need to be revolutionized; it needs to be evangelized!

RE: Universal Care?

I understand the negativity with regard to Universal Health Care, but let me

ask you this, what other solution do you have for the uninsured or

underinsured? Just saying " they need to get insurance " doesn't cut it, they

can't afford it. Nobody ever talks about lowering medical costs so that

anyone can afford what's already out there, we all talk about programs to

help people pay those high costs to big pharma and big medicine, no one ever

talks about making those greedy money-mongers loosen their grip on

everyone's wallets instead. Solutions anyone?

Bill

[Guest guest]

Dave,

You are probably very right about government not making UHC work right and

driving up the costs. The problem I'm having is that everyone gripes about

the notion of universal health care saying it's a bad thing, and we all know

that. It's just no one is stepping up to the plate with a better solution,

especially to help those who simply don't have any insurance now. It's easy

for some of these researchers sitting in their ivory towers to say " they

need to get insurance. " Fine and dandy, if you can afford it. But the real

culprits are big pharma and big medicine (the AMA for one), who don't want

to touch doctor and hospital income, but would rather shoulder it on the

public. They'd rather let medical costs skyrocket and say we just have to

catch up to it " somehow. " Then we have big pharma, places like Astra Zenica,

with those commercials that say " if you can't afford your medications, we

may be able to help. " Fine and good. Wanna really help? Lower the price of

the meds. They do it for every other country in the world, but NOT the

United States. I personally believe if we could get behind restricting the

prices big pharma and big medicine charge here in this country, that would

be a first step. Then insurance companies could be forced to follow suit

since their expenses would be less, lowering the cost of insurance to enable

a lot more people to afford it. Then and only then we won't need universal

health care. If we don't fix the real problem, the solution becomes very,

very expensive, and will soon be out of everyone's reach.

Bill

[Guest guest]

Thank you Bill! I've said that for years. Those who have insurance don't

care about those who can't afford it. It's greed!

Joyce

RE: Universal Care?

I understand the negativity with regard to Universal Health Care, but let me

ask you this, what other solution do you have for the uninsured or

underinsured? Just saying " they need to get insurance " doesn't cut it, they

can't afford it. Nobody ever talks about lowering medical costs so that

anyone can afford what's already out there, we all talk about programs to

help people pay those high costs to big pharma and big medicine, no one ever

talks about making those greedy money-mongers loosen their grip on

everyone's wallets instead. Solutions anyone?

Bill