Uninsured more at risk of death: Study

The heath status of one of the richest nations in the world presents a grim picture with one American dying every 12 minutes from lack of health insurance.

The study establishes a direct link between a spurt in premature deaths stemming from delay in necessary health care and uninsured and underinsured people.

Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, professor of medicine at Harvard and a primary care physician in Cambridge, co-author of the study stated, “Historically, every other developed nation has achieved universal health care through some form of nonprofit national health insurance. Our failure to do so means, that all Americans pay higher health care costs, and 45,000 pay with their lives.”

Analysis of data from national health survey
The authors analyzed data from national surveys and health examinations of more than 9,000 people carried by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1986 and 2000.

They assessed the death rates after taking into account factors like age, gender, race, income, education, employment, smoking, alcohol use and health issues.

The statistics revealed that uninsured Americans had a 40 percent higher risk of death as opposed to those covered by private insurance, a substantial increase from the 25 percent death rate found in 1993.

The lead author of the study, Andrew Wilper, M.D. professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine stated, “The uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health.”

Reasons of rise in death rate of the uninsured
The researchers state that the risk of death multiplies in uninsured people because they do not visit a doctor when sick and sometimes delay routine heath care, which can be fatal.

“We doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease — but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications,” said Wilper.

Another factor is that people with insurance have access to improved quality of health care, unlike those without insurance coverage.

Lack of insurance elevates health risks for patients with chronic disease like cancer because they have to turn down recommended chemotherapy or radiation treatment due to their inability to pay for it.

Woolhandler stated, “Uninsured people who have a chronic condition are less likely to know they have it, and even when they know they have it, they are less likely to be able to control it because control of chronic conditions involves regular visits to a primary care doctor.”

Universal health coverage advocated
The researchers state that the study reinforces the need for the policy makers in Washington to “advocate for universal coverage”.

Dr. John Z. Ayanian, a professor of medicine and health policy at Harvard Medical School, stated, “This study underscores the serious health consequences that people face when they are uninsured, as well as the potential benefit of extending coverage to all Americans so that they have access to good primary and specialty care when they need it.’’

The study is published in the American Journal of Public Health.