The uninsured

Background

The statistics on the uninsured are well known: Approximately 45 million people in the United States lack basic health coverage.

Less known are the often-severe consequences of being uninsured.

• The Institute of Medicine concluded that, "adults without coverage do not get the care they need and are more likely to suffer poor health and premature death than are insured adults."1 
• Another study released last year supported this finding and determined that the uninsured receive less care than the insured and experience poorer health.2

Simply put, the lack of insurance compromises people’s health because they receive less preventive care, are diagnosed at more advanced disease stages, and once diagnosed, tend to receive less therapeutic care and have higher mortality rates than insured individuals.

Making a difference

Addressing the issue of the uninsured is complex, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.   AstraZeneca supports the development of public-private partnerships to turn ideas into action.  To help move the search for solutions along, AstraZeneca has turned its focus to its “home front” of Delaware to try and make a difference.

Through strong partnerships and coordinated efforts between private and public organizations, we believe that better health is within reach for uninsured Delawareans through access to health care coverage.

In 2007, AstraZeneca launched Healthy Delawareans-Today & Tomorrow with the goal of addressing the immediate needs of patients without health care coverage.  This coalition is a collaborative effort involving the State of Delaware, AstraZeneca, and the United Way of Delaware, along with:

• Christiana Care Health System
• Delaware Health Care Commission – (Community Healthcare Access Program)
• Claymont Family Health Services
• Delaware Helpline
• Delmarva Rural Ministries
• Generations Home Care
• Henrietta Johnson Health Center
• La Red Health Center
• Nemours Foundation
• St. Francis Foundation/St. Clare Medical Outreach Van
• VIP Program
• Delaware Foundation for Medical Services
• Westside Health
• AARP DE
• Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League  

These diverse partners are working together to help ensure that lack of health care coverage does not act as a barrier to care for Delaware’s uninsured.

In June 2007, with support from AstraZeneca, the Delaware Public Policy Institute (DPPI) convened two Delaware Summits on the Uninsured.  The Summits brought together the state’s health care leaders from both the public and private sectors to identify potential health care coverage options for the uninsured in Delaware.  Building on the foundation of knowledge established by the Delaware Healthcare Commission, the Summit participants took the next step of testing concepts and ideas that could take root in Delaware, and a report of their recommendations and a “call to action” is forthcoming.

References:

1. Institute of Medicine (IOM). 2001. Coverage Matters. Insurance and Health Care. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; Institute of Medicine (IOM), 2002. Care Without Coverage. Too Little, Too Late. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; Institute of Medicine (IOM). 2002. Health Insurance is a Family Matter. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; Institute of Medicine (IOM). 2003. A Shared Destiny. Community Effects of Uninsurance. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; Institute of Medicine (IOM). 2003. Hidden Costs, Value Lost. Uninsurance in America. Washington, DC: National Academy Press

2. Hadley, Jack, 2007. "Insurance Coverage, Medical Care Use, and Short-term Health Changes Following an Unintentional Injury or the Onset of a Chronic Condition," Journal of the American Medical Association 297:1073-1084.5Franks, Peter; Carolyn Clancy, and Marthe Gold. 1993. Health Insurance and Mortality. Evidence from a National Cohort. Journal of the American Medical Association 27(6):737-741.