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A hard-hit economy
is throwing more people out of work-and
out of health insurance.
Not that having a
job guarantees health coverage, of course.
Even during the longest economic expansion
in U.S. history, the number of Americans
without insurance increased. In recent years,
those increases halted and the number of
uninsured began to decline.
But that improvement
is jeopardized, obviously, by an uncertain
economy. And with health insurance premiums
rising 11 percent this year, more employers
will drop or reduce health-care benefits
to their workers. Meanwhile, laid-off workers
who can't afford to continue their insurance
coverage would get little in the way of
assistance from the economic stimulus legislation
pushed by President Bush and Republicans
in Congress. Instead of focusing on those
most in need or on ways to quickly spur
investment and spending, the GOP is using
the Sept. 11 attacks as an excuse to speed
up tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans
and heap billions of dollars on corporations
and other special interests.
No, there's not much
help on the horizon for those who find themselves
unable to afford health coverage for their
families-not long-term systemic reform or
short-term emergency aid.
In times such as
these, the voluntary contributions of Kentucky's
health-care professionals through the Health
Kentucky network are even more valuable.
Established in 1984,
Health Kentucky provides referrals and free
health-care services, ranging from dental
to hospice to prescription drugs, to poor
Kentuckians who can't get Medicaid or Medicare.
More than 3,000 Kentucky
physicians will accept, at no charge, uninsured
patients who qualify because their incomes
fall below the federal poverty level, $14,630
annually for a family of three.
Health Kentucky's
emphasis is on preventive care, so those
lacking coverage are encouraged to sign
up before a crisis strikes.
While we wait (and
wait) for our elected leaders to fill the
gaps in health care, Kentuckians should
be grateful for the voluntary and potentially
life-saving services provided by Health
Kentucky.
For more information
To find out about
Health Kentucky, call (800) 633-8100.
Published:
Wednesday, November 14, 2001, Lexington
Herald-Leader
Section: Commentary
Page: A14
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