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Morrill for Governor
P.O. Box 7571
Reading, PA 19601
570- 372-0503
http://www.michaelmorrill.org
HARRISBURG, PA - One thousand Pennsylvanians will die this year because
they are uninsured and cannot get proper health care said Michael
Morrill, the Green Party nominee for governor. Morrill cited a new study
by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine, titled
"Care Without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late," that said
people without insurance are dying only because they have no insurance.
The report, released two weeks ago, said that uninsured people with
colon or breast cancer will die at a 50% higher rate than those with
insurance. It also showed that trauma victims without insurance are 37%
more likely to die of their injuries, because they are less likely to be
admitted to hospitals and are less likely to receive necessary
treatment.
"How many Pennsylvanians have to die because they have no
insurance?" asked Morrill. "We need universal healthcare and
we need it now. The old party politicians will tell us that we can't
afford it. I say we can't afford to let our most vulnerable citizens die
only because they have no insurance."
The Institute of Medicine's study also revealed that there is increased
risk of disability, including blindness and amputations among those with
diabetes. According to the report, the risks are highest the poor and
racial and ethnic minorities.
"Universal healthcare is the obvious solution to this
problem," added Morrill. "It is ethically and morally the
right direction for Pennsylvania, but it also makes economic
sense."
Morrill pointed to a recent study funded by the federal government which
showed that California would save $220 billion over ten years if the
state replaced its current mixed health coverage with a single payer
system. Extrapolating the savings based on population, Pennsylvania
could see savings of $80 billion while providing health care to
everyone.
"A typical individual HMO policy for a family now costs over $1,000
per month. In addition, small group premiums have risen significantly,
forcing small businesses to pass on more costs to their employees, or,
in some cases, drop coverage altogether.
"The Morrill Healthcare Plan would guarantee healthcare as a right
to all Pennsylvanians, meaning the poor, elderly and the unemployed
would no longer have to worry about access to medical care. Fire and
police protection are universal and do not discriminate on the basis of
income. It is time for us to look at healthcare in the same way."
Citations:
Morrill for Governor: www.michaelmorrill.org
Institute of Medicine: www.iom.edu
Health Care for All: www.healthcareforall.org
Pennsylvania Citizen Action Network: www.pcan.org
For More Information Please Contact
Eric Prindle, Field Director
Morrill for Governor
570-372-0503
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