A call to care for people without health insurance

Social justice news
May 2004

A call to care for people without health insurance
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A call to care for people without health insurance
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops co-sponsors "Cover the Uninsured Week," May 10 -16. The purpose of this effort is to focus the attention of the nation on the more than 43 million Americans who lack any form of health insurance. The USCCB has joined with our ecumenical and interfaith partners in educating the public and policymakers about the need for affordable and accessible health care for all. The leadership of this project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, includes The Catholic Health Association of the U.S., major health organizations, and business and labor groups.

In 2003, nearly 44 million Americans lacked health care coverage, an increase of more than 2 million in just one year; nearly 44 million uninsured Americans need care. Most of the uninsured—eight out of 10—are in working families, and 8.5 million of the uninsured are children under the age of 18.

The health, jobs, families and lives of the uninsured are in constant jeopardy. These children, women and men live sicker and die younger simply because they do not have health insurance; those at risk, sick and dying need care. More than one in four currently uninsured adults have had severe problems with paying medical bills, problems that forced them to change their way of life significantly to pay these bills

Cover the Uninsured Week activities will be held in many communitie across the United States. The USCCB urges Catholics to participate as a representative of the Catholic community. To find out who is organizing events nearest you, go to the Cover the Uninsured Week website (CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org) and you will find a list of Local Community Field Coordinators (in targeted areas) and regional coordinators.

For more information:
A demographic snapshot of America's uninsured

"With liberty and health care for all"—U.S. Catholic, March 2004

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