Brooklyn's Progress
March 2003

Cover the Uninsured Week Raises Awareness, Help 25 % of New Yorkers Who Lack Health Insurance

By Marissa Shorenstein

A diverse group of national and local organizations recently held an unprecedented week-long series of events to focus attention on the plight of the millions of Americans who lack health insurance, including an estimated 1.6 million in New York City alone – that is one out of every four non-elderly New York City residents.

“All of us–health care leaders, elected officials, universities, business and labor groups, faith communities–need to work together to help every member of our community understand the plight of those who are forced to ignore early symptoms of illness because they can’t afford to go to the doctor and those who have to choose between paying for their medical bills or buying groceries to feed their families,” said Jim Tallon, President of the United Hospital Fund.  “Cover the Uninsured Week provides opportunities for people from all walks of life and every point of view to come together to increase the visibility of the problem, help their uninsured neighbors and begin a reasoned public discussion of proposed solutions.”

The most recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau says that more than 41 million Americans were uninsured in 2001, up 1.4 million from the previous year. The jump is the largest single-year increase in more than a decade. Organizers say those numbers are likely still rising, owing to a sluggish economy and rising health care costs.

 “One-fourth of New York City residents are uninsured and the majority of them are low-wage workers. New York’s low-wage firms are less likely than those nationwide to offer health insurance to their employees, pointing to the need to build on employer coverage and public programs to help workers and their families afford health insurance,” said Karen Davis, President of The Commonwealth Fund. “A Commonwealth Fund survey of employers in the state revealed strong interest in solutions such as facilitating workers’ participation in Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus or the state employee health plan. New York employers of all sizes also say it is important for policymakers to help small businesses provide health insurance to their employees. Improving outreach and retention, and simplifying enrollment for those eligible for public programs would also go a long way toward solving the problem of high rates of uninsured New Yorkers.”

"Even though we at Health Plus are providing free and affordable quality health insurance to more and more New Yorkers, the number of those suffering without coverage grows as well," said Health Plus Chief Marketing Officer Dominic Mascara.  And Tom Early, the company's CEO added, "We are proud to unite with the organizations behind this effort to raise awareness and combat this serious problem."

 “Pfizer is pleased to endorse Cover the Uninsured Week and to join in this coalition to bring the issue of the uninsured to the forefront,” said Chuck Hardwick, senior Vice President of Pfizer Inc. “For more than 30 years, Pfizer has created and supported programs that put medicines in reach for uninsured patients.”

Studies show that uninsured women who develop breast cancer are twice as likely to die as women with breast cancer who have coverage. Men without health insurance are nearly 50 percent more likely to be diagnosed at a late stage for colon cancer as men with insurance. Uninsured children are 70 percent more likely than insured children not to have received medical care for common conditions such as ear infections.

Supported by grants from the The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the United Hospital Fund, The Commonwealth Fund, Health Plus and Pfizer, Cover the Uninsured Week is being organized by a broad coalition of local organizations including: Greater New York Hospital Association; New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; Mayor’s Office of Health Insurance Access; New York County Medical Society; New York State Catholic Conference; Healthcare Association of New York State; Gay Men’s Health Crisis; Citizen Action of New York; Children’s Defense Fund; American Medical Student Association; Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce; Metro NY Health Care for All Campaign; SEIU Local 1199; New York State Nurses Association; Actors Fund; Medical Society of New York State; Commission on the Public’s Health System; Center for the Independence of The Disabled; Albert Einstein Medical School; Manhattan Chamber of Commerce; Mount Sinai Medical School; Home Care Association of New York State; Columbia University Dental School; Rekindling Reform; Faith in Action; New York Academy of Medicine; Jewish Community Relations Council; Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, SEIU 32 BJ; New Yorkers For Accessible Health Care, The Greater NY Region of NCCJ; Physician’s for a National Health Program—New York Metro; Queens Borough President's Office; Queens Community Health Partnership; Northern Queens Health Coalition; and the New York City Council of Churches.

Activities in New York City during Cover the Uninsured Week, March 10 through March 16, 2003, will included town hall meetings with local elected officials and uninsured individuals, on-campus discussions with medical practitioners, health fairs, and symposiums with business and labor leaders as well as religious leaders.  These events were held throughout New York City.

Events in New York City were similar to hundreds of other events being planned in communities across the United States for the week.

Cover the Uninsured Week in New York is funded primarily by the United Hospital Fund, The Commonwealth Fund, Health Plus, Pfizer Inc and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropy dedicated exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans.  The California Endowment and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation are also providing significant funds for events throughout the nation.