Number of uninsured Georgians continues to rise
The 8-27 -04 Macon Telegraph reports:
The number of Georgians without health insurance has risen for the third straight year to 16.4 percent of the state's population, the Census Bureau reported Thursday.
The bureau also reported a marginal increase in the median household income, when adjusted for inflation, and a slight decrease in the number of Georgians living below the poverty level.
The numbers may worsen an already bleak position for the department, which is considering cutting at least $172.6 million and perhaps as much as $327.6 million from Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids in next year's budget. The cuts could deny, reduce or eliminate benefits to thousands of low-income women and children as well as to the blind, aged, disabled and those in hospices.
Small businesses are facing increasing economic pressure to discontinue - or not start - insurance programs. And rising health care rates are eating up more of the state budget, as Medicaid is expected to consume 60 percent of new state revenue by 2011 - a level that the governor's office says is unsustainable.
The number of Georgians without health insurance has risen for the third straight year to 16.4 percent of the state's population, the Census Bureau reported Thursday.
The bureau also reported a marginal increase in the median household income, when adjusted for inflation, and a slight decrease in the number of Georgians living below the poverty level.
The numbers may worsen an already bleak position for the department, which is considering cutting at least $172.6 million and perhaps as much as $327.6 million from Medicaid and PeachCare for Kids in next year's budget. The cuts could deny, reduce or eliminate benefits to thousands of low-income women and children as well as to the blind, aged, disabled and those in hospices.
Small businesses are facing increasing economic pressure to discontinue - or not start - insurance programs. And rising health care rates are eating up more of the state budget, as Medicaid is expected to consume 60 percent of new state revenue by 2011 - a level that the governor's office says is unsustainable.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 6:47 AM
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