Each year, the number and percentage of people who are uninsured grows. These individuals tend to be sicker and have more preventable health problems than those who are insured. Eight of ten uninsured residents are in working families but cannot afford or are unable to access coverage. Meanwhile, public funding for health services is shrinking rapidly.
A crisis has emerged: more and more people go without the care they need, grow ill, and find themselves in emergency rooms. This increases the demands on an already overburdened health system, raises costs for those who can afford to pay, and aggravates problems of access and affordability. This crisis impacts us all – the insured and uninsured, employers, and government.
The Consortium stands as an ally with community partners who are working to end the crisis. The solution begins with awareness that many adults and children in our counties are suffering needlessly. The extensive free and low-cost services provided by member clinics are a necessary part of the answer but not the whole answer. Basic coverage for all is a necessity. So is extensive collaboration among our community’s health care and social service agencies, as well as the private sector. Together, we can make a difference.
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