In 2007, more Americans had health insurance than 2006. But what’s the outlook for 2008? Not good, says a report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI).
It has been argued that with a stronger economy earlier in the year, people were able to afford to buy their own health care coverage. The Kansas City Star suggests that a stronger economy in the past year combined with low unemployment rates allowed more workers the ability to purchase their own plans.
This is not the current situation, however. With the economy on the downswing, and with unemployment rising, not as many people can afford their own health insurance.
Work loss not withstanding, higher food prices, higher gas prices and families struggling to pay mortgages are all causes for health insurance coverage to be amongst the first to be cut from a family’s budget.
The EBRI report detailed that the number of Americans covered by employer health plans will clearly decrease, but the number of Americans who have picked up their own health insurance coverage has risen significantly.
It has been argued that with a stronger economy earlier in the year, people were able to afford to buy their own health care coverage. The Kansas City Star suggests that a stronger economy in the past year combined with low unemployment rates allowed more workers the ability to purchase their own plans.
This is not the current situation, however. With the economy on the downswing, and with unemployment rising, not as many people can afford their own health insurance.
Work loss not withstanding, higher food prices, higher gas prices and families struggling to pay mortgages are all causes for health insurance coverage to be amongst the first to be cut from a family’s budget.
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