By Eleanor Boudreau
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkno/local-wkno-866444.mp3
Memphis, TN – New numbers are out for how unemployment is effecting health insurance. Eleanor Boudreau takes a look at Tennessee.
Unemployment means more than just the loss of income. Ron Pollack is the Executive Director of Families USA. "People who receive a pink slip experience a double whammy. The loss of a job is terrible blow -- but when health insurance is lost along with the job, it is a devastating one-two punch."
According to new numbers out today from Families USA, one hundred nine thousand Tennesseans lost health coverage this year because of unemployment. Nationwide they estimate that number is 4 million.
Pollack says rising unemployment makes revamping health care even more urgent. "That's why it's so important that health care reform even be adopted this year."
Health care legislation being examined in Congress right now would bring some salve to many recently unemployed and thus uninsured -- by giving them care through Medicaid.
Proposed health care reform will also do this with minimal pain to Tennessee. Right now for every three dollars the federal government pays for TennCare medical coverage, Tennessee pays one. And the proposed reform would have Congress paying for almost all of the expanded TennCare coverage.
But not everyone feels good about national health care reform. And with the economy in sore shape, there are serious questions about whether Congress can afford to make changes.