31 Comments - Anon - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:22 am: Isnt this the problem that the governor has been trying to solve? Its really unfortunate that legislators and the media have ignored such an important issue simply because it was the prime objective of blago. He’s right about health care, but at least the house passed the recall bill. His priorities are in the right place. The GA has misplaced priorities. - Anonymous - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:27 am: i wish mayor daley would be as concerned about the lack of affordable housing in the city as he is about having a children’s museum in grant park. - problem - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:33 am: This story has to be false because I don’t like Rod. — In all seriousness, this is a problem that is obvious to many people, and completely foreign to many others. We need to at least agree that our broken health care system is costing people’s lives. I personally think people’s health and lives are worth paying for. - Johnny USA - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:33 am: If two minimum wage earners lived together, the amount of time needed to pay the rent would be halved. Adding a third would result in even further time savings! I call this radical idea “finding roommates”. - Anon - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:38 am: Anon @9:22 am - It is indeed the problem he is trying to solve. However, he did not payoff the power brokers in Springfield (i.e. all the politicians with their hands out that ‘need’ something in order for Blago to ‘earn’ their support) so his plan went nowhere, and we all got the shaft. - The Rookie - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:46 am: Poverty is an issue that’s foreign in concept to many Americans. Yet its an important and often emoional issue that needs to be addressed. For most Americans the term means destitute. Having no food, clothing, and/or shelter. Given that description a select few actually fit into that category in the USA. Yet there are many who are the “working poor” who work long hours yet REMAIN poor and in debt due to rising cost of living and increased taxes. Figure these people in and we have a REAL problem on our hands. Why isn’t this an issue for our elected and the people they serve? Or is it? - Justice - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 9:58 am: The working poor are not a vocal or sought after voting block. Their voices are seldom heard. The working poor with serious health problems simply cannot afford good health care and in many cases are shunned by hospitals and clinics which are ‘for profit’ organizations. We need a system in place to provide for these disenfranchised citizens. Blagojevich is at least trying to create such a system, but his in your face abrasive approach is doing more to deter such action than it does to move it forward. Maybe the state should institute a policy of charging a fee on every credit card purchase over a certain dollar value, or every gambling win over a certain amount a fee which would fund health care for the poor? - wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:02 am: In Chicago, affordable housing is almost an oxymoron, or has been during the great housing boom. Apartment buildings go condo. New high rises are condo. As the CHA high rises have come down, you’ve seen a population shift to the South Suburbs, Aurora and even DeKalb and other university towns wherer older student housing has gone Section 8. It’s a dilemma. You want to attract young college grad professional worker, you want your property tax base to rise, so you encourage new, more expensive housing. Where do the working poor go. I don’t know. - schroedk - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:05 am: First and foremost, and so I’m not accused of “saying” or “meaning” anything else, I agree wholeheartedly that there are serious problems with our healthcare system. Access, quality, and affordability are issues at most, if not all, healthcare institutions, at least to some level. There are many, many reasons for this (greed, incompetency, laziness, human nature, etc.). Having said that, I think these “studies” are specious, at best. They simply look at correlations between A and B (in this case, per capita deaths and whether or not they had insurance), with possibly some other variables thrown in in an attempt to strengthen their argument. But then they proceed to phrase it as “such and such a number died BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE”. I’m sorry, but people don’t die because they don’t have health insurance. People die because, well, they’re people. Some people die earlier than we think they should because they ignore sound health advice, they’re lazy, they deny their mortality or health issues, they delay treatment due to lack of money (admittedly), or sometimes even because they’re just plain stupid. Everybody is going to die. However, based on the logic of “studies” such as this, there are many, many more people that die, WHO DO HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. A correlation is NOT a cause-and-effect relationship, and I’m sick and tired of it being treated as such to further a political agenda, i.e. where money and power are involved. It dishonestly preys on people’s emotions and naivete. Of course I think that everyone should have access to quality health care that’s affordable. However, I believe the problems that we’re seeing today is precisely because of the level of government involvement, regulations, etc. that have driven competition out, costs up, and reimbursement levels down. This affects everybody. And as government has proven time and time again, throwing more money at a problem in no way “solves” a problem. Just look at our educational system for “proof” of that (see, I can turn a correlation into a cause/effect relationship, too). - Pat collins - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:05 am: study is accurate Hard to say! The full report is really a high level summary, that lists other reports. - Fan of the Game - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:06 am: Maybe Monique Davis isn’t the worst person in the world (or Mr. Sherman or Keith Olbermann, for that matter). Maybe I am the worst person in the world because I don’t see health care as a governmental issue. Other than ensuring that hospitals and insurance companies operate legally and ethically, government should not be involved. I am responsible for my health care. I am responsible for ensuring I have the skills needed to get a job that will help me pay for health care. - Truthful James - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:07 am: Unaddressed by anybody is the cost and health effective role of preventative medicine. Only when we can fund such programs first will health insurance become economic for all. The most costly form of medicine is the Emergency Room. We must do a much better job of triage here. The problem is that attroneys make this whole process a liability lottery. - Plutocrat03 - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:13 am: There are a number of problems with the data presented by advocacy groups which is designed to overstate the problem in whatever position they are advocating. Without arguing the stated size of the numbers presented, lack of access to health care and housing accessibility are legitimate issues. In both cases we need to separate the truly needy from those who are looking for a free ride. The Governor has tried to make the general taxpayer support those who make as much as $80,000 per year. That is clearly excessive. We do however provide free health care to the indigent through a complex web of state, county and local resources. Perhaps these resources could be improved. One could also make the argument that if or when there is universal health insurance, all the revenue going to provide free services can be moved to defraying the health insurance costs and all such facilities would cease to be a drain on the current resource stream. We could close operations like Stroger Hospital and perhaps give or sell the facilities to an organization that can operate efficiently. As far as housing prices are concerned, there are two basic problems with making the argument that a single minimum wage earner is expected to live on their own. The unstated premise is that a person entering the workforce be able to completely stand on their own two feet. That makes no sense. First there is the transitory nature of working at a minimum wage. It is a rare person who will not be able to obtain raises after acquiring some on-the-job experience and most importantly skills. Secondly we have had generation upon generation of both immigrants and native born residents form cohabitation units which provide themselves shelter in the short run. After some success in the workforce, they are able to afford housing on their own. I can think of no reason why that cannot work now or in the future. Lets also remember that much of the cost of housing is related to governmental regulations (including property taxes), which add substantial costs to the construction and maintenance of housing. Many housing advocates suggest that higher densities lower the cost of housing and are aggressive in pushing that element of cost reduction. This position ignores the history of the Chicago Housing Authority which used high density housing for the poor with disasterous results. Other costs relating to the cost of housing can be found by looking through the health and safety requirements in many local ordinances. Most elements are needed, but many add to the costs without benefit. - Wondering - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:18 am: Rod, Todd and Richie are all trying to do something about affordable housing, health care, etc. Right. Key word is “affordable”. One reason people can’t afford to live in Illinois, Cook County and Chicago is because of the ridiculous level of taxes levied. Rising and levied on practically anything you can imagine. - anon - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:19 am: I was going to say it, but schroedk said it first, and better. And this is difficult for a social liberal to voice (me, not necessarily schroedk). - Skeeter - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:28 am: Let’s remember that this is not just a state issue. It also is an issue that is faced by the Cook County Board. Let’s not forget the actions of the Cook County Board on that issue. Given the option of money for mammograms for poor women or more money for staff, the Cook County Board went for money staff money. Let’s see if the voters remember the position taken by people like “Iceman” Butler on that issue. - Little Egypt - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:34 am: 18 people in Illinois who don’t have insurance die each week. There are sometimes 18 obituaries in my newspaper each day. I now must wonder how many of those who have died HAVE insurance. And now I wonder why since they have insurance they are dying. Hmmmmm, perhaps it’s because there really isn’t much of a correlation between dying and whether or not you have insurance. Is there any rational logic here? If you don’t have insurance, your week may be coming up soon. If you have insurance, you’re going to be around long enough to take over where Moses left off. Not much of a study here. I’m suspect about who conducted it and who released it. - Team Sleep - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:36 am: If the state is going to pass a true “Illinois Covered” plan, then we need to cut funding elsewhere and at least make the coverage into a single-payer system. We are flat broke and cannot afford a full-fledged expansion. We would also have to make such a program in the mold of Medicare Part D. Private companies would have to be involved. I would cringe if the government was the only entity to administer this. Look at what Medicaid has done. Medicaid is so backed up that doctors, surgeons, pediatricians and specialists won’t accept Medicaid patients. What would happen if a cover-all system is in place? And what if large hospitals had to wait six months or longer to be reimbursed for essential services? Would hospitals close? Would doctors again leave the state? These are real questions we have to ask. Help as many people as possible but be sure to put safeguards in place. - Truthful James - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:42 am: The housing problem is the result of the long delayed confluence between two factors, 1. The change in the general economy from renting to owning which spread over a plethora of older rental buildings not only twelve flats but down to six- three- and two-flats. With the profits to be made, landlords turned into sellers. That left the older, less improved housing stock, with lower rents. Deferred maintenance resulted in thse steam heated high ceilinged small room beauties. Property taxes inexorably rose. Neighborhoods changed. I think that the article describes the newer buildings on the more expensive land — the type that shows up in the free brochures showing a multitiude of buildings. The older brickies are available for quite a bit less…but street parking (tough to find), older appliances and bathrooms and non air conditioned unless you can find a window unit and a wall plug capable of carrying the current. - Fan of the Game - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:45 am: schroedk makes excellent points. - Skeeter - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 10:46 am: For those who doubt the numbers — as a young guy with some heart issues, I can tell you that if I did not have health insurance, I might be one of those 18. People who have health insurance can get routine care which can prevent the less routine. For me, the routine showed some signs that required care. I had no real physical symptoms so without the insurance, I likely would not have learned of the issue until the problem, literally, exploded. I completely believe the 18 number. I also think people with health insurance should do a better job of using the routine care, but that is another issue. - David - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 11:27 am: “More than 18 working-age Illinoisans die each week due to a lack of health insurance” - Really? Death caused by lack of insurance? Death wasn’t caused by injury or sickness or old age or some other reason. Who dreams this crap up? - North of I-80 - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 11:40 am: 1) Does “working-age Illinoisans” mean those from other countries living here without legally crossing a border or following immigration law? 2) What are the medical & physical symptoms of “lack of health insurance”? Do WEBMD.COM or MAYOCLINIC.COM explain how this disease/malady kills? 3) Don’t we all die of something? Rather than die from cancer or a drunk driver or a violent attack in Chicago or Detroit, I choose death by “lack of heath insurance” so I can stop paying my monthly premiums…. it even sounds peaceful. - zatoichi - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 11:52 am: Without trying to sound like Scrooge, the fact is people die for all kinds of reasons regardless of their health insurance coverage, economic background, or their age. Health insurance can help a person live a better life by providing affordable regular care if the person bothers to get it. Having health insurance is no guarantee of immortality. Pick up the Trib on any day and count the number of deaths. When was the last time it was only 18 on any particular day? I will bet most of those people had some form of health coverage. 18 people a week is 936 a year. Say there are only 1 million uninsured. That 936 is .094% of that million. Grow the 1 million to 3 million and that drops to .031%. Drop the 1 million to 500,000 and the ratio goes to .19%. The overall death rate for the US from all causes is .83% according to CDC’s disastercenter.com. The uninsured stats are hardly close even though they sound impressive. People do need to have good health care through some means, but when stats are used to make major statements they need to be taken in prespective. - wordslinger - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:11 pm: The health insurance study is specious and the tone is ham-handed. But it clumsily is trying to illustrate a point. I can assure you from personal experience that there are middle-class people with families, primarily self-employed, who go without health insurance because of the cost, and hence put off preventative care visits. Plenty of people don’t go to the dentist because dental insurance is generally not offered in the private sector, and no one could afford the dental work, anyway. They roll the dice — it’s reckless, I agree. But the fact that many make this choice explains why it’s a hot issue. It’s no longer a poor-people issue; any time the middle class gets squeezed, it starts getting attention. - Princeville - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:29 pm: I can see the lack of health insurance being at least a good share of some deaths. I would think some of the death figure would have to also account for the group of people insurance industry declares un-insurable. A diabetic or someone with high blood pressure is considered undesirable to cover. If these people can’t get coverage and as their diease progresses without proper medical care and/or meds, of course they are going to die. On the other hand, annon’s first post above expecting us to now fall inline behind the expansions Blago is demanding should not totally be based on this study. My usual harp of $0 this or that in co-payments, aside, the expansions now planned do nothing for people without children. Two two 50 somethings who are self employed and can’t get on a insurance becasue of a pre-condition, where does Blago’s plans come in for them? Then of course would be the mentioning of the huge backload of currently past due bills. Blago wants to be ‘the man’ for ‘I did it first’ but I’m seeing a bull in a china shop with his approach to it. - The Rookie - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:35 pm: Am I wrong to say that the role of Government is to maintain basic order over entitled rights and normal order in which our society is ran? If so, then would health care be a right? Or would NOT providing health care (as we do now) lead to a downward trend in how our society conducts its daily affairs? Just a question… please save leave me my head, good people. - Lark - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:43 pm: Wordslinger, I am one of those middle class people. I can get insurance for me and my spouse (a stay at home parent), but the premiums are $18,000 per year. If we have no significant problems, we have thrown $18,000 away. If we have big problems and no insurance, we are totally screwed. Insurance is just gambling, on your health, your life, your car. We would gladly pay a “reasonable” amount for a policy for catastrophic illness or injury. Unfortunately, we can’t find such a policy due to prior diagnosed health conditions that do not affect our ability to work. Our current system is great, if you work for a big company or are young and healthy. If you actually NEED the insurance, well too bad. - Ghost - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 12:45 pm: Major major flaw in the logic of the report, i.e. the whole thing assumes that if people who died of certain illnesses had insurance, that they would have engaged preventive care, and that cre would have been effective, and they never would have died from the illness that killed them. However there are other studies which suggest even those with access to health care who fall bewlow a certain educational and financial point fail to make good use of available medical care. It is too simple to say its just lack of availability. In addition to finding a source for coverage they need to also provide education. - Bud Man - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 6:15 pm: Stop the Cap Fax presses! A real Shocker! It is WAY too expensive to live in Chicago. — snark And as for the Springfield number, someone earning $7.50 an hour does not pay that much for rent. I know because I was one of those people just four years ago. And if you are that poor, split the rent with a roomate or get a one bedroom. When I was in college, I lived in the biggest dump I have ever seen for a year. It was a basement apartment that lacked good heat, the bathroom and kitchen were disgusting, and it flooded during major rains. But you know what: thats what I coud afford and I didn’t complain because I was working to make sure that I didn’t have to live in a place like that. These reports will say whatever their authors want them to say, depending on who funds it and what the agenda is. Worthless use of money, time, and resources. - Old School - Wednesday, Apr 9, 08 @ 7:13 pm: These kinds of scary reports - health care and housing in this case - by advocacy groups do just what has been said. They abuse statistics to overstate their case and end up missing the point. The health care crisis is a government created crisis. We limit severely the ability of people to practice medicine in this and other states. Then we harm the natural incentives that insurance companies have to discriminate across client group lifestyles. The health care initiatives that work focus on the insureds lifestyle and, through financial incentives like picking up part of the tab if they smoke, are obese, don’t manage their disease, can reduce health care costs by 30%. Affordable housing is completely a function of government regulation. Zoning and building restrictions cause housing to be excessively expensive. Renters pay the mortgage, taxes, gas, water bills, garbage removal, etc. Taxes, zoning and building codes drive up the cost of building and renting. Case in point is the use of copper in plumbing. There are alternatives that are less expensive and allowing switching would lower costs, but the law is written to make work and keep minorities out of contracting. Allowing flexible zoning codes, simplifying building codes to encourage flexibility and competition (pro-consumer = pro-renter), and reducing taxes will do more to achieve affordable housing aims than subsidizing housing or any other government initiative. 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