Sad Tales Of California Health Insurance Reveal The Dangers Of Living On The West Coast Without Medical Coverage
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indybay.com, revealing that without decent medical coverage public health care programs are facing a tremendous burden, citizens are paying dearly, and immigrants and their children are suffering the effects of poor health.
The state of California boasts one of the most successful economies in the world, meaning that if the state became its own nation, it would be around the 6th most economically successful country on earth. California alone grosses around $1.5 trillion dollars per year.
And yet, more than 6.6 million people live without California health insurance.
Part of the problem is a general lack of affordable health insurance; in the last 10 years the cost of medical coverage has gone up 80%, while the minimum wage just hasn't budged, making it impossible for the average person to find and afford decent coverage.
Furthermore, California's labor and agriculture industry is driven largely by immigrants, many of whom are afraid to apply for California health insurance since they are in the state illegally. But, as is to be expected, people get sick, and the strain of sick workers is costing California citizens millions of dollars.
In this situation no one wins; affordable health insurance is impossible to find for legal citizens, and many immigrants turn up in clinics so sick that according to educator Karl Smith many immigrant children have appeared in his classroom with "teeth so rotten it interfered with their ability to form English words properly."
The answer to these tragedies may be on the horizon, as state and federal legislation aimed at making affordable health insurance available seems to be occupying the news. But until then, Californios will have to struggle on, educating themselves on the best medical coverage out there, and voting for representatives who make it a priority.