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In recent years it's become clear that the lack of affordable health insurance is bad for the health of those Americans who can't get coverage. Study after study has found that they're more likely to die of preventable diseases like heart disease, and certain cancers.

However, now it seems that even trauma patients are suffering from the lack of insurance.

A study conducted for the Archives of Surgery, and cited in the LA Times, finds that patients who don't have access to affordable health insurance are far more likely to die from car accidents and other traumatic injuries than those who have coverage.

Far more likely meaning as much as 80% more likely in some cases.

This finding surprised a lot of people, since it's been illegal to deny medical treatment to anyone brought into an emergency room since 1986.

Some theories to explain the findings include the likelihood that the uninsured are more likely to be suffering from underlying illnesses that make recovery from trauma more difficult.

Or, that those without coverage are less likely to receive more expensive yet lifesaving treatments like MRIs and CAT scans.

Finally, one factor could include the type of injury. Those who suffer from gunshots and knife wounds are more likely to be lower income individuals, who are similarly unlikely to have health coverage.

However, while these findings themselves surprised the medical community, the fact that the lack of affordable health insurance is bad for people isn't surprising at all - we've all known that for awhile. It's only now that we're seeing how that lack is impacting those who can't get coverage.