What is the primary cause of financial crises in the United States?

• Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problemⁱ
• Almost 50 percent of the American public say they are very worried about having to pay more for their health care or health insurance, while 42 percent report they are very worried about not being able to afford health care servicesⁱⁱ
• If one member of a family is uninsured and has an accident, a hospital stay, or a costly medical treatment, the resulting medical bills can affect the economic stability of the whole familyⁱⁱⁱ

Health care costs and the lack of insurance (46.6 million Americans have no health insurance, according to the U.S. Census) represent one of the biggest problems facing the U.S. Not only are people’s everyday lives being affected by health related debt, employers (large and small) are being devastated by rising costs. Premiums for employer-based health insurance rose by 9.2 percent in 2005, the fifth consecutive year of increases over 9 percent^iv. And while nearly 16 percent of Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens^v.

In a recent USA Today poll, an overwhelming 80% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the quality of their health care, their personal costs, and the total tab the nation spends on health care, estimated to hit $2.2 trillion, or $7,129 a person, this year^vi. The poll indicates that the citizens of the U.S. are eager for sweeping health care reform.

While there is no magic solution to control the spiraling costs of health care- for individuals, employers, or the government- it is clear that the problem will only continue to grow worse. The U.S. health care system- touted to be the best in the world- is rapidly becoming a system that is only best for those that can afford it. There will never be a better time to demand universal health care that de-links insurance from employment, than now.