[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21631]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    OVER 20 PERCENT OF AMERICANS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 64 ARE 
                               UNINSURED

  (Mrs. MALONEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, the Joint Economic Committee heard last 
week some very sobering findings from the latest Census data on health 
coverage. The number of Americans between the ages of 18 and 64 who are 
without health insurance increased significantly last year to over 20 
percent. More than one of every five nonelderly adults lacked health 
insurance in 2008. Those millions are one accident, one major illness 
away from financial ruin. The majority of those uninsured adults 
without health coverage worked full time or part time.
  At the same time, the share of employment-based health insurance 
declined significantly to 58.5 percent in 2008. The current expensive, 
inefficient and indifferent system is failing us. Americans deserve 
better, and we deserve it now.

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