Declaring the week of March 10th as Covering The Uninsured Week.

WHEREAS, According to the most recent Census Bureau figures released in September 2002, 41.2 million Americans are uninsured, an increase of 1.4 million people over the previous year's numbers; and

WHEREAS, Eight of ten people without health insurance are from working families and more than half are in families that earn low wages; and

WHEREAS, The uninsured are four times more likely to experience an avoidable hospital or emergency room visit than those with insurance; and

WHEREAS, A person who lacks health insurance for an extended period of time is less likely to receive health services, particularly preventive services and treatment for chronic health conditions, and consequently, many Americans die prematurely due to a lack of health coverage; and

WHEREAS, According to a study of nearly 4,700 breast cancer patients, uninsured women had a 49 percent greater chance of dying following diagnosis of breast cancer than did privately insured women; and

WHEREAS, The uninsured in some communities may obtain basic health care services through "safety net providers" such as community health centers, hospital clinics, and free health clinics, but in many communities, these facilities have limited hours, long waiting periods, and are not equipped to provide medicines or treatment for complicated illnesses; and

WHEREAS, For many of the uninsured, the costs of health insurance and medical care are weighed against equally essential needs, such as rent, food, and utilities, and so as with any bill, when medical bills are not paid, they are turned over to a collection agency, endangering their fragile credit; and

WHEREAS, Providers may be less willing to care for the uninsured because of the risk that they will not be able to pay; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby declare the week of March 10th as Covering The Uninsured Week.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of the resolution be presented to the organizers of the Philadelphia region's Covering The Uninsured Week's events as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End