FreedomWorks Foundation Finds Number of Uninsured Is 16 Million

Claims of 46 Million Uninsured Distort Health Care Debate
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
As the President and Congress push a massive $1.6 trillion dollar health plan
this summer, the FreedomWorks Foundation is challenging how many Americans are
uninsured.

FreedomWorks Foundation released Issue Analysis Number 126, "The Sources of
Insurance: Private, Public, the Uninsured, and Reforms for the Future" by Max
Pappas and Kristopher Rawls. The study closely examines where Americans get
their health insurance and exactly who in America is going without it.

The study looks in detail at the often touted 45.7 million uninsured Americans
and concludes that a much smaller number-16 million Americans-is the number that
should be informing the debate. Given the millions of people who qualify for
existing government insurance programs but do not take the benefits, the
population making more than $50,000 a year who are uninsured, and the many
non-residents who are ineligible for insurance, the more informative number of
Americans for the health care reform debate is 5 percent of the population or 16
million.

FreedomWorks Foundation has long been an advocate of free market reform to
health care to lower costs to increase affordability and to increase personal
choice while maintaining quality. Our health care deserves rigorous debate and
an objective analysis of the statistics that are often used to argue for
increased government control over health care. A close look at the number and
causes of uninsured Americans may lead policy makers to different decisions
about health care that can result in better health outcomes and save both
taxpayer dollars, too.

FreedomWorks Vice President, Public Policy Max Pappas commented:

"Helping 46 million people get health insurance probably calls for different
policy solutions than helping 16 million. Those in Washington seeking a much
bigger role for government in health care know this, which is why they are using
the bigger number. The $1.6 trillion we are told current proposals will cost
over 10 years comes to $35,000 per uninsured if it is to cover 46 million, but a
far less palatable $100,000 per uninsured when the more accurate 16 million
uninsured is used."

To read the analysis, please visit Sources of Insurance - Issue Analysis 126 for
a PDF version of the study.

FreedomWorks Foundation
Adam Brandon, 202-942-7698
abrandon@freedomworks.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009