The 300,000 Utahns — including 73,000 children — who don't have health insurance are the focus of a weeklong nationwide public awareness campaign that kicked off Monday.
"Solving this problem will not only mean better health-care access for those who are currently uninsured but also economic benefits for our entire country," said Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson in proclaiming May 10-16 as Cover the Uninsured Week.
"From a practical perspective and a moral perspective, we need to solve this problem once and for all," the mayor said.
Anderson cited study findings released Monday by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured that estimate the United States this year will spend $41 billion on care for the uninsured. Federal, state and local governments will incur as much as 85 percent of those costs, according to the study. The study reinforces new research from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the national sponsor of Cover the Uninsured Week, that found nearly half of those uninsured are working families.
Despite so much spending on health care, millions still don't get the care they need, Anderson said.
One Utahn is Stormy Rodriquez, a working mother of four. "I get up every morning and count my blessings that I haven't had to visit the emergency room."
Rodriguez is eligible but can't afford the insurance offered at her work. Only one of her children, a 2-year-old, is eligible for Medicaid, the joint state and federal insurance plan for the poor. Her other three children have no coverage.
"Being uninsured means living with fear every day," Rodriguez said. "I fear getting sick and not being able to work, I fear an injury that will leave me with bills I am unable to pay, and I fear getting a regular check-up that results in finding something that needs further treatment. I am here today because I fear this problem will not be solved unless more people speak out, tell their stories and demand this issue receive the attention it deserves."
More than 50 Utah businesses and organizations, including Voices for Utah Children, are involved in the organization of activities throughout the week.
"This issue is about all of us, and that is why so many of us are here representing diverse organizations that are calling for the same thing — health-care coverage for every man, woman and child in America," said Karen Crompton, executive director of Voices for Utah Children.
Scheduled events in include a health and enrollment fair from 1 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Horizonte Instruction Center, 1234 S. Main.
The latest enrollment deadline is Wednesday for the state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and for the Primary Care Network for eligible parents who are uninsured and have children under the age of 19.
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah's free dental program offered through its Caring Foundation for Children will also be enrolling at the fair.
More information can be found online by logging on to www.CoverTheUninsuredWeek.org.
E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com