{"id":61698,"date":"2009-09-17T16:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-09-17T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"\/gazette\/?p=61698"},"modified":"2019-01-07T10:34:02","modified_gmt":"2019-01-07T15:34:02","slug":"new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-to-lack-of-health-coverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2009\/09\/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-to-lack-of-health-coverage\/","title":{"rendered":"New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage"},"content":{"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-full-width-text-below centered-image\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" height=\"\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\" width=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading \">\n\t\tNew study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tDavid Cecere\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tCambridge Health Alliance\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2009-09-17\">\n\t\t\tSeptember 17, 2009\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t3 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tUninsured, working-age Americans have 40 percent higher death risk than privately insured counterparts\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-68b5be0e-eab4-4e5d-91ab-137c3a56157f\">\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=784,490 784w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2016\/02\/money-quality-health-care-longer-life\/\">The costs of inequality: Money = quality health care = longer life<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__series series-badge__header wp-block-heading no-series-logo\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__logo\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<a class=\"series-badge__title\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/series\/inequality\/\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__part-of\">Part of the<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-name\">Inequality<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-text\"> series<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t<\/figure>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2016-02-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 22, 2016\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlong read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n<p>Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ajph.org\/\">American Journal of Public Health<\/a>. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iom.edu\/\">Institute of Medicine<\/a> (IOM) in 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The study, conducted at <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/programs\/harvard-medical-school\">Harvard Medical School<\/a> and <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cha.harvard.edu\/\">Cambridge Health Alliance<\/a>, found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate found in 1993.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health,\u201d said lead author <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.niemanwatchdog.org\/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewcontributors&amp;bioid=228\">Andrew Wilper<\/a>, M.D., who currently teaches at the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/uwmedicine.washington.edu\/\">University of Washington School of Medicine<\/a>. \u201cWe doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease \u2014 but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study, which analyzed data from national surveys carried out by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, assessed death rates after taking into account education, income, and many other factors, including smoking, drinking, and obesity. It estimated that lack of health insurance causes 44,789 excess deaths annually.<\/p>\n<p>Previous estimates from the IOM and others had put that figure near 18,000. The methods used in the current study were similar to those employed by the IOM in 2002, which in turn were based on a pioneering 1993 study of health insurance and mortality.<\/p>\n\n<p>Deaths associated with lack of health insurance now exceed those caused by many common killers such as kidney disease. An increase in the number of uninsured and an eroding medical safety net for the disadvantaged likely explain the substantial increase in the number of deaths, as the uninsured are more likely to go without needed care. Another factor contributing to the widening gap in the risk of death between those who have insurance and those who do not is the improved quality of care for those who can get it.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers analyzed U.S. adults under age 65 who participated in the annual <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/nhanes.htm\">National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys<\/a> (NHANES) between 1986 and 1994. Respondents first answered detailed questions about their socioeconomic status and health and were then examined by physicians. The CDC tracked study participants to see who died by 2000.<\/p>\n<p>The study found a 40 percent increased risk of death among the uninsured. As expected, death rates were also higher for males (37 percent increase), current or former smokers (102 percent and 42 percent increases), people who said that their health was fair or poor (126 percent increase), and those who examining physicians said were in fair or poor health (222 percent increase).<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/stephanie-woolhandler\">Steffie Woolhandler<\/a>, study co-author, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, noted: \u201cHistorically, every other developed nation has achieved universal health care through some form of nonprofit national health insurance. Our failure to do so means that all Americans pay higher health care costs, and 45,000 pay with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Institute of Medicine, using older studies, estimated that one American dies every 30 minutes from lack of health insurance,\u201d remarked <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/david-himmelstein\">David Himmelstein<\/a>, study co-author, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.<br \/>\n\u201cEven this grim figure is an underestimate \u2014 now one dies every 12 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other authors include Karen E. Lasser, Danny McCormick, David H. Bor, and David U. Himmelstein. The study was supported by a <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/pa-files\/PA-00-104.html\">National Service Research Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-91770aa1-a73d-41d1-9cf0-6c9e5dad2a37\">\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"doctor and nurse looking at chart\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=784,490 784w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1024,640 1024w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200,750 1200w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1488,930 1488w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1680,1050 1680w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2018\/03\/u-s-pays-more-for-health-care-with-worse-population-health-outcomes\/\">What&#8217;s behind high U.S. health care costs<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2018-03-13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 13, 2018\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 min read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the American Journal of Public Health. That figure is about&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105622744,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gz_ga_pageviews":291,"gz_ga_lastupdated":"2026-03-22 03:42","document_color_palette":"crimson","author":"David Cecere","affiliation":"Cambridge Health Alliance","_category_override":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39644],"tags":[6912,10126,14788,15922,16542,28359,32197],"gazette-formats":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-61698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","tag-cambridge-health-alliance","tag-david-himmelstein","tag-government-and-public-policy","tag-harvard-medical-school","tag-health-care-policy","tag-public-health","tag-stephanie-woolhandler"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.0 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage &#8212; Harvard Gazette<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2009\/09\/new-study-finds-45000-deaths-annually-linked-to-lack-of-health-coverage\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage &#8212; Harvard Gazette\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the American Journal of Public Health. 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himmelstein\",\"government and public policy\",\"harvard medical school\",\"health care policy\",\"public health\",\"stephanie woolhandler\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2009-09-17T20:00:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2009-09-17T20:00:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2019-01-07T15:34:02Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/news.harvard.edu\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","has_blocks":true,"block_data":{"0":{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/article-header","attrs":{"blockColorPalette":"","coloredHeading":"","creditText":"","displayDetails":"","displayTitle":"","categoryId":39644,"mediaAlt":false,"mediaCaption":"","mediaId":0,"mediaSize":"full","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"","poster":"","title":"New study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage","subheading":"Uninsured, working-age Americans have 40 percent higher death risk than privately insured counterparts","centeredImage":true,"className":"is-style-full-width-text-below","mediaHeight":0,"mediaWidth":0,"backgroundFixed":false,"backgroundTone":"light","coloredBackground":false,"displayOverlay":true,"fadeInText":false,"isAmbient":false,"mediaLength":"","mediaPosition":"","posterText":"","titleAbove":false,"useUncroppedImage":false,"lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\" width=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n","innerContent":["<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\" width=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-full-width-text-below centered-image\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img alt=\"\" height=\"\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"\" width=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading \">\n\t\tNew study finds 45,000 deaths annually linked to lack of health coverage\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tDavid Cecere\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tCambridge Health Alliance\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2009-09-17\">\n\t\t\tSeptember 17, 2009\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t3 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tUninsured, working-age Americans have 40 percent higher death risk than privately insured counterparts\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n"},"2":{"blockName":"core\/group","attrs":{"templateLock":false,"metadata":{"name":"Article content"},"align":"wide","layout":{"type":"constrained","justifyContent":"center"},"tagName":"div","lock":[],"className":"","style":[],"backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","ariaLabel":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\t\t","innerContent":["\n\t\t"],"rendered":"\n\t\t"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/supporting-content","attrs":{"id":"68b5be0e-eab4-4e5d-91ab-137c3a56157f","align":"left","allowedBlocks":[],"style":[],"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/featured-articles","attrs":{"autoGenerate":false,"className":"is-style-grid-list","inPostContent":true,"numberOfPosts":1,"postIds":[179654],"showExcerpt":false,"title":"More like this","category":"","carouselOnDesktop":false,"isEditor":false,"linkText":"See all book reviews","passPostIds":false,"postOverrides":[],"postTypeOverride":"post","receivePostIds":false,"series":"","showCategory":true,"showDate":true,"gridColumns":2,"showDropShadow":false,"showFormat":true,"showImage":true,"showImageZoom":false,"showSeries":true,"showReadMore":true,"showReadTime":true,"tags":[],"useCurrentTerm":false,"lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","style":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":"\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=784,490 784w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2016\/02\/money-quality-health-care-longer-life\/\">The costs of inequality: Money = quality health care = longer life<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__series series-badge__header wp-block-heading no-series-logo\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__logo\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<a class=\"series-badge__title\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/series\/inequality\/\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__part-of\">Part of the<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-name\">Inequality<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-text\"> series<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t<\/figure>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2016-02-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 22, 2016\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlong read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t"}],"innerHTML":"<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-68b5be0e-eab4-4e5d-91ab-137c3a56157f\"><\/div>","innerContent":["<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-68b5be0e-eab4-4e5d-91ab-137c3a56157f\">","<\/div>"],"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-68b5be0e-eab4-4e5d-91ab-137c3a56157f\">\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=784,490 784w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2016\/02\/money-quality-health-care-longer-life\/\">The costs of inequality: Money = quality health care = longer life<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__series series-badge__header wp-block-heading no-series-logo\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__logo\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<a class=\"series-badge__title\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/series\/inequality\/\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__part-of\">Part of the<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-name\">Inequality<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-text\"> series<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t<\/figure>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2016-02-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 22, 2016\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlong read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\r\n<p>Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ajph.org\/\">American Journal of Public Health<\/a>. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iom.edu\/\">Institute of Medicine<\/a> (IOM) in 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The study, conducted at <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/programs\/harvard-medical-school\">Harvard Medical School<\/a> and <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cha.harvard.edu\/\">Cambridge Health Alliance<\/a>, found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate found in 1993.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health,\u201d said lead author <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.niemanwatchdog.org\/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewcontributors&amp;bioid=228\">Andrew Wilper<\/a>, M.D., who currently teaches at the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/uwmedicine.washington.edu\/\">University of Washington School of Medicine<\/a>. \u201cWe doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease \u2014 but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study, which analyzed data from national surveys carried out by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, assessed death rates after taking into account education, income, and many other factors, including smoking, drinking, and obesity. It estimated that lack of health insurance causes 44,789 excess deaths annually.<\/p>\n<p>Previous estimates from the IOM and others had put that figure near 18,000. The methods used in the current study were similar to those employed by the IOM in 2002, which in turn were based on a pioneering 1993 study of health insurance and mortality.<\/p>\n\n<p>Deaths associated with lack of health insurance now exceed those caused by many common killers such as kidney disease. An increase in the number of uninsured and an eroding medical safety net for the disadvantaged likely explain the substantial increase in the number of deaths, as the uninsured are more likely to go without needed care. Another factor contributing to the widening gap in the risk of death between those who have insurance and those who do not is the improved quality of care for those who can get it.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers analyzed U.S. adults under age 65 who participated in the annual <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/nhanes.htm\">National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys<\/a> (NHANES) between 1986 and 1994. Respondents first answered detailed questions about their socioeconomic status and health and were then examined by physicians. The CDC tracked study participants to see who died by 2000.<\/p>\n<p>The study found a 40 percent increased risk of death among the uninsured. As expected, death rates were also higher for males (37 percent increase), current or former smokers (102 percent and 42 percent increases), people who said that their health was fair or poor (126 percent increase), and those who examining physicians said were in fair or poor health (222 percent increase).<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/stephanie-woolhandler\">Steffie Woolhandler<\/a>, study co-author, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, noted: \u201cHistorically, every other developed nation has achieved universal health care through some form of nonprofit national health insurance. Our failure to do so means that all Americans pay higher health care costs, and 45,000 pay with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Institute of Medicine, using older studies, estimated that one American dies every 30 minutes from lack of health insurance,\u201d remarked <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/david-himmelstein\">David Himmelstein<\/a>, study co-author, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.<br \/>\n\u201cEven this grim figure is an underestimate \u2014 now one dies every 12 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other authors include Karen E. Lasser, Danny McCormick, David H. Bor, and David U. Himmelstein. The study was supported by a <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/pa-files\/PA-00-104.html\">National Service Research Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\r\n<p>Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ajph.org\/\">American Journal of Public Health<\/a>. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iom.edu\/\">Institute of Medicine<\/a> (IOM) in 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The study, conducted at <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/programs\/harvard-medical-school\">Harvard Medical School<\/a> and <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cha.harvard.edu\/\">Cambridge Health Alliance<\/a>, found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate found in 1993.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health,\u201d said lead author <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.niemanwatchdog.org\/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewcontributors&amp;bioid=228\">Andrew Wilper<\/a>, M.D., who currently teaches at the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/uwmedicine.washington.edu\/\">University of Washington School of Medicine<\/a>. \u201cWe doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease \u2014 but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study, which analyzed data from national surveys carried out by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, assessed death rates after taking into account education, income, and many other factors, including smoking, drinking, and obesity. It estimated that lack of health insurance causes 44,789 excess deaths annually.<\/p>\n<p>Previous estimates from the IOM and others had put that figure near 18,000. The methods used in the current study were similar to those employed by the IOM in 2002, which in turn were based on a pioneering 1993 study of health insurance and mortality.<\/p>\n\n<p>Deaths associated with lack of health insurance now exceed those caused by many common killers such as kidney disease. An increase in the number of uninsured and an eroding medical safety net for the disadvantaged likely explain the substantial increase in the number of deaths, as the uninsured are more likely to go without needed care. Another factor contributing to the widening gap in the risk of death between those who have insurance and those who do not is the improved quality of care for those who can get it.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers analyzed U.S. adults under age 65 who participated in the annual <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/nhanes.htm\">National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys<\/a> (NHANES) between 1986 and 1994. Respondents first answered detailed questions about their socioeconomic status and health and were then examined by physicians. The CDC tracked study participants to see who died by 2000.<\/p>\n<p>The study found a 40 percent increased risk of death among the uninsured. As expected, death rates were also higher for males (37 percent increase), current or former smokers (102 percent and 42 percent increases), people who said that their health was fair or poor (126 percent increase), and those who examining physicians said were in fair or poor health (222 percent increase).<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/stephanie-woolhandler\">Steffie Woolhandler<\/a>, study co-author, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, noted: \u201cHistorically, every other developed nation has achieved universal health care through some form of nonprofit national health insurance. Our failure to do so means that all Americans pay higher health care costs, and 45,000 pay with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Institute of Medicine, using older studies, estimated that one American dies every 30 minutes from lack of health insurance,\u201d remarked <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/david-himmelstein\">David Himmelstein<\/a>, study co-author, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.<br \/>\n\u201cEven this grim figure is an underestimate \u2014 now one dies every 12 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other authors include Karen E. Lasser, Danny McCormick, David H. Bor, and David U. Himmelstein. The study was supported by a <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/pa-files\/PA-00-104.html\">National Service Research Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\r\n<p>Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ajph.org\/\">American Journal of Public Health<\/a>. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iom.edu\/\">Institute of Medicine<\/a> (IOM) in 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The study, conducted at <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/programs\/harvard-medical-school\">Harvard Medical School<\/a> and <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cha.harvard.edu\/\">Cambridge Health Alliance<\/a>, found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate found in 1993.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health,\u201d said lead author <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.niemanwatchdog.org\/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewcontributors&amp;bioid=228\">Andrew Wilper<\/a>, M.D., who currently teaches at the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/uwmedicine.washington.edu\/\">University of Washington School of Medicine<\/a>. \u201cWe doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease \u2014 but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study, which analyzed data from national surveys carried out by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, assessed death rates after taking into account education, income, and many other factors, including smoking, drinking, and obesity. It estimated that lack of health insurance causes 44,789 excess deaths annually.<\/p>\n<p>Previous estimates from the IOM and others had put that figure near 18,000. The methods used in the current study were similar to those employed by the IOM in 2002, which in turn were based on a pioneering 1993 study of health insurance and mortality.<\/p>\n\n<p>Deaths associated with lack of health insurance now exceed those caused by many common killers such as kidney disease. An increase in the number of uninsured and an eroding medical safety net for the disadvantaged likely explain the substantial increase in the number of deaths, as the uninsured are more likely to go without needed care. Another factor contributing to the widening gap in the risk of death between those who have insurance and those who do not is the improved quality of care for those who can get it.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers analyzed U.S. adults under age 65 who participated in the annual <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/nhanes.htm\">National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys<\/a> (NHANES) between 1986 and 1994. Respondents first answered detailed questions about their socioeconomic status and health and were then examined by physicians. The CDC tracked study participants to see who died by 2000.<\/p>\n<p>The study found a 40 percent increased risk of death among the uninsured. As expected, death rates were also higher for males (37 percent increase), current or former smokers (102 percent and 42 percent increases), people who said that their health was fair or poor (126 percent increase), and those who examining physicians said were in fair or poor health (222 percent increase).<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/stephanie-woolhandler\">Steffie Woolhandler<\/a>, study co-author, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, noted: \u201cHistorically, every other developed nation has achieved universal health care through some form of nonprofit national health insurance. Our failure to do so means that all Americans pay higher health care costs, and 45,000 pay with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Institute of Medicine, using older studies, estimated that one American dies every 30 minutes from lack of health insurance,\u201d remarked <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/david-himmelstein\">David Himmelstein<\/a>, study co-author, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.<br \/>\n\u201cEven this grim figure is an underestimate \u2014 now one dies every 12 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other authors include Karen E. Lasser, Danny McCormick, David H. Bor, and David U. Himmelstein. The study was supported by a <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/pa-files\/PA-00-104.html\">National Service Research Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/supporting-content","attrs":{"id":"91770aa1-a73d-41d1-9cf0-6c9e5dad2a37","align":"left","allowedBlocks":[],"style":[],"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/featured-articles","attrs":{"autoGenerate":false,"className":"is-style-grid-list","inPostContent":true,"numberOfPosts":1,"postIds":[240301],"showExcerpt":false,"title":"More like this","category":"","carouselOnDesktop":false,"isEditor":false,"linkText":"See all book reviews","passPostIds":false,"postOverrides":[],"postTypeOverride":"post","receivePostIds":false,"series":"","showCategory":true,"showDate":true,"gridColumns":2,"showDropShadow":false,"showFormat":true,"showImage":true,"showImageZoom":false,"showSeries":true,"showReadMore":true,"showReadTime":true,"tags":[],"useCurrentTerm":false,"lock":[],"metadata":[],"align":"","style":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"","innerContent":[],"rendered":"\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"doctor and nurse looking at chart\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=784,490 784w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1024,640 1024w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200,750 1200w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1488,930 1488w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1680,1050 1680w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2018\/03\/u-s-pays-more-for-health-care-with-worse-population-health-outcomes\/\">What&#8217;s behind high U.S. health care costs<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2018-03-13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 13, 2018\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 min read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t"}],"innerHTML":"<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-91770aa1-a73d-41d1-9cf0-6c9e5dad2a37\"><\/div>","innerContent":["<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-91770aa1-a73d-41d1-9cf0-6c9e5dad2a37\">","<\/div>"],"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-91770aa1-a73d-41d1-9cf0-6c9e5dad2a37\">\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"doctor and nurse looking at chart\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=784,490 784w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1024,640 1024w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200,750 1200w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1488,930 1488w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1680,1050 1680w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2018\/03\/u-s-pays-more-for-health-care-with-worse-population-health-outcomes\/\">What&#8217;s behind high U.S. health care costs<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2018-03-13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 13, 2018\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 min read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n","innerContent":["\n"],"rendered":"\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n","\r\n","\r\n","\r\n","\r\n","\n\n<\/div>\n"],"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-68b5be0e-eab4-4e5d-91ab-137c3a56157f\">\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/health_final_1120x600v2.jpg?resize=784,490 784w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2016\/02\/money-quality-health-care-longer-life\/\">The costs of inequality: Money = quality health care = longer life<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__series series-badge__header wp-block-heading no-series-logo\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__logo\">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<a class=\"series-badge__title\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/series\/inequality\/\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__part-of\">Part of the<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-name\">Inequality<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"series-badge__series-text\"> series<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t<\/figure>\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2016-02-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFebruary 22, 2016\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tlong read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n<p>Nearly 45,000 annual deaths are associated with lack of health insurance, according to a new study published online today by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ajph.org\/\">American Journal of Public Health<\/a>. That figure is about two and a half times higher than an estimate from the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.iom.edu\/\">Institute of Medicine<\/a> (IOM) in 2002.<\/p>\n<p>The study, conducted at <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/programs\/harvard-medical-school\">Harvard Medical School<\/a> and <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cha.harvard.edu\/\">Cambridge Health Alliance<\/a>, found that uninsured, working-age Americans have a 40 percent higher risk of death than their privately insured counterparts, up from a 25 percent excess death rate found in 1993.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe uninsured have a higher risk of death when compared to the privately insured, even after taking into account socioeconomics, health behaviors, and baseline health,\u201d said lead author <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.niemanwatchdog.org\/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.viewcontributors&amp;bioid=228\">Andrew Wilper<\/a>, M.D., who currently teaches at the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/uwmedicine.washington.edu\/\">University of Washington School of Medicine<\/a>. \u201cWe doctors have many new ways to prevent deaths from hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease \u2014 but only if patients can get into our offices and afford their medications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The study, which analyzed data from national surveys carried out by the <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)<\/a>, assessed death rates after taking into account education, income, and many other factors, including smoking, drinking, and obesity. It estimated that lack of health insurance causes 44,789 excess deaths annually.<\/p>\n<p>Previous estimates from the IOM and others had put that figure near 18,000. The methods used in the current study were similar to those employed by the IOM in 2002, which in turn were based on a pioneering 1993 study of health insurance and mortality.<\/p>\n\n<p>Deaths associated with lack of health insurance now exceed those caused by many common killers such as kidney disease. An increase in the number of uninsured and an eroding medical safety net for the disadvantaged likely explain the substantial increase in the number of deaths, as the uninsured are more likely to go without needed care. Another factor contributing to the widening gap in the risk of death between those who have insurance and those who do not is the improved quality of care for those who can get it.<\/p>\n<p>The researchers analyzed U.S. adults under age 65 who participated in the annual <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/nchs\/nhanes.htm\">National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys<\/a> (NHANES) between 1986 and 1994. Respondents first answered detailed questions about their socioeconomic status and health and were then examined by physicians. The CDC tracked study participants to see who died by 2000.<\/p>\n<p>The study found a 40 percent increased risk of death among the uninsured. As expected, death rates were also higher for males (37 percent increase), current or former smokers (102 percent and 42 percent increases), people who said that their health was fair or poor (126 percent increase), and those who examining physicians said were in fair or poor health (222 percent increase).<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/stephanie-woolhandler\">Steffie Woolhandler<\/a>, study co-author, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance, noted: \u201cHistorically, every other developed nation has achieved universal health care through some form of nonprofit national health insurance. Our failure to do so means that all Americans pay higher health care costs, and 45,000 pay with their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Institute of Medicine, using older studies, estimated that one American dies every 30 minutes from lack of health insurance,\u201d remarked <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.harvardscience.harvard.edu\/directory\/researchers\/david-himmelstein\">David Himmelstein<\/a>, study co-author, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and a primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance.<br \/>\n\u201cEven this grim figure is an underestimate \u2014 now one dies every 12 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other authors include Karen E. Lasser, Danny McCormick, David H. Bor, and David U. Himmelstein. The study was supported by a <a title=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/grants.nih.gov\/grants\/guide\/pa-files\/PA-00-104.html\">National Service Research Award<\/a>.<\/p>\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-supporting-content alignleft supporting-content\" id=\"supporting-content-91770aa1-a73d-41d1-9cf0-6c9e5dad2a37\">\n\t<div class=\"featured-articles is-post-type-post is-style-grid-list\"  style=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"featured-articles__title wp-block-heading\">More like this<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"featured-articles__list \">\n\t\t\n\t\t<li class=\"featured-article \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"featured-article__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1200\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200%2C750\" class=\"attachment-large-landscape-desktop size-large-landscape-desktop\" alt=\"doctor and nurse looking at chart\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=608,380 608w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=784,490 784w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1024,640 1024w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1200,750 1200w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1488,930 1488w, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/medical-costs1.jpg?resize=1680,1050 1680w\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"featured-article__category\" href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/\">\n\t\t\tHealth\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"featured-article__title wp-block-heading \"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2018\/03\/u-s-pays-more-for-health-care-with-worse-population-health-outcomes\/\">What&#8217;s behind high U.S. health care costs<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"featured-article__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"featured-article__date\" datetime=\"2018-03-13\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch 13, 2018\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/time>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"featured-article__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 min read\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n"}},"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":138270,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2013\/05\/linking-health-policy-to-people\/","url_meta":{"origin":61698,"position":0},"title":"Linking health policy to people","author":"harvardgazette","date":"May 24, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Maia Fedyszyn, who is receiving a master\u2019s of science in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health, has a passion for health policy to improve the lot of everyday people.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/profiles_042913_maia_569_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/profiles_042913_maia_569_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/profiles_042913_maia_569_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":158060,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2014\/06\/for-good-policy-forget-party\/","url_meta":{"origin":61698,"position":1},"title":"For good policy, forget party","author":"harvardgazette","date":"June 6, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Collaboration and inclusion, even of political opponents, is critical to forging successful health policy, former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis told a group of health ministers from around the world gathered at Harvard.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nation &amp; World&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nation &amp; World","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/nation-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ministers_coll_seck_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ministers_coll_seck_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ministers_coll_seck_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":306201,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2020\/06\/new-studies-are-estimating-spending-on-covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":61698,"position":2},"title":"Adding up the cost of pandemic health care","author":"Lian Parsons","date":"June 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"A new report published by the Brookings Institution estimates national health care spending for COVID-19 care and discusses its policy implications.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Health&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Medical masks.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Masks_2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Masks_2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Masks_2500.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Masks_2500.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":330640,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2021\/08\/study-reducing-sugar-in-packaged-foods-could-reduce-disease\/","url_meta":{"origin":61698,"position":3},"title":"Cut sugar to save lives, researchers urge","author":"Lian Parsons","date":"August 27, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"A new health and economic model clearly shows why it\u2019s imperative that food manufacturers reduce the amount of added sugar in their products.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Health&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sugar.","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/mathilde-langevin-Q5xjxSfs1Lk-unsplash_2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/mathilde-langevin-Q5xjxSfs1Lk-unsplash_2500.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/mathilde-langevin-Q5xjxSfs1Lk-unsplash_2500.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/mathilde-langevin-Q5xjxSfs1Lk-unsplash_2500.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":168474,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2015\/04\/a-decade-of-student-impact\/","url_meta":{"origin":61698,"position":4},"title":"A decade of student impact","author":"harvardgazette","date":"April 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Now in its 10th year, the Cordeiro Family Undergraduate Research Fellowship for Global Health and Health Policy has funded undergraduate research projects for more than 100 students. A celebratory program highlighted some of their accomplishments.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/032715_cordeiro_368_605_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/032715_cordeiro_368_605_1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/032715_cordeiro_368_605_1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15981,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2009\/07\/interfaculty-initiative-in-health-policy-awards-cordeiro-health-policy-summer-research-grants\/","url_meta":{"origin":61698,"position":5},"title":"Interfaculty Initiative in Health Policy awards Cordeiro Health Policy Summer Research Grants","author":"harvardgazette","date":"July 23, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Thee Interfaculty Initiative in Health Policy at Harvard has announced the 2009 recipients of the Cordeiro Health Policy Summer Research Grants.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Health&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Health","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/health\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61698","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105622744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61698"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61698\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":261549,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61698\/revisions\/261549"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61698"},{"taxonomy":"format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gazette-formats?post=61698"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=61698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}