The Obama administration continued to argue for overhauling the health care system Friday by issuing state-by-state reports to build its case for reform.
In Missouri and Kansas, 13 percent of the people are uninsured, according to the Census Bureau. That’s just under the national rate of 15 percent.
Meanwhile, the federal government has rated the quality of health care in both states as “average.”
“Frankly, states get pretty mixed reviews of the quality of care they provide,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in a conference call with reporters.
“More than numbers and facts, they represent real people and families who…are being crushed by the high costs of health care.”
Eleven percent of Kansans reported that they declined to see a doctor because of costs, HHS said. In Missouri, 15 percent chose not to go.
For those who have health insurance, many get their coverage though their jobs, primarily with small businesses. But fewer employers are offering coverage, according to the HHS.
Since 2000, the number of employers offering health coverage has dropped by 8 percent in Kansas and 4 percent in Missouri.
Family premiums, however, have gone up since then by 105 percent in Kansas and 92 percent in Missouri.
The reports also show that insurance choices are limited. BlueCross BlueShield dominates the market in both states. Having a pre-existing condition limits choices even further, according to the reports.
“Since 2000, health care premiums are growing three times faster than wages, but unfortunately the quality of care is going down,” Sebelius said. “All it takes is a stroke of bad luck to become one of the 46 million who are uninsured.”
