Gov. Jay Nixon has touted almost as much new state spending as he has axed in order to balance Missouri's budget.

The decisions on health reform made in Washington over the next two months will shape Americans' access to health care for generations.

The quality of health care in Missouri is just "average," according to a report released today by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

President Barack Obama and his top advisers have sought to portray health care reform not just as another costly entitlement for the poor, but as part of a larger effort to ease the burden of mounting medical costs for the middle class.

When Mark Moody and Glenda Krull could no longer afford both health insurance and mortgage payments, the Edmonds couple knew which had to go. They sold their house.

Like many small business owners, Pedro Alfonso struggles to maintain the health insurance he provides to his 85 employees — an effort he says is worth it partly because "it's the right thing to do."

The latest news is available at
www.CoverMissouri.org

As health care reform discussions intensify and legislation is being prepared for debate, Cover Missouri is increasing the number of bulletins distributed for the next few weeks and making regular updates to www.covermissouri.org to keep you informed.

Much of the health reform discussion is focused on providing coverage for the uninsured. If you have insurance, why should you care about expanding coverage for the 729,000 Missourians without insurance?

Your insurance premium and medical bills are higher because of uncompensated care, the unpaid cost of health care services provided to the uninsured. Interesting facts related to uncompensated care include:

• Approximately $14.1 billion in uncompensated care was shifted to insurance premiums in 2008.
  
  
• A 2005 report estimates insurance premiums in Missouri were $291 higher for a family with employer-sponsored insurance due to uncompensated care.

People across the country are afraid of rising health care costs and their ability to maintain health coverage. One recent survey found almost 10% of participating small businesses were likely to drop their health coverage next year. As the recession continues, many are losing their jobs and their health insurance.

The lack of health coverage affects all Missourians, either directly (by being uninsured) or indirectly (through increased insurance premiums).

Significance of Missouri's Uninsured

Learn more about health care in Missouri