New Census Numbers Show TN Uninsured Growing
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September 11, 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The number of people lacking health insurance is now 46.3 million, up from 45.7 million in 2007, according to new numbers from the Census Bureau. In Tennessee, the total uninsured has increased nearly 50,000 to almost one million people.
Tony Garr, executive director of the Tennessee Health Care Campaign, says Tennesseans already knew what the findings would be.
"The number of uninsured people, even before the economic downturn, was increasing here in Tennessee and now they know it's worse. I think the Census basically confirmed what Tennesseans instinctively know."
President Obama made headway in his Wednesday speech putting all the pieces of health care reform together, says Garr, who is confident some form of health care reform will be on the president's desk by Thanksgiving.
"Something will come out of this sausage grinder, and it's not going to be perfect, but it will be something that will move our country in the right direction."
Much has been made of the differences among lawmakers on health care, adds Garr, but little has been said about what both sides agree on, and the agreements outnumber the disagreements.
The report is available at www.census.gov.