Uninsured in America: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity

Susan Sered, Rushika Fernandopulle9780520244429, 0-520-24442-7

Uninsured in America goes to the heart of why more than forty million Americans are falling through the cracks in the health care system, and what it means for society as a whole when so many people suffer the consequences of inadequate medical care. Based on interviews with 120 uninsured men and women and dozens of medical providers, policymakers, and advocates from around the nation, this book takes a fresh look at one of the most important social issues facing the United States today. A new afterword updates the stories of many of the people who are so memorably presented here.

---

Table of contents :
EEn……Page 1
Uninsured in America – Life & Death in The Land of Opportunity……Page 2
Copyright Info……Page 5
Dedication……Page 6
TOC……Page 7
Acknowledgments……Page 9
Prologue – Loretta and Greg’s Story……Page 15
Physical Cues……Page 16
Husbands, Babies, And Temporary Employment……Page 17
Scraping By On Molotov Cocktails……Page 18
The Caste Of The Working Poor……Page 21
Introduction – The Death Spiral……Page 25
The Journey……Page 26
The “problem” Of The Uninsured……Page 28
How The Death Spiral Works……Page 29
Portals Into The Death Spiral……Page 30
The Consequences Of Scraping By……Page 34
From Class To Caste……Page 38
Where Are The Bodies?……Page 41
Severing The Link Between Employment And Health Care……Page 43
Dave’s Story: A Union Tale……Page 45
Corporate Restructuring And The American Dream……Page 49
Buying American……Page 53
Judy’s Story: A Wrecked Life……Page 57
Is Health Care The Answer?……Page 60
Safety Nets And The Working Poor……Page 61
Gina’s Story: The New Brand Of Low-wage Work……Page 64
Low-wage Work And Poor Health……Page 68
Mississippi Blues……Page 71
Alisha’s Story: Aftermath Of A “mississippi Appendectomy”……Page 73
Welfare Reform And Other Holes In The Safety Net……Page 76
Divorce, Health, And Health Insurance……Page 81
Roberta’s Story: Taken By Surprise……Page 84
Annette’s Story: The Repercussions Of Domestic Violence……Page 89
Health Care And The Economics Of Domestic Violence……Page 92
Jamie’s Story: “Like We’re Playing Russian Roulette”……Page 96
The Virtues Of Family Caregiving……Page 99
A Woman’s Door: Valuing The Caring But Not The Caregivers……Page 101
Edna’s Story: Squeezing The “sandwich Generation”……Page 103
Steve And Mary Ann’s Story: Tales From An Idaho Bar……Page 110
Workers’ Compensation: What Went Wrong?……Page 115
Firewalls And Other Hassles……Page 117
“old Man Bob”: Building America And Destroying Bodies……Page 120
“sucking It Up”: Masculinity, Work, And Male Bodies……Page 124
Valuing The Worker Or The Work?……Page 126
John’s Story: Self-medicating At The Local Saloon……Page 128
Justin’s Story: The Rugged Individualist……Page 131
Belle’s Story: Another Sort Of Pioneer……Page 134
Small Businesses: Between A Rock And A Hard Place……Page 136
The Employer’s Perspective……Page 139
Martin’s Story: A Dentist’s Dilemma……Page 141
Collective Home Care……Page 143
Rachel’s Story: “a Kind Of Magical Thinking”……Page 146
Rae And Martin’s Story: A Parent’s Work Is Never Done……Page 148
Young Adults And Health Insurance……Page 152
Jonathan’s Story: Artists, Musicians, And The Idealism Of Youth……Page 154
Temporary In Massachusetts— Middle Class But Uninsured……Page 157
Class Matters……Page 159
Kim’s Story: “a Child?! Are You Serious?!”……Page 161
Texas Touring……Page 164
Guadalupe And Elena’s Story: Saints, Prayers, And Empty Pill Bottles……Page 166
The Stigma Of Mental Disabilities……Page 172
Race And Caste……Page 176
Timothy’s Story: “no Benefits, No Medical”……Page 178
Race, Health, And Health Care……Page 181
Denise’s Story: “they Are So Prejudiced”……Page 183
Caste In America……Page 187
Weight And Teeth As Caste Markers……Page 189
Resources And The Rate Of Descent Through The Death Spiral……Page 193
Where Are The Bodies? The Final Descent……Page 196
Homelessness……Page 197
Incarceration……Page 204
Principles For Reform……Page 208
Effects Of Reform……Page 217
Appendix 1 – A Primer On The U.S. Health Care System And The Safety Net……Page 219
Appendix 2 – Resources For Health Care……Page 229
Introduction……Page 231
2. Medicaid, Welfare Reform, And Low-wage Work……Page 232
3. Family Matters……Page 233
5. The Fox Guarding The Henhouse……Page 234
7. Young, Sick, And Part-time……Page 235
9. Race Matters……Page 236
10. Descent Through The Death Spiral……Page 237
Appendix 1. A Primer……Page 238
Bibliography……Page 241
Selected Web Sites For Further Reading……Page 256
Index……Page 257