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Nationally, more than 45 million Americans are uninsured; locally, 129,000 metropolitan Richmond residents do not have health insurance.
Half of personal bankruptcies are the result of health problems or large medical bills.
Uninsured individuals receive less preventive care; are less likely to receive needed therapeutic care (like medicine and surgery); and have higher rates of premature death.
The economic vitality of our community is compromised by the poorer health, premature death, and long-term disability of uninsured workers.
The cost of being uninsured is borne by all taxpayers. Annually, more than two-thirds of the total value of care provided to persons without health insurance is paid for by Federal, state and local governments.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 13.3 percent, or 1 million Virginians, were without health insurance in 2006.
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