Many Ohioans can't afford health insurance

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by Marc Kovac

Capital Bureau Chief

Some 4.6 million Ohioans can't afford health insurance without employer contributions or public assistance, according to a study released April 29.

The report from Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit research group based in Cleveland that studies such issues, also noted that many Ohioans are "sacrificing other basic needs in order to pay for health care," said Amanda Woodrum, policy liaison.

She added, "Instead of paying for safe and enriching child care, they may leave their kids at home alone or with unqualified babysitters. They may eat cheaper and less nutritious foods instead of more expensive fresh fruit, whole grains and vegetables. Or they may live in unsafe housing."

The report was released during a press conference across the street from the Statehouse as part of Cover the Uninsured Week, a national effort to spotlight the needs for reform.

"Ohioans are struggling every day just to make ends meet," said Cathy Levine, co-chairwoman of Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, a coalition advocating for affordable, high quality health care for all residents. "They must make difficult choices to provide and protect their families. How many of them can truly afford health insurance coverage?"

Policy Matters Ohio compared the percentage of one's income needed to cover health insurance to the costs involved in a no-frills household budget (housing, utilities, food, health and child care, transportation, etc.).

The results showed that a single-mother with two children would need to earn $38,000 annually and a dual-earning family with two children $43,341, in order to cover their basic needs. Those earning more would have the resources necessary to put toward additional health care costs; those earning less could not make ends meet.

"For Ohioans to be able to afford health care coverage, most need higher wages, larger employer contributions, public subsidies or better access to current public health care programs," Woodrum said.

Marc Kovac is the Dix Newspapers Capital Bureau chief. E-mail him at mkovac@dixcom.com.