Tens Of Thousands Of Missourians Lose Health Insurance After Coronavirus Job Losses

The number of people without health insurance has grown by an estimated 100,000 in Missouri and 186,000 in Illinois since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the nonprofit Families USA.

Coronavirus-related job losses have meant families are living without health care during a time they need it most, the researchers said. Many fearing high hospital bills are forgoing medical care and putting their lives at risk, doctors said.

“Many, many people, millions of people, have lost their job, said Rachel Garfield, co-director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at the Kaiser Family Foundation. “And for many Americans, health insurance is tied to their employment.”

An estimated 613,000 adults are now without health insurance in Missouri, according to Families USA.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/tens-thousands-missourians-lose-health-insurance-after-coronavirus-job-losses