This should be in the "ONLY IN AMERICA" Thread!!!

Poll: 7% of Americans marry for health insurance

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR
Los Angeles Times, April 29, 2008, 11:06PM

WASHINGTON — Some people marry for love, some for companionship and others for status or money. Now comes another reason to get hitched: health insurance.

In a poll released Tuesday, 7 percent of Americans said they or someone in their household decided to marry in the past year so they could obtain health care benefits via their spouse.

"It shows how paying for health care is reflected not only in family budgets, but in life decisions," said Drew Altman, president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which commissioned the survey as part of its regular polling on health care.

The survey found that the costs of health care outranked housing expenses, rising food prices and credit card bills as a source of concern.

Of those surveyed, 28 percent said they had experienced serious problems because of the cost of health care, nearly tied with 29 percent who had problems getting a job or a raise.

Health care inflation has been rising at about twice the rate of economic growth.

Therefore, it may be no surprise that nearly one-fourth of Americans decided to keep or change jobs in the past year because of health insurance.
Poll: 7% of Americans marry for health insurance | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle


Who said slavery no longer exists?

Thanks Mike!

Wait what....?

My apologizes for spotting these disturbing statistics that you posted sooner.

7% marry for health insurance?
25% keep or change jobs because of insurance?
WTF?

Well I can't disagree with you on this one -gasp!-, it's quite the telling sign of the problems with health care in America, when some people are taking the sacred vows of marriage in order to have the ability to see a doctor or get a prescription filled.

"Jenny, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, to get coverage for yourself so you can finally afford to have someone take a look at that lump on the back your neck..."

Lets ban that 7% of straight Americans from marrying for such a frivolous reason, shall we?

The United States has a first world economy, military, but cannot manage to provide basic healthcare to its citizens. Pathetic.

But for those of us with insurance, the care is second to none and easily available.

Health care insurance is mandatory and is provided by an employer or the local government. The government pays if you cannot. The government regulates the price of medical procedures. The system is not designed to be for profit. People come first.

It is nice as long as you are employeed with a company that provides medical insurance. What happens when you loose your job or your employer decides to drop medical insurance?

You are screwed. I do think some regulation is needed.