Rural Americans Hit Hard by Health Care Crisis
Oct. 16, 2006 — -- For the Clarkes, a family of four in rural Ohio, an afternoon spent outside with their horses is a rare escape from their daily hardships.
"This is America," Mary Clarke said. "You're supposed to be able to work hard, get ahead, but some people are choosing food over health coverage."
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Approximately 115 million Americans -- one-third of the nation's population -- are uninsured or under-insured with skimpy, on-and-off coverage. And it's only getting worse, especially in rural America.
"At this point in our county, there are almost no manufacturers left," said Jack Frech, director of Athens County Job and Family Services. "The last three or four that offered relatively decent jobs with full benefits. … They're all gone."
The Clarkes do what they can to make ends meet.
Mary Clarke is a self-employed real estate appraiser.
Ed Clarke lost a good job with benefits a few years ago and now works part time.
Together, they make around $20,000 per year, just enough to put food on the table and pay the bills.
"You have to figure that we are not going to make enough to spend [$6,000] to $12,000 a year on health insurance," Ed Clarke said.
They are a family caught in the middle. Their combined income puts them at the poverty level so they should be covered by Medicaid.
But if the Clarkes earn even a few dollars over the $20,000 limit, their kids stay covered, but Ed and Mary don't.
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