The New Caste System

WBUR Boston On Point last night aired a segment entitled “The New American Caste System: Insured and Uninsured in America.” The program discussed the hardships people face in getting and maintaining insurance. Callers talked about the difficulty underinsurance: being “covered” while having such high deductibles as to not be able to get medications, medical visits, and needed procedures. One theme that emerged from the program was the idea that no one is immune from losing their insurance, that everyone is only an illness away. Guests Susan Starr Sered and Rushika Fernadapulle, authors of the new book Uninsured: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity, talked about stories from around the country (link to the program).