Uninsured in America: Life and Death in the Land of Opportunity

by Susan Starr Sered

Reaching beyond statistics and prevalent assumptions, Uninsured in America goes to the heart of why more than forty million Americans are falling through the cracks in the health care system, and what it means for society as a whole when so many people suffer the consequences of inadequate medical care. Based on interviews with 120 uninsured men and women and dozens of medical providers, policymakers, and advocates from around the nation, this book takes a fresh look at one of the most important social issues facing the United States today. The vivid and moving stories of those interviewed illustrate the complicated dilemmas—including full-time family caregiving, sudden illness, self-employment, layoffs, and on-the-job injuries—faced by those trying to balance medical problems with housing costs and other daily necessities. This engrossing, accessible, and timely book concludes that our current health care system is leading to fundamental structural changes in American society.

Genres: Nonfiction, Research

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Susan Starr Sered (born 1955) is Professor of Sociology at Suffolk University and Senior Researcher at Suffolk University's Center for Women's Health and Human Rights, having previously been the director of the "Religion, Health and Healing Initiative" at the Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions, and a Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Her interests include both research and advocacy / activism. Professor Sered is the author of seven books, nearly one hundred scholarly articles, and numerous op-eds and shorter articles focusing on women's health, mass incarceration, and a variety of religious issues, including:

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lobstergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is about as depressing as a book can be, but it will be eye-opening only to those who know little about America's healthcare system or our hole-filled safety net - perhaps someone like a Rudy Giuliani. It's not particularly well written. The cliches fly fast and furious until Chapter 11, when it abruptly feels like someone who actually writes about policy for a living has taken over. (The two authors' division of labor explains it.)

[Tannya]

Excellent, excellent, excellent book. It is required so I have to read it, but it is a page turner so far. I am about half way through. The premise of the book is what is so excellent. Honestly for me it is inspiring me more than any other book, or any other suggestions from the church to be organized and prepared for the future. It chronicles middle class families from 7-10 different stated (Texas, Idaho, Mississippi, Illinois, Washington etc.) that have gone through job loss, healthcare emergencies, the deindustrialization of major companies, and how from these experiences they have lost and are now without healthcare, and how that is affecting other areas and aspects of their life. It is a book anyone that I would assume almost everyone could relate to. Just in starting new jobs there is a time period of 3-6 months where many families are uninsured. My brothers best friend from high school was switching jobs in Bend and had a 3 month period without insurance. With 3 weeks to go he was in a snowboarding accident and lost his leg. His leg seriously without insurance. His medical bills were hundreds of thousands of dollars. Anyways the community I grew up in and were he was currently living raised the money. Anyways everyone can relate to things in this book. It gives one heck of a good argument for universal healthcare. Happy reading

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly? This book made me feel sick to my stomach. I probably would have cried had I not been at work (a job which, by the way, does not offer health insurance; and before anyone gets snarky about me reading at the office, I was on break, so there). It's sobering and scary. What horribly fucked up priorities and perceptions we have in this country.

The updated version was published in 2006, before 'Obamacare' was even a possibility. I would be curious to read what the authors have to say about what's happened in our country in the past five years, and what we may have to look forward to, depending on which way the political winds blow in the near future.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As many people know, health care in the US and the fact that millions of Americans can't afford decent medical care is a big issue going into the election this fall. This book is a truly excellent look at exactly what it means to be uninsured in the land of the free. Who is uninsured? The urban, the rural, the small business owners, those caught sick between jobs, those in college. This book is filled with real life examples and shows how one small accident can ruin your life in the US where there is no medical safety net.

[Mel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who has no insurance? The urban, the rural, the small business owners, those caught sick between jobs, those in college (where we all spend more and more time, as we build our "knowledge economy." What happens? A downward spiral of worsening health leading to disability to work due to illness coupled with growing medical bills, followed by bodily markings (yellow skin, bad teeth) that interfere with the ability to get a job, followed by death. Uninsured in America? Get sick, get worse, and die. Might actually be more humane to simply shoot these lame horses.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Depressing, frustrating, real. Not a ton of surprises here, but good, solid facts to back up your otherwise unfocused rant about health care and general administrative responsibility in this country. Now you can be specific.

[Iga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theme: Employer-based health insurance is one big conflict of interest. A stunning, contmeporary, ethnographic piece on how Americans are struggling to receive health services with or without insurance.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard not feel shame and rage as I read the cases in this book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a class last spring ("US Health Disparities"), and I found it extremely informative and particularly pertinent in the midst of our country's healthcare crisis.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-researched, well-written, heart-breaking.

[Tina (Bettina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to understand how the lack of insurance impacts families from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds.

[Angelica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book and really energized me in my field.