86.7 million uninsured: 'worse than an epidemic'

(CNN) — "One out of three Americans under 65 were without health insurance at some point during 2007 and 2008, according to a report released Wednesday.

"The study, commissioned by the consumer health advocacy group Families USA, found 86.7 million Americans were uninsured at one point during the past two years.

"Among the report's key findings:

• Nearly three out of four uninsured Americans were without health insurance for at least six months.
• Almost two-thirds were uninsured for nine months or more.
• Four out of five of the uninsured were in working families.
• People without health insurance are less likely to have a usual doctor and often go without screenings or preventative care.

'The huge number of people without health coverage is worse than an epidemic,' Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, said...."

Add to this an estimated 40 percent of Americans who have insurance that's inadequate to cover catastrophic illness, or which have deductibles so high they can't afford routine health care.