United we stand: 'Cover the Uninsured Week' will bring together a variety of supporters across the United States in the fight against the nation's uninsured problem.

Thousands of national and local organizations across the country are uniting this month in support of the nearly 46 million Americans without health insurance coverage.

America's uninsured come from all walks of life, including more than 8 million children. The Institute of Medicine projects that nearly 50 people die each day because they are uninsured and can't get the medical care they need.

The national effort is trying to change that. May 1 marks the kick-off of the fourth annual "Cover the Uninsured Week"--a week-long series of events to raise awareness about America's uninsured. The initiative, which is managed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and 18 U.S. organizations, has become the largest campaign in history to address the issue. Hundreds of communities plan to host such events as health and enrollment fairs, press conferences, business summits, campus and business seminars, and interfaith activities. Individuals also can voice their support via the www.covertheuninsured.org Web site, which allows them to send e-mails to their senators and representatives in Congress. This year's honorary co-chairs include former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.

Last year's week of events garnered a lot of support for the cause and included more than 2,200 activities, supported by nearly 200 national organizations and more than 2,500 local organizations. More than 150 elected officials from both political parties offered support via letters to the editor, proclamations, speeches on Capitol Hill and community forums.

America's Health Insurance Plans is one of the national sponsors of the event. President and Chief Executive Officer Karen Ignagni said AHIP got involved in the initiative four years ago in order to work with a variety of stakeholders to shine a spotlight on the problem--a problem she said has not only health policy implications but also major social and economic implications. "Individuals without health-care coverage are forced to enter the health-care delivery system in a catastrophic way only when things have become so urgent that they need to go to the ER. There's no way in that situation to do any preventive type of management to avoid things becoming catastrophic or to provide continued sources of treatment for chronic conditions." About 20% of the individuals in the health-care system consume 80% of the costs, she said, "so this is a good example of the country not moving forward an agenda that could have substantial positive implications not only for the health of individuals but also for the economy as a whole."

Ignagni said what AHIP hopes to accomplish from the event is two-fold: awareness and prioritization.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is another national sponsor. "We hope that this year's week will shed light on the local public-private partnerships that are working to get people health coverage," said Claire Sheahan, a spokeswoman for the association. For example, she said, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana has partnered with the Montana Chamber of Commerce to offer Chamber Choices, a product providing more than 180 Montana employers and their employees with affordable health insurance options.

"The first step in addressing a problem is acknowledging that the problem exists," said Sheahan, "and 'Cover the Uninsured Week' has been instrumental in defining the problem of the uninsured." This year, by highlighting different programs across the United States, the week-long event is taking the next step, she said. "In putting forth examples of successful attempts to get more Americans health coverage, the campaign is showing that not only are the uninsured a serious problem, but also that there's hope for meaningful solutions."