Rep. Steve King: "All Americans Have Health Care, Every Single One"

While speaking out against Democratic proposals to increase access to quality, affordable health care, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) claimed, "all Americans have health care, every single one."

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In reality, that is far from the case. Americans without health insurance often forgo the necessary treatment until it becomes life threatening.  In fact, a recent Harvard study discovered that nearly 45,000 Americans die annually because they lack health insurance.

According to Reuters:

Nearly 45,000 people die in the United States each year -- one every 12 minutes -- in large part because they lack health insurance and can not get good care, Harvard Medical School researchers found in an analysis released on Thursday.

"We're losing more Americans every day because of inaction ... than drunk driving and homicide combined," Dr. David Himmelstein, a co-author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard, said in an interview with Reuters.

Overall, researchers said American adults age 64 and younger who lack health insurance have a 40 percent higher risk of death than those who have coverage.

Americans unable to afford health insurance ought to have the option to purchase affordable coverage.  That's why America needs a public option.