An estimated 210 working-age West Virginians die prematurely each year because they don't have health insurance, according to a report released Tuesday.

People without insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with diseases, such as cancer, at advanced stages, said Families USA, a national health-care consumer group. About 16.5 percent, or 172,000 West Virginians ages 25 to 64 don't have health insurance.

"We have many patients who die because they come to us late in the disease stage and because they're uninsured and don't have access to care," said Pat White, executive director of West Virginia Health Right, a free medical clinic in Charleston. "The growing number of uninsured isn't just devastating to their own health but to the health care system itself."

White said a 53-year-old woman without insurance died 10 days ago while waiting for a Charleston pharmacy to open. The woman, who had several chronic illnesses, had received a voucher to purchase medications.

"The pharmacist found her right there in the doorway," White said. "If she had had access to her medications, more than likely she would be alive today. Her death is a direct result of not being able to afford health care."

The Families USA report used data from a 2002 study by the Institute of Medicine, which found a direct link between a lack of health coverage and premature death. The study determined that uninsured adults are 25 percent more likely to die prematurely than adults with private health insurance.

According to the Families USA report, an estimated 1,500 working-age West Virginians died between 2000 and 2006 because they didn't have health insurance.

"Our report highlights how our inadequate system of health coverage condemns a great number of West Virginians to an early death, simply because they don't have the same access to health care as their insured neighbors," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. "The conclusions are sadly clear: A lack of health coverage is a matter of life and death for many West Virginians."

People without insurance forgo health checkups, screenings and other preventive-care measures, the report says.

An estimated 210 working-age West Virginians die prematurely each year because they don't have health insurance, according to a report released Tuesday.

People without insurance are more likely to be diagnosed with diseases, such as cancer, at advanced stages, said Families USA, a national health-care consumer group. About 16.5 percent, or 172,000 West Virginians ages 25 to 64 don't have health insurance.

"We have many patients who die because they come to us late in the disease stage and because they're uninsured and don't have access to care," said Pat White, executive director of West Virginia Health Right, a free medical clinic in Charleston. "The growing number of uninsured isn't just devastating to their own health but to the health care system itself."

White said a 53-year-old woman without insurance died 10 days ago while waiting for a Charleston pharmacy to open. The woman, who had several chronic illnesses, had received a voucher to purchase medications.

"The pharmacist found her right there in the doorway," White said. "If she had had access to her medications, more than likely she would be alive today. Her death is a direct result of not being able to afford health care."

The Families USA report used data from a 2002 study by the Institute of Medicine, which found a direct link between a lack of health coverage and premature death. The study determined that uninsured adults are 25 percent more likely to die prematurely than adults with private health insurance.

According to the Families USA report, an estimated 1,500 working-age West Virginians died between 2000 and 2006 because they didn't have health insurance.

"Our report highlights how our inadequate system of health coverage condemns a great number of West Virginians to an early death, simply because they don't have the same access to health care as their insured neighbors," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. "The conclusions are sadly clear: A lack of health coverage is a matter of life and death for many West Virginians."

People without insurance forgo health checkups, screenings and other preventive-care measures, the report says.

Across the nation, about 22,000 adults died in 2006 because they didn't have health insurance, according to the report, titled, "Dying for Coverage." That's about twice as many deaths as those attributed to homicides.

"Lack of health insurance adversely affects the health status of a community, its providers and medical facilities, and the availability of services to its residents," said state Sen. Dr. Dan Foster, D-Kanawha. "It can also put the financial stability of a family at severe risk."

Adults ages 55 to 64 without health insurance are especially at risk of dying prematurely, the report says. Among people in that age group, lack of health insurance is the third-leading cause of death, after heart disease and cancer.

"This report clearly shows that the benefits of health care reform won't be measured in dollars and cents alone, but in the number of lives saved through having health insurance," said Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. "Everyone in our state deserves the peace of mind that comes with knowing they can see a doctor for preventive care or treatment when they're sick and be able to afford life-saving medicines so they can get better."

Pollack, who was appointed to a federal health reform committee under former President Bill Clinton, praised Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for proposing changes to reduce the number of people without insurance.

"This is going to require national leadership," said Pollack. "To make the kind of changes needed, this is going to have to be a priority of the incoming president and Congress."

Pollack recommended expanding the Children's Health Insurance Program, improving Medicaid and making private health insurance plans more affordable.

Perry Bryant, executive director of West Virginians for Affordable Health Care, said West Virginia should join other states, such as Vermont, and become an "incubator of ideas for reform."

"Doing nothing is no longer an option," Bryant said. "West Virginia has a moral and ethical responsibility to insure the uninsured."

To contact staff writer Eric Eyre, use e-mail or call 348-4869.