Report: Thousands of Michigan residents could die in next decade due to lack of health coverage

California is predicted to have the most deaths linked to health care access, with 34,600 adult deaths if reform is not enacted, the group said.

“Failure to pass health care reform—in effect, doing nothing to make health coverage and care affordable—results in a huge and terrible cost,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA. “We can measure that cost in many important terms like escalating health care costs and unaffordable increases in premiums, but we should recognize the ultimate, inexcusable consequence—lost lives.

The link between health care coverage and premature death is related to the fact that the uninsured are less likely to have a usual source of care outside emergency room visits, they are less likely to get health screenings and preventative care, and they often delay medical care.

Families USA said it used methodology from the Institute of Medicine to determine national and state estimates.

The Michigan Department of Community Health does not calculate data directly related to premature deaths linked to access, said spokesman James McCurtis.

"I can't confirm the numbers Families USA used, but there is a link between people who have inadequate health care and untimely deaths," McCurtis said. "That's the reason why health care for everyone is needed."

Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.