--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our system is a mess, but 90 percent of…" description: "\"Our system is a mess, but 90 percent of America has insurance coverage.\" — Kevin Drum" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/kevin-drum-9635_america_our-system-is-a-mess-but-90-percent-of-a_1701463.jpg" --- # Our system is a mess, but 90 percent of America has… ![“Our system is a mess, but 90 percent of America has insurance coverage.” quote by Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/kevin-drum-9635_america_our-system-is-a-mess-but-90-percent-of-a_1701463.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/kevin-drum-9635_america_our-system-is-a-mess-but-90-percent-of-a_1701463.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a10/kevin-drum-9635_america_our-system-is-a-mess-but-90-percent-of-a_1701463.jpg) > “Our system is a mess, but 90 percent of America has insurance coverage.” [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The U.S. healthcare system is chaotic, yet most Americans still have some form of insurance. **In simple terms:** System is chaotic but coverage is widespread. Key Takeaway Address systemic flaws while maintaining coverage. Themes healthcare policy coverage Mood critical concerned Type analytical policy When to use this quote - policy reform - insurance enrollment - cost control Key Concepts insurance markets public health Questions to Reflect On - What reforms could improve system efficiency? - How to balance coverage with cost? A Different Perspective Coverage alone doesn't guarantee quality care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [90 Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/90-percent/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [America Insurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america-insurance-1154103/) [Coverage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coverage/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Insurance Coverage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insurance-coverage-436841/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Percent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent/) [Percent America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/percent-america-1154102/) ## Related quotes > [The majority of Americans receive health insurance coverage through their employers, but with rising health care costs, many small businesses can no longer afford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ryun/the-majority-of-americans-receive-health-insurance-coverage-through/) [Jim Ryun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ryun/) > [With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, more people will have insurance coverage and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-r-insel/with-the-implementation-of-the-affordable-care-act-and-the-mental/) [Thomas R. Insel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-r-insel/) > [Without insurance coverage, contraception, as you know, can cost a woman over $3,000 during law school,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-fluke/without-insurance-coverage-contraception-as-you-know-can-cost-a-woman/) [Sandra Fluke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-fluke/) > [Homeowners and business owners across the country agreed to pay premiums, communities agreed to adopt building codes to mitigate flood dangers, and the Federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ney/homeowners-and-business-owners-across-the-country-agreed-to-pay/) [Bob Ney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ney/) > [ You can see examples of this, such as where \[George W.\] Bush lied to the public, and as a result 72 percent of America… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-peltier/you-can-see-examples-of-this-such-as-where-george-w-bush-lied-to-the/) [Leonard Peltier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-peltier/) > [For 40 years, the American middle class has been disappearing. Millions of people are working longer hours for lower wages despite a huge increase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-graham/for-40-years-the-american-middle-class-has-been-disappearing-millions/) [Lindsey Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-graham/) > [ “\[W\]hen you look at who’ll be collecting this tax, the chances of drumming up a conspiracy suddenly look even worse. In America, .03 percent… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/w-hen-you-look-at-who-ll-be-collecting-this-tax-the-chances-of/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [I do care about not 99 percent or 95 percent. I care about the very rich and the very poor. I care about 100 percent of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/i-do-care-about-not-99-percent-or-95-percent-i-care-about-the-very/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [I relate more to 90 percent of America because I look like 'em, act like 'em. I'm not above anybody; I put my pants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-nelson/i-relate-more-to-90-percent-of-america-because-i-look-like-em-act/) [Roy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-nelson/) > [Today, 65 percent of America's population live in metropolitan areas - and 95 percent of all the transit miles traveled are traveled there. Metropolitan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/today-65-percent-of-america-s-population-live-in-metropolitan-areas/) [Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/) > [I think one of the lessons we should have learned from what's happened with the current plan is that there is insurance coverage, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-blunt/i-think-one-of-the-lessons-we-should-have-learned-from-what-s/) [Roy Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-blunt/) > [Every insurer must offer every individual a plan and ensure each patient with pre-existing conditions has access to 'adequate and affordable health insurance coverage.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cassidy/every-insurer-must-offer-every-individual-a-plan-and-ensure-each/) [Bill Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cassidy/) > [My biggest fear, that 27 percent of Americans under 65 have an existing health condition that, without the protections of the Affordable Care Act,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/my-biggest-fear-that-27-percent-of-americans-under-65-have-an/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [My philosophy is never start talking about 'if,' 'and,' 'but' or the past, because 90 percent of what follows will be negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordie-howe/my-philosophy-is-never-start-talking-about-if-and-but-or-the-past/) [Gordie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordie-howe/) > [I've found the 90-10 rule to be pretty true: 90 percent of what I come up with and write down is kinda 'eh,' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasan-minhaj/i-ve-found-the-90-10-rule-to-be-pretty-true-90-percent-of-what-i-come/) [Hasan Minhaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasan-minhaj/) ## More by Kevin Drum > [If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-robert-heinlein-is-more-to-your-taste-than-george-lucas-if-you-are/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [I'd like to see college debt levels drop by a lot, but I'm not quite sure what the best way to do that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/i-d-like-to-see-college-debt-levels-drop-by-a-lot-but-i-m-not-quite/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [ \[Donald trump\] was steamed about \[Hillary\] Clinton's suggestion that he might not be as rich as he says. So he ditched the email stuff… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/donald-trump-was-steamed-about-hillary-clinton-s-suggestion-that-he/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [The plain fact is that recent college grads aren’t in massive pain. They suffered during the Great Recession like everyone else, but all told,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/the-plain-fact-is-that-recent-college-grads-aren-t-in-massive-pain/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [Of course the system can be changed. Why would I bother spending 14 years of my life blogging if I didn't believe that?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/of-course-the-system-can-be-changed-why-would-i-bother-spending-14/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [The folks who want to be left alone are the ones who actually get most of the work done, but they’re still mocked as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/the-folks-who-want-to-be-left-alone-are-the-ones-who-actually-get/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [I don't support everything Bernie Sanders supports, but I support most of it: universal health care, reining in Wall Street, fighting climate change, reversing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/i-don-t-support-everything-bernie-sanders-supports-but-i-support-most/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [We stiffened the penalties for fraud, we extended nationwide efforts to make sure that payments are accurate and they closed a loophole in which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/we-stiffened-the-penalties-for-fraud-we-extended-nationwide-efforts/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [I hate the idea that we might lose even a few talented future leaders because they fell for Bernie Sanders's spiel and then got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/i-hate-the-idea-that-we-might-lose-even-a-few-talented-future-leaders/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [If you don’t want your followers to give up in disgust, your inspiration needs to be in the service of goals that are at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/if-you-don-t-want-your-followers-to-give-up-in-disgust-your/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [You have to buy off interest groups, compromise your ideals, and settle for half loaves...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/you-have-to-buy-off-interest-groups-compromise-your-ideals-and-settle/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [Marco Rubio turns a question about missing Senate votes into an attack on the mainstream media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/marco-rubio-turns-a-question-about-missing-senate-votes-into-an/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [Black crime rates fell more steeply than white crime rates, and now black incarceration is falling more steeply than white incarceration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/black-crime-rates-fell-more-steeply-than-white-crime-rates-and-now/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [We need to cut regulations. Apparently this will make everyone a little more socially responsible?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/we-need-to-cut-regulations-apparently-this-will-make-everyone-a/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [The reporting is fake. Look, look...You know what it is? Here's the thing. The public isn't - you know, they read newspapers, they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/the-reporting-is-fake-look-look-you-know-what-it-is-here-s-the-thing/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) [Explore all 71 Kevin Drum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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