Proving just how deep and destructive the Great Recession has been, the Commonwealth Fund has released a new study on being both unemployed and uninsured. Another 9 million Americans have become uninsured as a result of the recession.

The survey finds that in the last two years a majority (57%) of men and women who lost a job that had health benefits became uninsured. Both insured and uninsured Americans struggled to pay medical bills and faced cost-related barriers to getting needed care.... The survey of 3,033 adults, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International from July 2010 to November 2010, finds that in the last two years a majority of men and women who lost a job that had health benefits became uninsured. Adults who sought coverage on the individual insurance market over the past three years struggled to find plans they could afford and many were charged higher premiums, had a health condition excluded from their coverage, or were denied coverage altogether because of a preexisting condition. Meanwhile, Americans with health insurance had higher deductibles and consequently greater exposure to medical costs. And millions were struggling to pay medical bills, facing cost-related barriers to getting the care they need, or skipping or delaying needed care, including prescription medications, because of the cost.

There's more:

The Biennial Health Insurance Survey also found a whopping 60% increase in skipped care due to cost in the past decade. The survey reported that medical debt problems and out-of-pocket spending costs were on the rise as well, with 29 million Americans using up their entire life savings to pay for medical bills and millions more unable to afford food, heat and rent due to medical payments. "The report tells the story of the continuing deterioration of health care accessibility, efficiency, safety and affordability over the past decade," Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis said during a noon press conference Tuesday. All this despite the fact that the United States spends more than any other country on health care, she added.... "The silver lining is that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has already begun to bring relief to families," Davis added. "Once the new law is fully implemented, we can be confident that no future recession will have the power to strip so many Americans of their health security."

It's definitely a silver lining, but the addition of this huge block of uninsured (unless they miraculously all find jobs in the next three years) will unfortunately add to the fight to keep the program alive and funded. It will become even more important, and will probably cost more, as the costs of subsidies rise to encompass more uninsured.

Providing insurance—and just as important, access to care—is critical. As is Medicaid funding, which is being cut in states across the nation. Unfortunately, the lack of care and the postponement of care are going to make costs rise for this large cohort of uninsured and underinsured Americans when the ACA becomes fully operable.

What would really help stem this unfolding crisis? Jobs. It's much more fashionable right now to talk austerity, but without bringing the unemployment rate down significantly, and soon, the crisis for this group of uninsured won't end.