We've all heard that 47 million Americans are uninsured, and we've all heard that health insurance companies are to blame.

But in many ways both statements aren't quite true.

The article at ABC News about medical coverage in America debunks the first myth - there are 47 million Americans continuously uninsured. However, as many as 60 million were uninsured at some point in 2008.

What this means is that the struggle to find decent medical coverage is leaving many people with large health care gaps. And by many people, we mean as much as 20% of the country.

And are health insurance companies to blame, or is it just the rising cost of health care?

Of course health insurance companies are going to say it's the rising cost of health care, but one of the main reasons health care costs are so high is that many people who could buy health insurance don't.

The "young invincibles," as they are called, will soon be forced to purchase coverage or pay a fine. In doing so the costs of health care, and insurance, should go down. Their premiums will help to offset the costs of those who are more likely to need expensive medical care, much the way that group health insurance functions today.

But with the old reliance on "pre-existing conditions" to throw people off their coverage, or the outrageously high premiums quoted to those sick individuals who need insurance the most, health insurance companies can't claim they aren't influencing the costs of coverage.

Thankfully, both pre-existing conditions and the practicing of removing someone's coverage when they get sick have been firmly addressed in all versions of current health care legislation.

And some time soon, we all hope that the Uninsured American will be the only health care myth still circulating.