Health-care costs have also increased dramatically over the past few years. While even middle and upper class families are struggling to absorb those costs, those earning the minimum wage are being left behind entirely.

Most of these workers do not receive any health care from their employers. Only about 30% of workers who earn less than $10,000 a year have employee-sponsored health care.

In 2005, the average cost of health care for a family of four rose to $10,880. A full-time year-round minimum wage worker only makes $10,700 pre-tax for the entire year. The minimum wage is so low that minimum wage workers simply cannot afford to obtain health care.