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Written By Rayyan Ahmed on January 13, 2023
Health care is defined as "the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best possible health outcomes." (Healthy People 2030) However, for many individuals in the United States, access to healthcare is hindered by a lack of or inadequate healthcare insurance. These consequences are most prevalent among minority groups, and insufficient insurance is one of the most significant barriers to healthcare access in the country. In 2005, around 46 million individuals all over the US were uninsured (Graves, J., & Long, S. K.).
The main reasons minority groups are uninsured include their inability to afford insurance and that no employer-provided coverage is offered. Many individuals who are uninsured are unable to afford the cost of coverage, whether due to low income or high premiums. Others may not have access to employer-provided insurance, either because their job does not offer it or because they have recently changed jobs and are in the process of transitioning to a new employer-provided plan. In some cases, families may rely on one family member's employer-provided insurance to cover all family members. However, changing employment can lead to a vicious cycle of losing coverage and being unable to afford new coverage, resulting in a lack of insurance.
Loss of insurance or inadequate healthcare insurance can lead to out-of-pocket costs that discourage individuals from seeking healthcare, including necessary checkups and treatments for preventative or chronic conditions, which can lead to significantly worsened health outcomes. According to a study published in 2006, uninsured individuals receive around half as much medical care as insured individuals, and morbidity and mortality rates for both general and specific diseases are higher for uninsured individuals (Hardley, J.). The link between health status and health insurance is well-researched and documented, with studies and reports establishing that no health insurance creates large financial barriers to receiving adequate medical care.
Minority groups and those with low incomes have disproportionate access to employer-provided insurance. A study by the Urban Institute found that at the time of the study, nearly 46 million Americans were uninsured. Among uninsured non-elderly adults, nearly 60% had family incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level, as did nearly 70% of uninsured children. The most common reason for a lack of health insurance was the cost of coverage, followed by not having job-related or employer-provided health insurance. These two reasons disproportionately affected younger adults and children, with 41% of adults and 31% of children being uninsured due to these factors (Graves, J., & Long, S. K.).
Being uninsured can also have a financial impact beyond medical debt. Poor health outcomes can lead to lost potential earnings due to fewer years of healthy life and productivity. A 2006 study found that uninsured individuals are far more likely to postpone or fail to get necessary medical care, with 28% postponing care for a serious condition and 20% failing to receive needed care for a serious condition, compared to 5% and 3% of insured individuals, respectively (Hardley, J.). In Figure 3 of this study, the data also shows that despite the fact that both insured and uninsured individuals have the same perception of when medical care is needed, the uninsured are still less likely to get treatment for conditions requiring medical attention.
The negative impacts of being uninsured are not limited to individual health and financial well-being. The limited access to healthcare for uninsured individuals can also have negative consequences for society as a whole. For example, if uninsured individuals do not receive preventative care or treatment for chronic conditions, their health may deteriorate to the point where they require more expensive and intensive medical interventions. This can place a burden on the healthcare system and result in higher costs for everyone. Additionally, the lost potential earnings and productivity due to poor health outcomes can have negative economic consequences.
It is clear that being uninsured has negative impacts on an individual's health and financial well-being, as well as on society as a whole. This problem persists today. A lack of health insurance leads to financial barriers to receiving sufficient medical care and poorer health outcomes. It is necessary to address this issue in order to ensure that all individuals have access to affordable and comprehensive healthcare. One potential solution is universal healthcare, which would ensure that all individuals have access to the healthcare they need. Another potential solution is implementing policies that increase access to employer-provided insurance, such as requiring employers to offer coverage or providing incentives for small businesses to offer insurance to their employees. Additionally, increasing access to affordable health insurance options through the establishment of a public option or expanding Medicaid could help to ensure that more individuals have the opportunity to obtain coverage. While implementing these solutions would require significant policy changes, they are necessary steps toward ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
In conclusion, being uninsured has negative impacts on an individual's health and financial well-being, as well as on the population as a whole. These impacts are particularly prominent among minority groups and those with low income. The main reasons for being uninsured include the inability to afford insurance and a lack of employer-provided coverage, which can lead to a vicious cycle of losing coverage and being unable to afford new coverage. Lack of insurance creates financial barriers to receiving adequate medical care and leads to higher morbidity and mortality rates. Medical debt is a common concern for uninsured individuals, and poor health outcomes can result in lost potential earnings. This problem is ongoing and requires action to ensure that all individuals have access to cost-effective and complete healthcare. Universal healthcare, policies that increase access to employer-provided insurance, and increasing access to affordable health insurance options are potential solutions that would address this issue and help to ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to attain the most favorable health results.
References:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Access to health services. Access to Health Services - Healthy People 2030. Retrieved December 20, 2022, from https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-
areas/social- determinants-health/literature-sumaries
Hadley, J. (2006, June 30). Consequences of the lack of health insurance on health and earnings. Urban Institute.
Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://www.urban.org/research/publication/consequences-lack-health-
Graves, J., & Long, S. K. (2006, May 22). Why do people lack health insurance? urban institute nonprofit social and
economic policy research. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://webarchive.urban.org/publications
McWilliams, J. M. (2009, June). Health consequences of UNINSURANCE among adults in the United States: Recent evidence and implications. The Milbank quarterly. Retrieved December 21, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2881446/
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