The main reason that individuals in the United States skip medical insurance is
because of the cost. In a recent survey of 2,500 U.S. adults, “over the past year, 22% of
Americans say they have steered clear of some sort of medical care — including doctor
visits, medications, vaccinations, annual exams, screenings, vision checks and routine
blood work — because of the expense” (Leonhardt, 2020). Most individuals receive health
insurance through an employer but not all workers are offered coverage, or if offered can
afford their premiums. Medicaid covers many low-income individuals; however, it is
limited in some states.
Millennials ages 24-39 reported avoiding doctors’ offices at higher rates than baby
boomers (age 56 to 74). People are not poor; they just can’t afford health insurance. Also,
many insurance plans have a deductible per person ranging up to $5,000. The healthcare
costs make a big difference in many people’s household incomes.
People with health insurance has been proven to be a good thing. Insured
individuals pay less out of pocket on medical care. They see physicians often and get more
preventative care.
Without health insurance, serious accidents or health issue that result in emergency
care and/or a expensive treatment plan could result in poor credit or lead to bankruptcy.
“And as a result, for several years, medical debt has been the No.1 cause of personal
bankruptcy, according to De La Torre.” (The Balance, 2021). People without health
insurance have worse access to care than those who are insured.
Health insurance is one of those things where you don’t realize you need it, until
you need it. However, with very expensive costs and access to health insurance, we can
see why people choose not to purchase health insurance.
References
1. Leonhardt, M. (2020, March 12th). “Nearly 1 in 4 Americans are skipping medical
care because of the cost”. Retrieved from cnbc.com/2020/03/11/nearly-1-in-4-
americans-are-skipping-medical-care-because-of-the-cost.html
2. The Balance. (2021, September 12th). "Medical Bankruptcy and the Economy,”.
https://www.thebalance.com/medical-bankruptcy-statistics-4154729
