In the United States, many people don't think they need
medical insurance because they don't get sick often or don't go to
the doctor yearly. Most insurers don't realize that it's cheaper to pay
out of pocket for some procedures than using insurance because it
costs more through insurance. The pros of not having insurance
would be saving money on yearly deductibles getting a procedure
without approval from the insurance company. Another pro would be
getting to choose if a test is medically necessary. The cons of not
having insurance will have to pay a high hospital bill if the person
becomes seriously ill. Also, consumers may die younger because they
can't afford proper preventative care. According to Terri Williams,
without health insurance coverage, a severe accident or a health
issue that results in emergency care and an expensive treatment plan
can result in poor credit or even bankruptcy(Williams,2021).
Procedures, office visits, imaging, emergency medicine, all of these
are getting expensive over time because of the number of
innovations that have helped shape healthcare. The uninsured must
understand that healthcare costs will continue to increase, and they
will need a large number of sufficient funds To get the proper care
they desire. According to Jennifer Tolbert Kendal Orgera, When they
are hospitalized, uninsured people receive fewer diagnostic and
therapeutic services and have higher mortality rates than those with
insurance. Research demonstrates that gaining health insurance
considerably improves access to health care and diminishes the
adverse effects of having been uninsured (Tolbert, Orgera,2020). The
insured seem to have more options than the uninsured, but that is if
the insurance sees it necessary. For example, in the radiology place
where I work at the authorizations through insurance can be tricky
because a lot of tests are denied because the doctor didn't provide
enough information or the insurance don't see a reason why the
patient needs the trial, which can hinder the quality of care.
References
Orgera, K. F. @_K. O. on T., & Tolbert, J. (2020, November 12). Key
facts about the uninsured population. KFF. Retrieved February 4,
2022, from https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/key-facts-
about-the-uninsured-population/#:~:text=When%20they%20are
%20hospitalized%2C%20uninsured,rates%20than%20those%20with
%20insurance.&text=Research%20demonstrates%20that%20gaining
%20health,effects%20of%20having%20been%20uninsured.
