In the United States, the healthcare system is set up as to where if
you do not have insurance through a private or government source,
you are vulnerable to the exorbitant costs of care. Ashley Brooks
discovers in her study; “The cost of a primary care visit without
insurance generally ranges from $150-$300 for a basic visit and
averages $171 across major cities in the United States.” (Brooks,
para. 1, 2021). Obtaining private insurance is generally tied to
employment, and government insurance is not available to every
American. This creates gaps in those who are insured, and those who
are not. In 2020, the US Census found that 8.6%, or 28 million
Americans do not have health insurance. (Keisler-Starkey & Bunch,
para. 2, 2021) This leads many uninsured Americans to a tough
choice; face the expensive barriers to obtain health care, or, go on
without care to save money.
Many young Americans feel that they do not need health insurance
due to perceived wellness. While the uninsured who make this
decision benefit by saving personal finances, they put themselves at
risk of developing illnesses that may go unnoticed. They also drive up
the overall costs incurred within the healthcare system by delaying
care. Stephens writes; “when an uninsured American is ill, and being
aware that he or she cannot afford or fully afford the cost of care,
the individual often waits to seek care with the concomitant result
that the acuity or severity of the problem increases (in many cases).
Thus, when treatment is sought, the cost of treatment is much
greater than what it would have been had the person sought medical
treatment at the onset of the problem.” (Stephens, para. 8, 2010).
Oftentimes illness is caught too late to be treated efficiently, which
leads to more extensive treatment that are more costly.
Primary care is the best way to monitor and maintain a healthy
standard of living. Trihealth discusses the importance of primary care
with their quote; “Regular checkups and contact with a single
physician make it more likely that any health issues will be detected
early, when they’re most treatable.” (Trihealth, para. 5, 2017). By
assuming they are in good health, these uninsured Americans are
putting themselves in danger, and potentially driving up the costs of
overall healthcare in America.
References
Brooks, A. (2021, October 27). How much does primary care cost
without insurance in 2021? Mira. Retrieved February 1, 2022,
from https://www.talktomira.com/post/how-much-does-primary-
care-cost-without-insurance
Keisler-Starkey, K., & Bunch, L. (2021, October 18). Health insurance
coverage in the United States: 2020. Census.gov. Retrieved February
1, 2022,
from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-
274.html
Stephens, J. H., & Ledlow, G. R. (2010). Real Healthcare Reform:
Focus on Primary Care Access. Hospital Topics, 88(4), 98-
106. https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F
%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Freal-healthcare-
reform-focus-on-primary-care%2Fdocview%2F851505374%2Fse-
2%3Faccountid%3D3783
