There are several pros and cons of having health insurance, but the pros
seem to outweigh the cons. The most obvious pro is that large costs are at
least partially covered by an insurance agency. This can come in handy
when an emergency health situation arises or in the case of a chronic
disease that will have long-term costs. One issue of health insurance is that
insurance does not always cover the full cost, which can still lead the
insured person to be put into debt. Additionally, high deductibles pose an
issue for many Americans and can impede the willingness to seek
healthcare. Having health insurance also means a higher likelihood of
preventing disease as access to healthcare is increased and preventive
screenings and tests are performed (O’Rourke n.d.).#
A con of health insurance is the risk of illness forcing an emergency room
trip. This leads to high costs and according to the Emergency Medical
Treatment & Labor Act of 1986, any healthcare facility that allows for
Medicare and offers emergency services cannot turn away any patient
regardless of their ability to pay (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, 2021). Other cons of health insurance include limited access and
the cost if a pre-existing condition is a factor (O’Rourke n.d.). Many health
insurances have loopholes and ways to get out of covering high costs,
leaving the insured person paying out of pocket for many visits, tests, and
treatments. While there are many issues with health insurance, having
health insurance will reduce costs to the system and individuals in the long-
run by reducing emergency services and establishing a healthier population
that seeks preventive medicine.
References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021).#Emergency Medical
Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA). Retrieved
from#https://www.cms.gov/regulations-and-guidance/legislation/emtala?
redirect=/emtala/
#
O’Rourke, P. J. n.d.#25 Important Pros and Cons of Health Insurance.
Retrieved from#https://environmental-conscience.com/health-insurance-
pros-cons/
#
