There are many in the United States that are currently uninsured
with regards to health care insurance. Most all of the research
suggests that at least 25.3% of these uninsured is because they are
not eligible for coverage and 21.3% state they do not want or need
coverage (Porretta, 2022). In my college years, before healthcare
reform took place in Congress, I was uninsured. I was too old to be
on my parents plan and I worked part-time and therefore didn't
qualify for any type of insurance through my work. I was in pretty
good health and thankfully I didn't need any specialized care or
emergency treatments. I do remember the day that I was able to
receive health care insurance through my job. It was a great piece of
mind that if something happened, I would be covered.
Pros of not having health insurance:
Money in your pocket: Insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles
can cost a lot of money. A lot of people think they are better off
with out paying for insurance if they are not going to use it.
Health insurance plans can be confusing and time consuming
depending on the carrier. There are so many different plans, it is hard
to decide which one is a right fit. Some plans cover certain
treatments where others don't. Some people don't want to deal with
the stress of picking out a plan, even if it will help them in the long
run.
Cons of not having health insurance:
Spend MORE money on medical bills for those emergency room
visits or even primary care visits, immunizations and prescriptions.
Research suggests that uninsured adults are less likely than adults
with any kind of health coverage to receive preventative and
screening services. They are also less likely to receive these services
on a timely basis. (Institute of Medicine, 2002). This increases more
reactive type of health care, more expensive treatments and increase
in hospital stays.
References:
Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Consequences of
Uninsurance. Care Without Coverage: Too Little, Too Late.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2002. 3, Effects of
Health Insurance on Health. Available
from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220636/
Poretta, A. (2022, January 21). Is it ok to be uninsured? 5 things you
need to know ... eHealth. Retrieved February 4, 2022,
from https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/individual-and-
family/is-it-ok-to-be-uninsured
