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 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/
