Introduction
The primary purpose of health insurance is to protect people and families from the devastating financial effects of unexpected medical bills. If they have health insurance, they will not have to worry about paying for their medical care out of pocket. In addition to covering curative care, most health insurance policies pay for preventive care services, including checkups and screenings (Pullman Regional Hospital, 2017).
One of the goals of health insurance is to increase access to necessary medical care. Many people cannot afford the necessary medical care due to the high cost of prescription medicines. Hospital stays and other medical services are more expensive if they do not have health insurance. Health insurance may make it easier to access various therapeutic options, including those for mental health and rehabilitation.
Current Health Insurance Status of the U.S. Population
It is not simple to assess the present state of health insurance in the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that in 2017, 8.8%, or 28.5 million individuals, did not have health insurance (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). The uninsured rate rose from 2016’s 8.6% to this year’s 9.1%. Young individuals (ages 19-34) comprise the largest segment of the uninsured population, followed by Hispanics and those with annual household incomes of less than $25,000. About 158 million Americans had health coverage via their employers in 2017, as the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported in 2019.
Roughly 74 million people are enrolled in Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income individuals. About 60 million people are enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance program for those 65 and up (KFK, 2019). The KFF estimates that as of January 1, 2019, 91% of all Americans were covered by some kind of health insurance. Their employers covered most of the population, while one-ninth had Medicaid, one-fourth had Medicare, 8% had coverage via the individual market, and 2% had other forms of insurance.
Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010, the percentage of Americans without health insurance has dropped. In recent years, the percentage has decreased to around 9% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). Despite health insurance, many people are underinsured and must pay a disproportionate share of their medical bills out of pocket. Individual plans on the market and health insurance provided by the military are two more options.
Underinsured people have health insurance but have trouble paying for necessary medical treatment (Sommers et al., 2017). According to KFF (2019), about 45% of individuals in the United States lack adequate health insurance. People with high-deductible plans and those without sufficient funds to cover copayments and deductibles fall into this category.
The development of health insurance policies has been inconsistent. While fewer people are without health insurance now than before the ACA was passed, that number has been rising in recent years. The rate of uninsured citizens fell from 13.4% in 2013 to 8.6% in 2016 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). However, as was previously reported, the uninsured rate rose to 8.8% in 2017 (Pullman Regional Hospital, 2017). The number of people without health insurance has significantly lowered thanks to the Affordable Care Act’s expansion of Medicaid and the creation of insurance markets. Recent efforts to repeal the ACA and revisions to the individual mandate may be to blame for the rise in the uninsured rate.
Impact of Health Insurance on Health Outcomes
Health insurance has been found to enhance several aspects of healthcare, including access, quality, cost, patient satisfaction, and mortality. Preventive care services, such as regular checkups and screenings, can reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and identify health issues in their early stages when they are more easily treated when caught early (Pullman Regional Hospital, 2017). In many places, health care would not be possible without universal access to health insurance. It is crucial because it helps more people get the necessary medicines, be admitted to hospitals, and undergo treatments that can improve their health and quality of life (Frean et al., 2017). Without health insurance, patients may experience delays in diagnosis, poor treatment, and worse health outcomes because of financial constraints.
Health insurance can help remove these roadblocks and give people access to the treatment they need to maintain their health. Evidence shows that those with coverage report better overall health than those without (Pullman Regional Hospital, 2017). Insured individuals are also more inclined to use preventive care services, such as annual physicals and screening tests, which can detect potential issues before they become serious.
Additionally, those with access to health insurance are more likely to obtain treatment for chronic health disorders, which can boost their health and quality of life. Finally, having health insurance is associated with shorter life expectancies. Researchers have shown that those with access to healthcare insurance are less likely to die prematurely than those without (Pullman Regional Hospital, 2017). This is because people with health insurance tend to seek timely treatment for their ailments, reducing the risk of their conditions worsening. In addition, coverage can lower out-of-pocket expenses, making it less likely that individuals will delay or skip essential medical care due to cost.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American healthcare system would not function without health insurance. It helps people afford health care and reduces barriers to service by shielding them from unexpected bills. Increased access to care, better illness management, better patient reports of health, and reduced mortality have all been associated with health insurance coverage. The introduction of the ACA has contributed to a rise in coverage rates in recent years. At the same time, there are still challenges with access to health care, especially for the underinsured and the uninsured.
References
Frean, M., Gruber, J., & Sommers, B. D. (2017). Premium subsidies, the mandate, and Medicaid expansion: Coverage effects of the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Health Economics, 53, 72-86. Web.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2019). Health insurance coverage of the total population. KFF. Web.
Pullman Regional Hospital. (2017). Healthcare finance 101 with Steve Febus. YouTube. Web.
Sommers, B. D., Gawande, A. A., & Baicker, K. (2017). Health insurance coverage and health: What the recent evidence tells us. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(6), 586-593. Web.
US Census Bureau. (2018). Health insurance coverage in the United States: 2017. Census. Web.