Leaving Families Without Health or Home
Medical insurance coverage was the topic of a recent survey by The Access Project at Brandeis University. Interviews with insured Americans in 7 different states reveal that medical debt is leaving many families, who actually do have insurance, in a state of bankruptcy.
The healthcare system as a whole is both confusing and expensive. Complex insurance policies, routine denial of claims that should be paid, and poor customer service plague the industry, making it difficult, if not impossible, to navigate the paperwork and claims.
And costs are ridiculously high to begin with, coming in around $11,000 a year for many families. This works out to about 25% or more of the average American income, so for many families, medical insurance coverage is too big a burden to bear. In fact, every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.
Worse yet, it's only going to get worse. Premiums rose 7.7% last year, and have increased by 87% in the last 8 years. That's more than 3 times the rate of inflation. By the year 2014, healthcare costs are project to come in around $4 trillion, or about 20% of the GDP.
So what's the alternative?
Facts on:
Medical Insurance Coverage
Did you know...
Premiums rose 7.7% last year, and have increased by 87% in the last 8 years?
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Many families shop around online for medical insurance coverage policies that allow them to pick and choose the coverage they need. This can ease the burden a bit, without sacrificing too much healthcare protection, though coverage certainly is not what it should be. Some children qualify for state-wide subsidized insurance programs, and upcoming legislation may provide tax breaks for families who have to pay high premiums.
What's most important is to stay healthy, get regular checkups and preventative care, and to shop carefully for the best coverage available at a cost you can afford. Hopefully the urgent complaints of American citizens will force political representatives to take notice.
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