Many without Individual Health Insurance Options Have Chronic DiseaseAug 2008
One argument facing medical insurance, and the pros and cons of enforcing a universal coverage law, has been historically based on the assumption that many of our country's uninsured are younger, healthier people who don't think they need coverage.
And while that might be true to a certain extent, a recent study released by the
Annals of Internal Medicine has found that millions of people who don't have access to
individual health insurance are suffering from chronic conditions, and aren't getting treated for them.
In fact, according to the study, the numbers are higher than anyone had previously assumed. One out of every three working-age Americans without medical insurance has a chronic illness to contend with.
The lack of coverage is probably due to the difficulty in getting accepted for an individual health insurance policy when you have a pre-existing condition. These days, getting coverage when you're already sick means spending a lot of money (if you can get covered at all).
And the combination of illness and lack of medical insurance is a potentially lethal one. These are people who are sick, but aren't being monitored by a doctor, don't have access to the treatments and medications that can help them, and often end up in the emergency room when things go wrong.
This results in medical debt, major complications from illnesses that could have been avoided, and even earlier death.
Financially this puts policy-makers in a new position. For example, in Massachusetts the recent law that enforces mandatory individual health insurance policies for all state residents has cost a great deal more than first predicted, due in part to the assumption that more residents would be healthy.
But at the same time this also proves that we desperately need to provide better access to
medical insurance in this country, particularly since so many people are suffering from diseases that need treatment, and who could benefit tremendously from more affordable coverage, or easier access to individual health insurance regardless of a pre-existing condition.
Facts on:
Medical Insurance
Did you know...
1/3 of the uninsured in America are suffering from chronic illness?
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Health insurance companies argue that this would cost them too much money, and that overpriced medicine is to blame.
But regardless of who's to blame, it's clear that it's the most vulnerable among the American people who are shouldering the burden of the problem.
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