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- Approximately 46 millions Americans are uninsured
- It’s estimated that 9.7 million people in the USA reported without health insurance are not even legal citizens
- It’s illegal for hospitals to turn you away due to lack for health coverage
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It’s estimated that approximately 46 million Americans do not have health insurance. Considering the approximately 250 million people live in the United States, that means that almost 20 percent of all Americans face the perils of life daily without insurance.
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Do members of Congress pay for health insurance?
It is important to note that 9.7 million of the people reported without health insurance are not even citizens of the United States.
Liberal political leaders argue the fact that we have a moral duty to cover non-citizens of the United States but, even so, there are at least 36 million Americans living without health insurance.
How many people are surviving the entire year without health insurance?
The approximate number that is reported of people without health insurance more accurately pertains to those living without it at particular points throughout the year, not the entire year.
The truth of the matter is that a person who has health insurance for a few months while they are between jobs fits into a different category than an individual who is permanently without health coverage for the duration of the year.
According to the Current Population Survey from the U.S. Census where the data is derived from, the difficulty in ascertaining actual numbers lies in the inaccuracy of the statistics themselves.
Inaccurate reporting will always be an issue considering the wide spectrum of potential recipients that are never polled. The number of people who are reported as not having insurance for the entire year is a difficult number to determine.
One study suggests there are 31 million uninsured Americans over the course of the entire year, while another reports an even lower number at 21 million.
What are some of the causes for the inaccuracy in uninsured estimates?
Inaccuracies are inevitable in a society that relies upon estimated populations, approximate numbers of transient residents, illegal aliens, and a whole host of other dynamics.
Other issues involved in the 46 million figure, is that there are many Americans who are eligible for government programs who never bother to apply for them.
In a study conducted by BlueCross and BlueShield, it was estimated that 14 million uninsured people qualified for Medicaid and SCHIP, but they never applied for coverage.
If they were ever to end up in the emergency room, they would then be signed up for government health insurance programs.
What segments of the population are more likely to not seek coverage?
Circumstance plays a key role in who declines to seek coverage. The tremendous influence of illegal residents upon today’s society is too easily overlooked when it comes to overall numbers.
Another important factor, which is often misunderstood is that a huge percentage of people are unemployed and can’t afford health insurance.
When people are concerned with where their next meal is coming from, or whether or not they will have a roof over their heads, insurance becomes a very low priority.
Even those who are fortunate enough to have a job often have lowered their financial expectations to even acquire that job.
They find themselves overlooking potentially serious medical issues as they focus on the more immediate survival needs that are constantly the focus in the media and their surroundings.
What are the repercussions of being uninsured in today’s world?
One might think that insurance is an unobtainable luxury while others choose to simply keep their fingers crossed and hope for the best.
With medical costs on the rise, one emergency room visit could potentially result in several thousand dollars of unplanned debt. Having health insurance is no longer an option; it’s a necessity.
Lifetime savings can be lost in a week or less should a catastrophic occurrence happen to the uninsured.
On a positive note, the federal law requires that no hospital may refuse medical care based on lack of insurance. It will be a debt that will never disappear unless the patient considers bankruptcy.
What are the considerations when calculating individual risk of being uninsured?
General health, age, relative economic stability, and family obligations are all contributing factors when trying to decide which type of insurance coverage you need.
Having adequate insurance coverage gives you the peace of mind knowing that you will be able to afford medical treatment when needed.
What are some factors that can make health insurance more affordable?
One of the smartest things you can do is to research insurance policies that cover you and your family but do not charge ridiculously expensive premiums. Typically, insurance rates are lower with more people included in the policy.
It is also important to consider the cost of the deductible and not choose one that is out of your price range.
To reach a comfortable balance, it’s important to note that the higher the deductible, the lower the premiums you will have to pay.
Your individual requirements must be weighed against the minimum that you can afford to provide you with a level of security, compliance with state law and peace of mind.
How does one make sure they are getting the best coverage value for their money?
Spending an hour or so online comparing insurance providers can give you a side-by-side analysis of exactly what coverage rates are being offered by several insurance companies.
One must also consider the customer service reviews for each company as a reflection of their reputation- The more information one has, the more likely the policy will fit their needs.
Use our FREE tool to find affordable health insurance online today!
[su_spoiler title=”References:” icon=”caret-square” style=”fancy” open=”yes”]
- http://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/cps-hi.html
- http://www.cnbc.com/2016/05/17/obamacare-brings-record-low-for-us-health-uninsured-rate.html
- http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/unemployment-rate
- http://www.cnbc.com/2016/07/27/average-health-insurance-premiums-fell-after-obamacare-took-effect-study-says.html
- http://health.howstuffworks.com/health-insurance/deductible-copay.htm
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