Many Insured Americans Not Getting the Healthcare They Need
Last month, FamiliesUSA.org issued a sobering report about the disconnect between having medical insurance and receiving the healthcare one needs. The report concluded that for many Americans with non-group coverage (as opposed to having insurance from an employer or a public coverage program), deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs are prohibitively high and are associated with many of these insured consumers forgoing needed healthcare. According to the report, more than one in four adults who bought insurance for themselves or their families last year had to skip medical care because they couldn’t afford it.
Linda Barlow
“The Affordable Care Act has increased access to health insurance and financial assistance for millions of Americans,” wrote the report’s authors. “But even with the new assistance that helps consumers pay their premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs, one-quarter of consumers who buy insurance on their own still have problems being able to afford needed care.”
According to the report, adults with non-group coverage went without:
- Tests, treatments or follow up care (15% of adults)
- Prescription drugs (14%)
- Medical care (12%)
- General doctor care (12%)
- Specialist care (11%)
High deductibles, copayments and coinsurance can leave some people in the position of having to make very tough decisions. Pay for needed medications or the electric bill? Pay for a doctor-recommended test or make a car payment? Pay for treatments and follow up care or pay the monthly mortgage?
These are decisions no one should have to make. No one should have to decide between cancer treatments and putting food on the table. No one should have to sell their car to pay for their child’s asthma medication. No one should go into bankruptcy just because they’ve been diagnosed with a life-changing illness.
If you or someone you know is facing decisions like these, know that help is available. Patient advocacy organizations, drug manufacturers, and charitable patient assistance programs may be able to provide financial assistance.
Do you know of an organization that helps provide a financial lifeline to Americans with inadequate insurance? Let us know about it in the comments section.
