Introduction
Access to quality health care is the desire of every person. However, several social issues hinder some individuals from getting the needed services. These factors include the high cost of drug prescription, lack of insurance coverage, and social class. People belonging to the high class tend to have quality healthcare since they have access to well-developed and equipped health facilities, unlike those from the low and middle classes. Additionally, they have access to comprehensive insurance that enables them to pay for their treatment whenever needed. Therefore, lack of insurance coverage affects access to quality health care, especially for low-class people and those in vulnerable communities.
Why Not All People Have Enough Insurance
Factors contributing to the lack of insurance coverage include the high cost of the service. Many insurance companies are expensive, making low-income people unable to afford the monthly contributions. According to O’Lawrence, around 45% of adults in 2016 claimed they lacked insurance coverage due to high costs (1).
Another factor is neglect, where people choose not to insure themselves with any insurance company. Their reasons may vary; for instance, some may not see the need for insurance cover, while others cannot assess which cover meets their need. Lack of eligibility may also factor in one’s not qualifying to be insured. This aspect may be common for immigrants who may not have valid documents. Others lack insurance since their states of residence do not extend Medicaid and are not aware of the financial aid from the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
What Happens When Patients Don’t Have Insurance
Patients without insurance coverage experience various challenges in hospitals. For instance, they get fewer diagnostics since the costs of the tests may be high and unmanageable. On the contrary, people with insurance coverage tend to have all the required tests and therapeutic services performed since the insurance helps them pay for them (O’Lawrence 4). Another effect of the lack of insurance coverage is the high mortality rate. Since patients without medical insurance coverage may not access high-quality services or are unable to purchase the costly drugs required, most of them succumb to their illnesses.
Moreover, the uninsured may not get preventive care services for their chronic diseases, and whenever they are treated, they face the challenge of huge bills that they may be unable to pay. According to O’Lawrence, others tend to postpone important doctor’s visits due to insufficient funds (4). This, in turn, affects their health in the future and may cost more unless they take insurance cover. For the states with health insurance penalties, if one is not insured, they may be prone to state retributions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, lack of insurance coverage can adversely affect individuals’ health since they cannot access quality health care. However, those from the lower class or vulnerable communities are most affected. The main factors that lead to the lack of insurance for many people include the high cost of insurance coverage. Negligence among some individuals based on their religion or beliefs may also leave them uninsured.
Eligibility is also a factor; some people may not have the required details to get insured. This may be common for illegal immigrants or people with expired passports. The uninsured face various difficulties in accessing required medical services. For instance, the bills are high, and their mortality rate is high compared to insured individuals.
Work Cited
O’Lawrence, Henry. “Lack of Insurance Coverage Affect Access to Health.” European Journal of Environment and Public Health, Vol. 3, No. 1, 2019, pp.1-6, Web.
