Is Affordable Health Insurance just a Myth?
The cost of health care in the U.S. has gotten completely out of hand. The average American can no longer afford health insurance coverage; so unless you have one of the ever shrinking number of employers who do pay for health insurance, you may have to spend as much as $500 a month just to be covered in the event of catastrophic illness or injury. If a long hospital stay is required, you could be looking at many thousands of dollars in medical bills, not to mention the incredibly high cost of medications.
Despite government incentives in the form of tax breaks to promote affordable health insurance for small business employees in group plans, few employers have availed themselves of this option. It’s simply too expensive. Small business owners are already strapped and the tax breaks offered don’t measure up.
This has left consumers in a bad situation. If you have to pay for your own health insurance, this can often literally mean having to choose between food and health insurance. In this country, there really is no such thing as affordable health insurance. You may well have to declare bankruptcy if you have to pay for a medical emergency.
You might be able to qualify for affordable health insurance if your income is at or below the poverty line. In the majority of states, there are federally funded programs which cover medical treatment for catastrophic injury and illness. You can them get medical treatment which will at least save your life, but not those procedures which a person with full coverage would be entitled to receive. Premiums are charged, but are on a sliding scale. The amount of the premium depends on the size of your family and your income. While leaving something to be desired on terms of quality, these plans are as close as many can get to affordable health insurance.
Cuts in health insurance funding have been ongoing. These have been characterized by the elimination of some items in the list of services which are considered necessities. In 2006, the federal government mandated that state agencies reduce their costs. States responded with arbitrary cuts in programs - dental procedures were reduced to coverage only of emergency services. Also as part of this mandate, the administration slashed dental services for Vietnam veterans in order to provide care to Iraq veterans. This has led to Vietnam vets, whose teeth have suffered as a result of exposure to Agent Orange being reduced to pulling their own teeth with pliers! This failure of our health care system is nothing less than a national disgrace.
With a new crop of candidates aspiring to the Presidency, affordable health insurance is a hot issue. This rich nation should address the issue of affordable health insurance with more than lip service. All of our citizens deserve decent health care without regard to income.
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Tags: Health Insurance
