Posts Tagged ‘health care coverage’

Health care insurance coverage holds great importance for several reasons. It can prove quite beneficial for people of almost any age or income level.

Some people feel that they don’t need health care coverage because they are young or very healthy. However, injuries or illnesses can occur at any time, and it is harder to obtain insurance after a health problem has already materialized. Also, people in their teens and 20s are more likely to be affected by workplace and auto accidents.

Health insurance coverage also makes preventive care, such as yearly physicals, much more affordable (with the exception of high deductible policies). This can make it possible to diagnose problems before they become more severe (and expensive). People often forgo appointments, screenings, and immunizations when they lack health insurance.

Even for the wealthy, medical coverage can have importance. A serious injury or illness sometimes results in hundreds of thousands of dollars in hospital bills, which can have a severe impact on the finances of almost anyone. For example, the average kidney transplantation costs $210000 (source: OrganDonor.gov), and other transplants can cost more.

Regardless of the insured person’s income level, health care coverage brings about better personal and family financial stability – as do other types of insurance. It reduces the level of uncertainty regarding medical expenses as well, allowing individuals to use their income more flexibly and have greater peace of mind.

The effect of people being uninsured also holds importance for society in general. People are forced to visit emergency rooms for medical problems which cannot be effectively treated there, and some individuals are unable to afford vaccines or medications which would help prevent the spread of serious illnesses.

All of these benefits underscore the great importance of enabling every person to access adequate health care coverage at an affordable cost.