Lack of Access to Health Care
United States residents can become uninsured for many reasons, such as not having an employer that offers insurance, being born into families without health coverage, and having low incomes. One main factor contributing to uninsured status in the US is an inability to afford health care – being forced to cover co-pays and deductibles without coverage can often prevent people from accessing care they require.
Studies have demonstrated that when individuals lack access to healthcare, their odds of illness and death increase exponentially. This is because without preventative care available through healthcare systems they’re more likely to contract serious diseases which require medical intervention at later stages which costs far more money than earlier diagnosis and care would.
Lacking access to healthcare makes it hard to work, which can have detrimental effects on income and relationships. Furthermore, you may no longer be able to participate in activities you typically would – like going out for dinner or attending parties – which can increase stress levels and depression and have lasting negative repercussions for health.
However, it is also essential to remember that many other factors impact your health and wellbeing, including lifestyle elements like living conditions or quality education – these play an integral part in overall wellbeing.
Accessing health care is certainly vital, but alone cannot explain the United States’ subpar health outcomes. While its resources may seem plentiful, they do not translate to better results on measures that matter most for its citizens’ well-being.
Affordability
Though the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made healthcare more accessible, high costs remain a burden for others. According to a 2023 study by The Commonwealth Fund, those without health insurance were most likely to report that healthcare costs made it harder for them to pay for other necessities; but even those who had employer-sponsored coverage or marketplace/individual policies struggle with affordability: over four in ten reported difficulty affording other essentials due to healthcare expenses.
Financial strain for these people stems not just from the cost of healthcare insurance policies; many also feel as if healthcare doesn’t deliver value for their money. Millions of Americans must cut spending to meet medical bills or risk going into debt over medical care payments for loved ones who can’t afford care due to an inability to access adequate treatment.
Over one third of insured Americans report feeling “cost insecure” or “cost desperate”, even those earning enough to afford job-based plans with premiums and cost sharing that fall below household income are experiencing difficulty affording healthcare costs and perceived value. We need a comprehensive strategy for improving health care affordability that addresses both costs and perceived value – one method is by reducing cost shifting where those with health insurance end up covering high cost healthcare services for those without it; this ensures all Americans can access quality, affordable healthcare they need and deserve.