In the United States of America today, more citizens are going without health insurance policies than ever before. In 2011, the rate of uninsured Americans rose to 16.3 per cent, and many people are concerned for the state of health care in the US. When polled, it was revealed that 23 per cent of Americans say either themselves or a family member delayed getting the medical treatment they needed last year because of cost. Among uninsured American’s, that rate rose to 49 per cent. Although it is against federal law, 12 per cent admitted that someone in their household purchased prescription medication from a foreign country. Most American’s aren’t getting the care they need, or are buried under an onslaught of medical bills that they can’t pay. Getting the right health insurance plan can mean the difference between life and death, and that is a gamble no one should be willing to take.
The highest rates of uninsured American’s are among young people aged 18-25 and lower-income families. Although health care reform is a hot topic in American politics, Medicare rates are rising for all beneficiaries. Problems from Medicare are being caused by high prescription drug prices and some cases of fraud in the US. For example, in Florida Miami-Dade County, a 1 300 per cent cost increase since 2003 was fueled by home health agencies asking for additional funds for treatments that went beyond the patients actual medical requirements. Because of transgressions like these, Medicare rates go up for all beneficiaries.
One demographic that is greatly affected by health insurance coverage in the United States is the senior demographic. They required more care than other age groups, and with such a large number of Americans on the brink of senior citizenship as the baby boomers age, this should concern us all. Preventing health issues when you are senior citizen means healthy eating and regular physical activity, but also means injury prevention, oral health and smoking cessation. Even if you apply the utmost care to taking care of your health as you age, there’s no guarantee you will be able to avoid the hospital room. It is estimated that the typical older couple may need to save $300 000 to pay for health care costs not covered by Medicare alone. Instead of relying on Medicare alone, Medicare Supplements Insurance. Some of the more unexpected costs may come from mental health issues, which are being deemed more prevalent in seniors today than ever before. According to the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, 20 per cent of people over the age of 55 experience mental health disorders that are not a normal part of ageing. Not enough people who acknowledge mental health problems get specialized treatment for their condition from their healthcare provider.
With so many problems with health care coverage, its best to find an agency that can help you identify the care you will need and negotiate a price that you can afford. It’s best not to take a chance with your health, and it will give you peace of mind to know you have some security if unforeseen medical costs spring up.
