Introduction
People’s health depends on multiple factors, including diet, exercises, sufficient sleep, general well-being conditions, and other factors. However, income is the driving mechanism behind the striking health inequalities faced by many minorities. Revenue inequality has increased significantly in recent decades, which may perpetuate or worsen health inequalities. Moreover, the nation’s health is identified by insurance that some parts of the population cannot afford due to its high cost. The majority does not receive coverage through their job; therefore, they are not eligible for financial help for coverage (Wilensky & Teitelbaum, 2020). It signifies that people have less access to high-standard healthcare services than the insured ones. What is more, they are less likely to receive preventive care services and chronic illnesses treatment. It was estimated that families with at least one member who has a full-time job are at a higher chance of obtaining a public insurance policy because their revenue is eligible.
Main body
On the other hand, low-income units cannot get one because of the unstable profit. Studies identify that one’s well-being is dependent on income and health insurance they own (Wilensky & Teitelbaum, 2020). The uninsured and deprived population does not risk resorting to hospitals or private clinics because of the unaffordable bills d=they will receive. Thus, these groups of people tend to get sick more often and are exposed to a higher morbidity level. Income provides the necessary conditions for health, including housing, food, clothing, education, security, and full participation in society. Low income limits an individual’s ability to reach their full health potential because it restricts choice. For instance, such people tend to eat more junk food because it costs less; however, such consumption leads to diabetes or other severe health implications. Moreover, genetics requires annual checkups which cost much without coverage.
In my opinion, the best use of insurance is that it helps reduce unexpected high costs because some procedures cannot just be covered out of pocket. Insurance pays for ambulance charges, daytime procedures, laboratory services, pre- and post-hospitalization expenses, and other related aspects. Having health coverage implies that instead of worrying about medical bills, a person can entirely focus on a speedy recovery. Furthermore, they offer a wide range of riders that may be included in a policy plan. Among these riders, there are usually chronic or severe illnesses such as stroke or kidney failure, which can be covered for treatment. Besides, having an insurance plan denotes having premium checkups, which means that they can be treated before other patients. They are providing regular screenings to avoid the occurrence of severe illnesses,
In addition, I consider that it is useful that many insurance companies offer the possibility of non-cash compensation for losses. It means that a patient does not have to make any out-of-pocket payment if they get admitted to one of the insurers’ hospitals. Insured people are also likely to get discounts from their medical centers. Moreover, healthcare insurance guarantees tax benefits because the premiums one pays for the policy are eligible for deduction. Therefore, I believe that the above points of health insurance are the most useful.
However, sometimes the insurance plan does not cover low-cost and predictable events, which implies there should be another source for financial assistance. Out-of-pocket medical expenses for the uninsured are more likely to consume a significant portion of family income than those with insurance coverage. Moreover, some population layers are not eligible for coverage; however, they need to cover medical expenses. Yet paying out-of-pocket would be too expensive for those people. Thus, there is a two-way option for protecting the nation’s health. Primarily, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) should reduce premiums for individuals with modest incomes (Wilensky & Teitelbaum, 2020). Making healthcare services accessible to nearly everyone should become the number one objective. Yet, the expenses can be covered by other organizations and programs related to providing medical help, which will cover the medical costs of the vulnerable population lacking proper insurance.
Moreover, federal, state, or local programs should be a source of funding. For instance, Medicaid and Medicare need to compensate care costs to uninsured individuals. Local health departments, National Health Service Corps, and other organizations should provide payments to people with low income and lack an insurance plan (Wilensky & Teitelbaum, 2020). Yet the best and legal solution would be creating unique programs for people who lack money because it would ensure that they receive appropriate medical services without further implication and out-of-pocket losses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it seems reasonable to mention that income inequalities and lack of insurance lead to poor health conditions. Health coverage is primarily useful because it compensates all the medical expenses to the hospital and allows the insured to receive high-quality treatment. Considering the fact that insurance is increasingly beneficial to obtain, the premiums should be lowered so that everyone could afford adequate healthcare services. Otherwise, the source of financial assistance for people with low incomes and no insurance should be state or local programs that compensate medical expenses.
Reference
Wilensky, S., & Teitelbaum, J. (2020). Essentials of health policy and law (4th ed.). Understanding health insurance (pp. 137-153). Jones & Bartlett Learning.