Low-Cost Health Insurance and Other Alternatives
The towering costs of health insurance can be intimidating. It is so intimidating, in fact, that many people can not afford or choose not to get health insurance. They go about their daily lives hoping that some unforeseen accident or illness will not occur. The dangers of living this way are enormous. Many consequences can erupt from not getting adequate medical assistance. These people are taking risks that can be easily avoided with low-cost health insurance and other alternatives.
Statistics show that the mortality rate for uninsured adults is 1.2-1.6 times greater than for those with health insurance. Uninsured infants are 1.5 times more likely to die of illness than insured infants are. These are scary facts. The truth is that uninsured individuals are more likely to perish because they do not visit a health care physician unless there is an emergency. This means many people do not get the annual checkups and other preventative care methods they need to detect illness in its early stage. An infection that requires antibiotics may be treated with over-the-counter medication. In this case, the individual is never truly cured. However, with low-cost health insurance, he would be able to see a doctor to have his illness correctly diagnosed and treated.
Not all health insurance is long-term and expensive. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act requires that a former employer allows all employees the opportunity to extend their health insurance coverage up to 18 months after leaving the job. The individual will have to pay the full amount of the insurance (his and his employer’s half). However, this is a short-term option for coverage until another job is obtained. Individuals may also purchase short-term, high-deductible plans. The out-of-pocket cost is relatively high. Yet, there is a low-cost health insurance premium. Sometimes premiums can be as low as $50 a month.
There are low-cost health insurance options available to those who may not be able to afford the most common forms of health insurance. Many states offer low-cost health insurance for children and teens. Some states will also cover parents for an additional price. If low-income families earn below the state poverty level, they may apply for Medicaid insurance from the government. However, the government does have a list of criteria that an applicant must meet before being approved. The individual must either be a child, pregnant mother, or a disabled person. And, they must earn a specified percentage less than the state poverty level. This amount is determined by each state.
There are additional resources on the internet for finding free or low-cost medical assistance. These are not health insurance options, but they are still very valuable sources of information. Needymeds.com and Helpingpatients.org list pharmaceutical companies that offer prescription drug discounts to low-income families. The Free Clinic Foundation of America at Medkind.com gives contact information for over 350 free health clinics across the United States. The Bureau of Primary Health Care lists all of the low-cost community health centers in America. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America helps expectant mothers with everything from prenatal care to nurturing an infant. Free and low-cost eye exams and recycled glasses can be obtained through the Lions Club International. Many dental schools offer low-cost dental care where well-trained dental students treat patients under close supervision.
These are just a few of the many low-cost health insurance options available
to the public. If more people are aware of this public aid and take advantage
of it, those frightening mortality rate statistics may soon disappear.