Consequences of Having No Health Insurance

Health insurance coverage can be the difference between intervention and prevention. Many American’s suffer repercussions from losing health insurance after lay-offs or relocation; but what kind of challenges does a lack of health insurance pose to you? Having no health insurance can lead to some of the serious consequences examined here.

Unfortunately, a huge amount of people in the US take their health insurance coverage for granted; an even more disturbing fact is that many don’t understand or take very little interest in their health insurance policies. In the past few years the changes in America’s economy, and disaster situations like Hurricane Katrina, have brought to light the lack of knowledge many of us face when it comes to healthcare coverage. The truth is there are major consequences to having no health insurance in today’s economy.

Financial Consequences

Medical emergencies, sick visits, and follow-up healthcare can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. That doesn’t include regular check-ups, pap smears, mammograms, and well-child visits. The average American will spend up to $10,000 every year on healthcare, but adding unusual circumstances can increase that cost to nearly $200,000. Health insurance policies will save you money in the long run because premiums do not add up to even the price of emergency or urgent care alone. When you are faced with a medical emergency without any coverage to fall back on, you may end up owing a lot of money that you don’t have to healthcare providers. This is an avoidable financial burden that can cause extra stress in difficult situations, and a large chunk of American debt can be attributed to these circumstances.

Health Consequences

Most individuals who do not have or cannot afford health insurance do not keep up with regular visits that recommended by healthcare providers. This means that health conditions can go unnoticed until they are severe problems. A cavity can become an abscess, an infection can become septic, and cancer can metastasize before it is even noticed. This leads to more complications and a lower quality of life. Lack of affordable health insurance can actually cause you to get sicker before you get treatment, thus causing many avoidable health problems.

While the cost of health insurance may seem like a luxury you cannot afford, you should consider having emergency coverage or finding a low-cost insurance plan that fits your needs. Many generally healthy Americans who overlook health insurance as a frivolity can end up in serious debt or with serious health problems. Don’t let it happen to you.