The uninsured are those people who do not have health insurance coverage. The underinsured are those individuals with inadequate health insurance coverage estimating the uninsured population is much easier as compared to the underinsured, whereby it is very difficult to define inadequate. Providing health care services to the uninsured and underinsured has proven to be a big challenge because the number of uninsured patients is increasing with time. During recent years, there has been a decline in employer-based coverage leaving many working families without health insurance coverage.
In the United States, the uninsured population has been increasing due to factors such as cutbacks in Medicaid and welfare and also the erosion of employer-based health insurance coverage. Most of the individuals lacking health insurance are low income earners and can be classified as poor. For the employed, the nature of employment and size of business, determines the cost of coverage an individual is going to be given. (Patel, Rushefsky, 2006). The uninsured and underinsured face many challenges both in their health and financial status.
Most people living in rural areas are uninsured because they are either unemployed or have low earning jobs. These people pay more for health services than their insured counterparts and experience poor health outcomes. Diseases and ailments that could have been easily treated go untreated and become serious health problems. Increasing the number of the insured and underinsured translates into lack of access to health care services for a large number of people. This leads to increased risk for serious health problems and death. This is a very costly burden for the community.
Many individuals lack health care insurance coverage due to the rising cost of health insurance premiums and erosion in employer-sponsored coverage. Lack of access to health care impacts negatively both on the individuals and the community. This population experiences lack of access to preventive and primary health care services, higher mortality rates and poor use of health care services. Demographics of the uninsured and underinsured Uninsured individuals are mainly below the age of 64 years because Medicare covers for the elderly above 65 years of age.
Among this group, the majority of uninsured are young adults between ages of 19 and 24, because they are assumed to be healthy or still in school. Individuals between the ages of 55 and 64 are uninsured due to the erosion of employer based coverage for retirees. (Ubel, 2001). Single parents have a higher livelihood of being uninsured than married couples because they have one source of more and lesser changes of employment-based coverage. Self employment individuals and those working for smaller industries are less likely to have health insurance coverage people from minority groups have the highest number of uninsured population.
These include Hispanic and Black Americans who are said to have incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level. This is mainly because many of them are poor or non-citizen. Rates of up to 40% of uninsured and under insured are seen in some minority population. In terms of gender, research studies have shown that more male are uninsured than females all year. Personal awareness of the population The population of uninsured and underinsured population is composed the poor, the homeless and those living in rural areas.
This is because poor people belong to unemployed or those with employments of low wages and are likely to get employer-based health insurance coverage. Immigration and people belong to minority groups are also among the medically underserved population. A majority number of uninsured adults lack regular sources of health care services and preventive health services such as regular physical examinations. This group of population is more likely to be hospitalized for medical condition that could have been otherwise avoided. Uninsured children lag behind in immunization programmes.
80% of uninsured children have no access to regular health care sources and may never receive routine childcare. Due to lack of regular health care services, uninsured children end up requiring more medical care for chronic illnesses. Uninsured individuals wait for a longer period of time before obtaining health care services. This is because, a large number of this population are poor and cannot afford the health services provided when people postpone obtaining health care services, they become prone to chronic illnesses that could have been treated.
These people become unhealthy, making them less productive members of the community. (Derickson, 2005). Families that are medically underserved are unwilling to enroll into publicly supported health care programs which are implemented to assist them and their children. Private health care facilities are also unwilling to serve the medically underserved because they are afraid of incurring huge loses. Most cultural groups especially those from minority groups have negative attitudes towards health care and health systems.
The medically underserved individuals are being forced into managed care systems which are not affordable for them. The minority groups are less educated and less exposed to the importance of health care and health care insurance coverage. These culture groups lack culturally competent health care professionals, thus hindering quality access to health care for the medically underserved. Managed care systems are withholding treatment from medically underserved people especially patients of color. There is inadequate consumer education about managed care systems among the minority groups, those living in rural areas and the unemployed.
Medically underserved individuals do not qualify for medical help and cannot also afford to buy health insurance coverage. Due to this, the uninsured and underinsured fail to seek medical care until they become very ill. There are no fundings directed to the uninsured and underinsured. There are no organizations that give aid to the uninsured population. Children from minority groups who are not citizens of the United States do not qualify for medical assistance. Publicly health care supported programs have established eligibility rules for qualification to health care services. Impacts of research on personal attitudes
Health care providers and organizations are being encouraged to treat the uninsured and underinsured populations. Governments are also required to fund health care services adequately for these populations. Researchers have communicated with legislatures concerning the cutbacks on Medicaid. Publicly health sponsored programs are now reconsidering their eligibility rules. They are being urged to reduce the number of limits being imposed on patients. Public education campaigns have been initiated to educate all county residents on available health care services and insurance options, so that they can choose what is best for them.
Health care providers are beginning to provide low-cost services to residents in the county who cannot afford regular health care. States with low population rates of minority groups are now being funded adequately. (Wolfskill, 2005). How knowledge affects delivery of health care Being educated on the importance of accessing health care reduces the chances of developing chronic illnesses. This is because the medically underserved will not wait for serious illnesses to access health care. These people are educated on the insurance options available and the importance of purchasing insurance coverage.
Individuals from poor families and minority groups now have an open mind on enrolling into publicly funded health care programs. Poor families can enroll themselves and their children into these services and as a result have the chance to access regular health care services. Insurance companies have established premiums that are easily affordable by the medically underserved population.
References
Derickson, A. (2005). Health Security for All. JHU Press. Patel, K. , Rushefsky, M. E. (2006). Health Care Politics and Policy in America. M. E. Sharpe. Wolfskill, S. J. (2005). Charity Care: Tools to manage the uninsured populat