When poor people are given medical insurance, they not only find regular doctors and see doctors more often but they also feel better, are less depressed and are better able to maintain financial stability, according to a new, large-scale study that provides the first rigorously controlled assessment of the impact of Medicaid.
Among other things:
The study found that those with insurance were 25 percent less likely to have an unpaid bill sent to a collection agency and were 40 percent less likely to borrow money or fail to pay other bills because they had to pay medical bills
I know having health insurance has been perhaps the single-most important thing for me in terms of staying alive and keeping afloat. Even when I was only working part-time at the hospital, I was fortunate to have benefits, although I had to pay a little more for them than full-timers. But I had health insurance. That, combined with a medical flexible spending account, helps make sure I have money for bills rather than spending everything on my health.
At the beginning of the year, I ran the numbers and found that my medicine alone without insurance would cost over $1100 a month. When I was working two part-time jobs, that amounted to 85% of my take-home income. Now it would be 69%. Now I could just pay for medicines and eat--but not doctor's bills, rent, or utilities. Back when I was working two jobs, it would have been worse.
That's one reason I think it's incredibly important for everyone to have access to affordable health care. Also, I think we as a society pay less in the long run if people have access to preventative care and are not forced to use emergency services for things that aren't emergencies.
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