Too often, those of us who are better off fail to understand the dilemma of many Americans caused by expensive healthcare.
The impetus of writing this letter occurred yesterday when the first telephone call I received was from someone who wanted to talk about filing a “medical bankruptcy” because they had $60,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses.
The same day, I went to King Soopers and watched an older woman who did not appear to be financially well off tell the pharmacist to keep a prescription she was there to pick up. The pharmacist told her she owed $77. She told the pharmacist that she had insurance; the pharmacist told her that her insurance had already paid $700 toward her prescription but her out-of-pocket expense for the prescription was $77. She couldn’t afford that and turned down the prescription.
If we want people to see the doctor to nip health problems in the bud, a physical with lab test cannot cost $200 to 400. If it is not paid for by insurance, many people cannot afford it.
As Americans consider what our healthcare system needs to look like in the future, we need to understand that there is a difference between affordable insurance and affordable healthcare. As an attorney, I have counseled many people about insurance coverage. Unfortunately, it was usually in a situation where they were facing financial hardship because they had inadequate insurance. The reason they had inadequate insurance is because it was cheap. The reason it was cheap is because it provides less coverage and benefits.
Health care is not a luxury good, to be afforded only by those who are well off. People should not be concerned about bankruptcy because of a medical problem or refuse medications because they cannot afford the co-pays and deductibles.
James Croshal
Pueblo
Title: Health care should not be limited to the wealthy
Source: news from Healthcare Privacy
Link: http://www.chieftain.com/opinion/letters/health-care-should-not-be-limited-to-the-wealthy/article_25520bf3-81cd-5010-b101-36a6473340aa.html
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Author: KI Design Magazine