There has been a lot of talk in the past few years about how the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, will ruin America and that it will not be affordable or available for everyone.
Many people believe that health insurance companies should be able to charge more for sick people and less for healthy ones. They want health insurance companies to see whether they deal with an individual who needs expensive treatments rather than just charging them a hefty monthly price.
But this might not mean universal care is out of reach. Several states have already started proposals for statewide universal health insurance. There are a few main options for health insurance:
Content Breakdown
Universal Health Care (UHC)
This is the most common form of healthcare. Essentially everyone pays into a pool, and everyone gets their needs met. If you need help paying for medical costs but do not qualify for Medicaid, this may be the option you want. England’s National Health Service is an excellent current example of UHC.
“You have to have insurance to get health care. You may not have a say in whether you get it or how much you pay, but you still need insurance.”
Mason Tyler, a student at Middlebury College
There are many benefits of this type of system. It promotes a sense of community and equality because all can access medical care regardless of income level or health.
It’s easier for doctors and hospitals to get paid because people pay into the same pool rather than each other’s pockets. No insurance companies are taking up time and money, which means more funds can benefit patient care.
There are also some disadvantages to this system, including the overall cost of care.
Since everyone is in one big pool called the government, there must be a way to regulate access and prices so that it does not get out of control.
Efficiencies could be gained by requiring patients to pay their portion of health costs directly rather than having insurance providers pay them. This would allow doctors to purchase lower-priced tests and procedures. However, those who still have insurance companies may have to pay for more time they did not need.
Single Payer (Medicaid Expansion)
This is the option that many Republicans say they support. It works like UHC but considers non-disabled people who do not qualify for Medicaid.
The difference comes in the method of paying for health care itself. With UHC, it is paid for through taxes, while with Medicaid Expansion, the state funds it.
This means that all the people who do not qualify for Medicaid will not be paying into an insurance pool but instead directly to those who need it.
This does decrease costs because fewer people are in one large insurance pool. While this has been a significant complaint about UHC, even with the profits of insurers taken into consideration, it’s still cheaper than what you would pay if you go out of pocket.
But the amount of money you will pay varies widely depending on where you live. For example, in Kansas, the exact price of health care would be $1,800 annually, but in Massachusetts, it would be $5,828.
If you have a low-income job without insurance or are unemployed and looking to work less. As a result, Medicaid Expansion maybe your best option.
Private Insurance
There are two ways to get private insurance: a job that offers a benefit or paying for it yourself.
Private insurers are known as “health maintenance organizations,” or HMOs. These were created to take care of most of the costs of out-of-pocket expenses, like doctor visits and prescription drugs, with the employer paying a monthly premium.
These health plans are usually more expensive than the other options but are still less than you would pay if you went out of pocket. You may not have to pay for any out-of-pocket costs at all.
If you lose your job, you typically have to pay the whole premium yourself. This is a good option if you already have a job that offers it, especially if you have a pre-existing condition and cannot find affordable coverage elsewhere.
However, this is not as good an option if you are self-employed or unemployed because of the higher premiums.
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
These private insurance companies offer low-cost health plans through local and national providers.
They have the best prices and networks of doctors, but they do not cover pre-existing conditions.
If you’re eligible for a plan, they also consider out-of-pocket costs when calculating your premium.
This is an okay choice if you cannot get coverage through work or a government program but cannot afford anything else.
However, you may want to look elsewhere if you need an expensive medical procedure that will not be covered by those plans, like organ transplants or cancer treatment. As this is not primary medical coverage, you will still have to pay for those costs out of pocket.
Medical Savings Account (MSA)
These are accounts that allow you to set aside money tax-free. This can be done through flexible spending or a health savings account. You may use the funds in this account on qualifying health expenses throughout the year. Still, you should be aware that these accounts do not cover prescription drugs, routine physicals, and other non-emergency services.
This is an excellent choice for people who cannot get healthcare through their jobs or government programs. The money is tax-free and will be there when you need it.
This can also be a good option for self-employed or unemployed people as it reduces the cost of income insurance policies. However, if your employer’s health plan covers you, you should use these accounts regularly.
Medicare and Social Security
These are two national programs that provide medical coverage to those who qualify. At the same time, separate programs are managed by the same department and use the exact eligibility requirements.
Medicare will cover most people who qualify for Social Security after they turn 65. In contrast, those under 65 can be eligible for Medicare if they have specific conditions like kidney disease or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
But these programs are not very flexible or easy to get into. If you don’t meet the qualifications, you may not be able to sign up at all.
They also require you to pay extremely high premiums toward healthcare costs.
If you’re eligible for them, you should probably qualify for Medicaid at the same time.
Medicaid is also available to children and pregnant women, many of whom don’t meet the standard qualifications.
There are two ways to get Medicaid: either through your state’s program or through the federal government’s program.
If you qualify for one of these programs, you will have to pay a portion of your health costs every year but will not be paying any out-of-pocket expenses. This can be an excellent option for self-employed or unemployed people due to the lower prices.
Government Health Insurance In the US is to help USA people build a more robust health life.
Government Health Insurance is to help those low-income people to get affordable health insurance.
Rajesh Kumar Singh is a digital nomad who has traveled to over 30 countries. He writes about lifestyle, culture, and relationship-related topics.
Apart from that, he is an SEO expert and the Blogger In Chief at autopilotinternetbusiness.net, where he blogs about online business, SEO tips, and social media marketing tips. You can catch up with him on Twitter, LinkedIn, Quora, and Instagram.
Conclusion
If you want access to insurance, either through your employer or the government, many options are out there. While it is nice to have healthcare options that do not take a big chunk out of your paycheck, you should also understand what these programs cover and what they do not cover. Knowing that you are still going to make payments every month is essential.
However, it would help if you didn’t put more than you can afford into these programs. It will be wiser to put that money into an emergency fund if you live paycheck to paycheck. If a hospital stay or surgery costs more than that fund, then it’s better to pay for some of it out-of-pocket.
Paying for healthcare out-of-pocket is not ideal, but sometimes your only choice is to skimp on other areas to ensure you’re properly taken care of.
If you’re looking for a way to get healthcare coverage, it’s probably best to do some research before taking the first step. The more options you have, the easier it will be to find the one that fits your budget, needs, and future.
