Affordable Health Insurance: Yeah Right

by Joe Boyd

The cost of health care in the U.S. has gotten completely out of hand. The average American can no longer afford health insurance coverage; so unless you have one of the ever shrinking number of employers who do pay for health insurance, you may have to spend as much as $500 a month just to be covered in the event of catastrophic illness or injury. If a long hospital stay is required, you could be looking at many thousands of dollars in medical bills, not to mention the incredibly high cost of medications.

Government incentives are now available to small businesses. These tax breaks were intended to induce small businesses to offer group health plans, but few have taken these up. It is just too expensive for most small business owners - the tax breaks do not cover the extra expense involved.

This has left consumers in a bad situation. If you have to pay for your own health insurance, this can often literally mean having to choose between food and health insurance. In this country, there really is no such thing as affordable health insurance. You may well have to declare bankruptcy if you have to pay for a medical emergency.

You might be able to qualify for affordable health insurance if your income is at or below the poverty line. In the majority of states, there are federally funded programs which cover medical treatment for catastrophic injury and illness. You can them get medical treatment which will at least save your life, but not those procedures which a person with full coverage would be entitled to receive. Premiums are charged, but are on a sliding scale. The amount of the premium depends on the size of your family and your income. While leaving something to be desired on terms of quality, these plans are as close as many can get to affordable health insurance.

Recent cuts in health insurance funding have been characterized by a reduction in what are deemed necessary services. For example, in 2006, the Feds required State agencies to cut their health care costs by a certain percentage. States responded by making cuts in a rather arbitrary manner. Dental services were cut to emergency services only. At the same time, the current administration notified the VA to cut dental funding to Vietnam vets, so that Iraq war vets could receive treatment. This directive resulted in Vietnam vets, with crumbling teeth due to the effects of Agent Orange, removing their own teeth with a pair of pliers. They had no other choice. Such a failed health insurance program is a disgrace to our nation.

With a Presidential election just around the corner, affordable health insurance is on the minds of many. This is a nation which can afford to care for all of its citizens and needs to do so rather than merely giving lip service to this important issue. All Americans deserve health care, no matter what their income level.

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