Why should everyone get health insurance? For health
09 01 08 - 11:50
There are ways to increase your chances of being healthy. Among them: exercising, eating right, managing chronic disease and having health insurance. That's right. Having health insurance.
A study published in the Dec. 26 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association found uninsured, older people, particularly those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes, experienced worse health than insured counterparts. But when the uninsured persons turned 65 and were eligible for Medicare insurance, they reported improved health. This follows a 2003 study published in JAMA that found uninsured people used more preventative health services after they gained access to Medicare.
The studies should come as no surprise to anyone living out here in the real world. Because taking "personal responsibility" for your own health only goes so far. Sure, you shouldn't smoke or drink too much. You should exercise and lose weight and wear your seat belt.
But to be healthy, many of us rely on access to doctors and medications and clinics - which cost a lot of money. Insurance is necessary to help pay the bills.
For example, diabetics need test strips to monitor blood-glucose levels to manage the disease and try to avoid complications. But they're very expensive. As are drugs and insulin and syringes - also sometimes necessary to manage the disease. Paying out of pocket for a mammogram may be unaffordable for some people, even though they're trying to do the right thing and detect health problems early. The uninsured may be afraid to even visit a doctor for a problem because they are afraid the bill will be too much. And what if the doctor finds something wrong and wants to do an expensive test? Then what?
The study's results underscore the importance of the debate among presidential candidates about ways this country can make health insurance available for everyone.
Having health insurance to pay for medications and health services is necessary for many Americans to stay healthy. Not everyone can wait until the magic age of 65 to get taxpayer-financed health care offered through Medicare. For the sake of the country's health, health insurance should be available to Americans of every age.