With the recent Health Reform Act being put into play, the way people pay for medical expenses is constantly changing. Now more people than ever have affordable health care available to them in the United States, and insurance rates are changing to accommodate the developments in legislature. With these new developments in health insurance, the number of people using health insurance and how they are using it are statistics that are currently evolving.
More People are Insured than Ever
In the United States, more people are deciding to take advantage of health insurance and the benefits that come with it than ever before. With many people out of jobs, many are finding how necessary it is to become insured to protect themselves from financial hardship in the event of a medical emergency. In 2009, 255.3 million people had coverage and in 2010, that number increased to 256.2 million people and has remained steady since.
The Way People are Insured is Changing
Perhaps in accordance with decreasing employment rates, more people are insured through government programs now than ever before, with 31 % of the population insured through the government. In 2009, 56.1% of people were insured through their employers and that number has decreased to 55.3%. The number of people insured through private health insurance has been steadily decreasing since 2001.
Insurance Prices are Rising
Despite the fact that many more people are insured in 2011 than before, premiums are rising in cost as well. It’s becoming a little more expensive each year to insure everyone in a household. The average annual premiums for family health insurance plans are up 9% this year, topping $15,000, with possible yearly increases yet to come at as much as 30% depending on insurance provider.
Heath Care Costs are Rising
More money is spent on health care related expenses in 2011 than ever before. In 1980, only 9.5% of all personal expenditures were medically related, while today, that number has risen to 16.3%. Additionally, the United States government is also spending more on health care – in 2009, the US spend 2.47 trillion dollars but is projected to spend 4.5 trillion dollars in 2019.
Why Don’t People Have Insurance?
Some Americans claim health insurance just isn’t a viable option for them financially, even if it does protect them in the event of an unforeseen injury or illness. This can result in many untreated cases and many unnecessary deaths. People without insurance cite a number of reasons for not getting the proper medical care they need, including a loss of job, Medicaid assistance ending, or being unable to receive family coverage after graduating college.
Medical practices and the way people pay for them are constantly evolving – and in turn, so are the prices of receiving health care and being insured each month. Despite the way people choose to remain covered – or if they choose to remain covered at all – health care is something that will always be in demand and necessary to survival. These statistics are a general depiction of how health insurance is changing in the United States.