Insured But Not Protected

An article that appeared yesterday in the Journal of Health Affairs showed that “underinsured” Americans—and there are 16 million of them—go without needed medical services. The study shows that 38 percent go without prescriptions, 32 percent decide not to see a doctor even when they have a medical problem, 30 percent skip tests, treatment or follow-up care, and 18 percent forgo care from specialists. This happens primarily because of cost. The report notes that the figures are similar between people who have no insurance and the people who are underinsured; this means that simply providing people with some kind of insurance is not enough—it needs to be comprehensive. High deductibles and limited benefits, especially in regards to medications and mental health, were the primary reasons for underinsurance. You might notice that the amendment calls for both medications and mental health coverage.