11 June 2022 1:00

Is US health insurance just a terrible deal overall for a healthy young adult?

What is wrong with US health insurance?

High cost, not highest quality.

Despite spending far more on healthcare than other high-income nations, the US scores poorly on many key health measures, including life expectancy, preventable hospital admissions, suicide, and maternal mortality.

Is health insurance cheaper if you are healthy?

If you are healthy — and don’t wind up in the ER — your annual costs are nearly 10% lower, paying as you need services versus having insurance. That’s a huge savings!

Why is health insurance important even at a young age?

You’ll be prepared for the unexpected. No one plans to get sick or hurt (and no one planned on a pandemic). Just like car insurance, health insurance protects you and your wallet from the unexpected. Your situation could change quickly with an injury, accident, or major illness.

Why do young people not have health insurance?

Young adults have historically had high uninsured rates because they are less likely to have full-time jobs that offer insurance and can’t afford a plan on their own. Those who are healthy and use medical services infrequently might not see the value in buying insurance.

Why is American healthcare so broken?

U.S. healthcare underperforms in most verticals. High cost is the primary reason that prevents Americans from accessing health care services. Americans with below-average incomes are much more affected, since visiting a physician when sick, getting a recommended test, or follow-up care has become unaffordable.

Why is America’s healthcare so expensive?

The price of medical care is the single biggest factor behind U.S. healthcare costs, accounting for 90% of spending. These expenditures reflect the cost of caring for those with chronic or long-term medical conditions, an aging population and the increased cost of new medicines, procedures and technologies.

What percentage of Americans age 25 to 34 have no health insurance?

Twenty-nine percent of adults aged 18 to 24 years lack health insurance, yet this group accounts for only 10% of the total US population. Also at risk for not being insured are persons aged 25 to 34 years; they comprise 13% of the population and 27% of them lack insurance.

Who are the most uninsured in America?

Three-quarters of the uninsured are adults (ages 18–64 years), while one-quarter of the uninsured are children. Compared with other age groups, young adults are the most likely to go without coverage.

What percentage of Americans have health insurance?

92 percent

The number of people with health insurance in the U.S. was close to 300 million in 2019, about 92 percent of the population. The health system in the country is a mix of both public and private insurers, but private is the main form of health insurance coverage among the U.S. population.

How many US citizens Cannot afford health care?

46 million people

A staggering 46 million people — nearly one-fifth of all Americans — cannot afford necessary healthcare services, according to a new survey. Conducted by West Health and Gallup, the survey polled 3,753 U.S. adults from Feb. 15-21.

How many Americans have no health insurance?

31.1 million people

An estimated 9.6% of U.S. residents, or 31.1 million people, lacked health insurance when surveyed in the first six months of 2021, according to preliminary estimates from the National Health Interview Survey released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.