Coping With Healthcare Costs
As the ranks of the uninsured continue to swell, parents and
families are going to feel the impact when they both seek and pay
for healthcare.
No health insurance and gaps in health plan coverage have had a
ripple effect throughout the U.S. healthcare system. Because of
inadequate coverage, many families are going without preventive
healthcare entirely or delaying care until it becomes an
emergency. The result? People showing up for care when they're
sicker and require more costly medical services. The lack of
insurance is causing more people to seek care at emergency
departments, which are required by federal law to care for all who
show up regardless of ability to pay. Because hospitals and other
healthcare providers are providing more care that they're not
getting paid for, they're under more financial pressure and
have to make hard choices about limiting the care they provide.
Unfortunately, that's meant cutting many vital healthcare
services for kids, like pediatric units in hospitals and mental
health care services.
What to Watch:
As financial pressure continues to mount on the healthcare
system, it will be felt not just by poor families but also by the
private employers who pay for health care coverage. Corporations
are likely to force the issue into the spotlight for lawmakers and
demand solutions. In the meantime, many families with health
insurance likely will see increased premiums or diminished
benefits. They may even find that as cutbacks continue, they
can't always find care when they need it.
For Teens:
Dealing With an Emergency
For Parents:
Financial Management During Crisis
Is it a Medical Emergency?
Going to the Emergency Room
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Issue to Watch
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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