Health insurance is an important part of life in the United States. Life can be unpredictable, and knowing that you are covered no matter what may happen gives a sense of security and peace. According to a study conducted by the Duke Clinical Research Institute that measured statistics from 1987 through 2003, uninsured people face much greater health risks than those who have health insurance.
Preventative Services
According to the Duke study, people who are uninsured are less likely to seek out preventative services such as foot exams, eye exams, cholesterol and hypertension screening, pap tests and mammograms. This will lead to serious aliments being undiagnosed and untreated.
Late-Stage Cancer
The likelihood of being diagnosed with a late stage cancer such as colorectal, melanoma, breast and prostate is significantly higher among the uninsured because they are more likely to delay healthcare due to the cost, according to the North Carolina Institute of Medicine. When there is no medical insurance, preventative screening is skipped, and cancer is left to grow. People with insurance have screening tests sooner, and thus catch cancers in the early stages and begin treatment earlier.
More Hospitalization
The rate of hospitalization for avoidable problems and conditions increases among those with no health insurance. Uninsured people will often avoid immunizations, and ignore warning signs of impending problems such as ulcers, pneumonia or diabetes. By the time they seek treatment, the condition is in an emergency or acute stage.
Less Therapeutic Services
According to the Duke study, in-hospital mortality rates of uninsured patients are higher than among the insured. This can be attributed in part to uninsured people undergoing fewer surgeries, less physical therapy and less intensive care time that could help their health situations. When measures are not taken to control and prevent health problems early on, the consequences can be great.
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