State-run Exchanges to Reduce Uninsured Volumes

Healthcare enthusiasts and industry watchers are hopeful that once the state Exchanges arrive, the trend of uninsured and those with minimum coverage waiting endlessly in the ER will end and proper medical care for one and all will become the norm. This article talks about how the state Exchanges are set to unleash a decline in the volume of uninsured Americans.

Portals like Countyhealthrankings.com have revealed interesting data about how the healthcare law and the Exchanges are ensuring greater insurance coverage for the masses. Analysis reveals that in the counties of Franklin and Benton, nearly 39,000 uninsured adults who are not qualified for Medicare application will be insured with the arrival of Exchanges. There are nearly 14% uninsured people in the Benton County and nearly 24% in Franklin.

If figures are compared with recent-year statistics, it is clear that the number of uninsured people below the age of 65 has increased in both the counties. It is obvious that people who are uninsured are most likely not to seek basic preventive screenings or consult primary care physicians for not-so-serious symptoms. Many times, undetected illnesses progress into ER visits or even fatal diseases. ER care is more expensive, both for the patient and the providers. This is why the ACA has mandated free preventive care services for people of all ages across the nation. Here, mammograms, cancer screenings, wellness checks and annual visits to the physician can be availed without paying anything from the pocket.

According to estimates made by the Office of Insurance Commissioner there are more than one million uninsured Washingtonians, out of which nearly 500,000 will gain access to premium subsidies, allowing them to purchase some form of health insurance from the Exchanges. More than 300,000 would be covered through the federally-run and now expanded Medicaid program for the low-incomed.