Protecting health care access brings broad benefit

Why was a 53-year-old worker admitted to the stroke ward of our hospital? It is conceivable to do or not. Because we men are notoriously reluctant to listen to doctors or take medicine.

But the underlying reason was that he didn’t have insurance.like 135,000 others at Hampton Roads, he did not earn enough to pay for private insurance and was not eligible for Medicaid. As such, doctor visits and medications to control blood pressure were not part of his world, and this was before Virginia finally voted to accept Medicaid expansion in 2018. Prior to that, young Virginians of working age were not, by law, eligible for Medicaid, now health insurance, unless they were disabled, pregnant, or were raising children. Covers more than 1 in 4 adults and children In the United States.

Hospitals do not reject uninsured patients, but getting medical care means receiving medical bills. Nearly half of uninsured Americans in the survey said they had avoided necessary medical care in the previous year. When these bills arrive, the uninsured is forced to choose between paying the bills or paying the car or rent. 1 in 6 Virginians have a credit report It shows unpaid medical bills, which are the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in America.and oregon program When insurance is awarded by lottery, having Medicaid coverage has been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of family eviction. moreover, The study of Johns Hopkins Uninsured people who receive emergency room care are often charged a “high price” (usually several times the heavily discounted rates negotiated by Medicare and private insurance), which gives the poor the advantage of the wealthy. I found that it had a negative effect of making me pay for medical expenses. .

Therefore, uninsured people are pushed further into poverty by seeking medical care. And now their biggest line of defense, Medicaid itself, is at stake. For Medicaid, he has two reasons.

First, Medicaid makes up 9% of the federal budget (because Social Security and Medicare are untouchables), making it a target for budget hawks. Second, since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over on March 31, every Medicaid recipient must requalify within her 12 months. Medicaid enrollment increased rapidly during the pandemic, and the uninsured rate dropped to an unprecedented 8%. For the past three years, it has been federal and state policy not to reduce anyone’s Medicaid enrollment until the pandemic is officially declared over. Understaffed state officials are now rushing to update addresses and contact more than two million Virginians to make sure they meet guidelines. People currently exempt from Medicaid because of their income can apply for subsidized insurance through the Affordable Care Act, but all this takes time to submit and process paperwork.

“churn” A term used to describe moving in and out of Medicaid coverage as circumstances and finances change. People with Medicare or private insurance can usually count on continued coverage, but 10% of those who lose Medicaid for part of the year suddenly have to pay for their next dose of insulin. There is a possibility that you will not be able to do it and will come to the pharmacy.Uninsured Virginians more often in Hispanic and black communities, Lack of insurance creates health inequalities, including increased risk of death from cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Never mistake Medicaid for your ideal health plan. With fewer drugs and treatments covered and lower payout rates than Medicare or private insurance companies, it’s often difficult to find an accepting doctor or mental health care provider. Rather, see this as America’s way of undertaking a more universal bulwark against both disease and poverty. And don’t forget that losing your insurance can set off a chain of disasters like untreated illness, eviction, and bankruptcy. Moreover, issues of justice aside, what is good for the health and well-being of those living in poverty turns out to be good for them as well. everyone’s economy in our area.

Don’t try to balance state and national budgets by stripping the most vulnerable people in our communities of Medicaid. Instead, increase resources for Virginia’s social services, faith-based organizations, and others working to maintain uninterrupted health coverage. Help the poor get insurance while at work, out of their apartment or stroke room.

Bruce Holbrook President of Bruce Holbrook Consulting, a Norfolk native. Armistead Williams, MD A neurologist in Norfolk, he has served as Director of Stroke at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Bonn School-DePaul Hospital. He is a former member of the Sentara Healthcare Medical Advisory Board.