Ohio Individual Health Insurance And The Issues It Faces.

By John Harvey

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, there are approximately forty-five million people in the United States that do not have health insurance. While most people are only temporarily uninsured, the high numbers have prompted debates in the political arena about how to solve the dilemma. Ohio individual health insurance problems are part of it as well.

Due to the astonishing number of Americans that are uninsured at any given period, debates between politicians on how to fix the situation are often heated.

The pay or play plan simply means that employers either have to provide a required level of insurance to their employees or, the employees will have to pay taxes to aid in covering uninsured individuals. The plan where government pays for some health services or pays for health insurance completely is known as single payer plan. These proposals have been given by policy analysts who insist on the government interfering in the health industry to help with the problem.

One fact that seems to escape attention is that government regulation may actually cost many Americans their coverage and increase the number of the uninsured.

Health insurance is supervised by the states. Some require insurance plans to cover some types of doctors or offer some types of health benefits. Some state laws keep insurance companies from disqualifying some people. Others restrict insurance companies to preferred providers.

While few studies have been done by healthcare communities or the academy on the economic effects of state health insurance mandates, one study is available. This study shows how to make coverage more affordable and insure more people as well.

The report only covers the subject of individual health insurance coverage.

One reason for the high cost of individual coverage is that these policies only make up a small portion of all policies. People who cannot get insurance through their job choose this as a last resort. Tax breaks are not offered to those with individual policies. They are offered to people with group coverage though. Because of the cost of the policies, many cannot afford the insurance so they do without.

Moreover, modern trends lead many to believe that employers will stop offering sponsored health coverage. This will add to the amount of uninsured people. Freelancers and those who own their own businesses need insurance as well. Making insurance cost effective would be of great benefit for many people. The government needs to take this into consideration and create inexpensive health insurance coverage.

Health insurance is supervised in various ways. Listed below are four of them.

Commanded benefits: specific treatments have to be covered under insurance laws.

Health plan accountability: laws make a source of action against health plans and their employers for any harm done to participants under assorted liability theories.

Right to see specialists: rules let participants see specialists without needing a referral from their primary doctor.

Supplier due process: rules prohibit health insurance providers from entering into a contractual agreement with preferred doctors or companies. - 29971

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