There’s More to Health Insurance Issues than on the Surface

Education rates are directly related to higher health outcomes as it has been proven that higher education levels can lead to healthier lifestyle choices and a better understanding of health determinants. It is frequently noted that there is disparity in education rates between different socioeconomic and racial groups that can impact this. However, an education issue that is present amongst all groups of people that is yet to be addressed, is a lack of knowledge about healthcare insurance. With how convoluted our healthcare system is and the numerous insurance types with highly complex policies, many people do not understand what they are paying for or what might be their best option. This mainly stems from a lack of standardized education regarding insurance policies and educational resources. As a result, many people purchase the wrong healthcare policy options for them and can lose a lot of money. Or some people may just avoid figuring out what healthcare policy to get in the first place. Either way, it is causing thousands of people to overspend on healthcare insurance or to miss out on necessary care.

A basic understanding of the different insurance types is something that all people should be entitled to if it is in their early education or easily accessible resources. While higher socioeconomic groups are still affected by this, the issue is much more prevalent amongst lower socioeconomic groups. There are online resources, however, many lower socioeconomic groups have a harder time accessing these resources due to a lack of technological infrastructure or they may get a lower level of education. To facilitate a better understanding of healthcare insurance knowledge, local call and help centers should be set up. The government can work with cities, towns and NGOs to set up these help centers. These centers will have experts on healthcare insurance and can help explain the different types and policies to individuals. A survey conducted by the Harris Poll on healthcare insurance knowledge of 1,040 full-time and part-time employees found that 72% of employees wished that someone would tell them the best health insurance policy for them. These types of centers can bridge technological and educational gaps by providing a more personal and accessible experience. This can be accompanied with an initiative to introduce basic education into high school health classes regarding insurance policies. Health classes often talk about the physical body, but many do not touch upon the care people are receiving to begin with. Both of these together will be able to help people to pick healthcare insurance policies that are the most affordable and cost-saving for them and will increase their access to healthcare.