Americans are having a harder time than ever getting affordable healthcare. Even as we spend the most on health services than any other industrialized nation, we are getting the worst health outcomes. It’s this paradox that exposes a deepening crisis as families continue to struggle with skyrocketing insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
A median-family of three goes home to roughly $750 a month in health insurance bills today. Despite this tremendous investment, they remain subjected to a baseline $500 charge for an emergency room visit. Such expenses have created some shocking statistics. Nearly 1 in 4 Americans have not called for an ambulance when needed due to fear of cost.
The picture for individual policyholders isn’t much better. That’s far less than the $470 per month that one person spent in 2018 for an Obamacare plan. Now, that same coverage has exploded to more than $900 per month, plus another $4,000 plus cost. All of this at a time when wages have stagnated since 2018. Because of this, working families are put under additional stress.
The negative effects of our reliance on employer-provided health insurance are still mounting, with nearly 154 million Americans getting coverage through their employers. This reliance is becoming increasingly burdensome. Employers expect paycheck deductions for health insurance to increase. They assume a conservative cut of 6-7% for next year. This trend should concern anyone who wants to see our nation’s healthcare costs grow at a more sustainable level. This would cause unnecessary confusion for workers and businesses alike.
The bigger picture tells an all too familiar story demonstrating the unfortunate trajectory of healthcare spending in America. As costs keep rising, the scrutiny and expense of the health insurance industrial complex will only grow. High premiums and high out of pocket costs leave too many families financially vulnerable. Stagnant wages only add to the uncertainty for them, from coast to coast.