Two Healthcare Studies on Lack of Health Insurance

Two new studies have recently emerged indicating that lack of healthcare coverage is detrimental to one’s health. The studies found that uninsured individuals suffer much higher rates and outcomes of cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes when compared to those who did have healthcare coverage.

One study done at Harvard Medical School and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that uninsured and nearly-elderly persons got sicker at a quicker rate than those who had health insurance. The disparity sharply reduced when the cohort turned 65 and individuals became eligible for Medicare. Those who had no healthcare insurance reported an improvement or decrease in worsening of their health condition when they got Medicare—an issue not found in those who already had healthcare insurance.

This value was particularly noted in previously uninsured people who suffered from heart disease, stroke, diabetes or high blood pressure. They had 10 percent fewer major heart complications that would have been expected by age 72 based upon their previous health trends.

A second study by the American Cancer Society found evidence that poor healthcare insurance coverage was associated with poorer outcomes for those suffering from cancer. In addition, the uninsured were much less likely to receive the recommended cancer screening tests. They were more likely to have their cancers discovered at a later date and when the cancers were less curable. Their survival rates were less than those with healthcare insurance, including those which are treatable like breast cancer and colorectal cancer.

The two studies both indicate that there should be universal healthcare coverage for all Americans.