By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    healthcare cost crisis
    What If the Health Care Cost Crisis Solves Itself?
    May 11, 2013
    Do You Need Life Insurance? What Does It Cover?
    December 23, 2022
    HIE metal plans
    The Four “Metal Plans” of Health Insurance Exchanges
    May 28, 2013
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Not Surprising That Sick People Aren’t Always Happy About Costs
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Health Reform > Not Surprising That Sick People Aren’t Always Happy About Costs
Health Reform

Not Surprising That Sick People Aren’t Always Happy About Costs

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

It’s late and I’m out of time to dig deeply into this topic today, but I wanted to comment on the widely reported concerns about health care costs in Massachusetts among the sick, even though the vast majority of them have health insurance. The Boston Globe (For sick, cost can impede care) led off its story by saying:

It’s late and I’m out of time to dig deeply into this topic today, but I wanted to comment on the widely reported concerns about health care costs in Massachusetts among the sick, even though the vast majority of them have health insurance. The Boston Globe (For sick, cost can impede care) led off its story by saying:

“Fourteen percent of sick adults in Massachusetts were unable to get health care they needed in the past year..”

More than 70 perent said they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket payments or that their health plan refused coverage.

More Read

Debate Over Doctor Shortages
Restrict Flexible Spending Accounts
What Mental Health Parity Has Wrought
Massachusetts Governor’s Race: Views on Healthcare
Time Thieves

Of course it’s not great that people couldn’t get needed care. But from a policy standpoint it’s not clear that it would be better if the percentage complaining were 0 percent rather than 14 percent. We’re dealing here with a subset of patients –those who have been sick. Healthy people have very little contact with their health plan or health care provider, and they tend to be satisfied. Sick people –who are receiving insurance payouts– end up finding out that insurance doesn’t cover everything.

But compare the health insurance market to others. I’ve known people who lost their house or possessions to fire or theft, and even though they thought they were well insured it turned out that payouts were lower than expected or denied. It’s just the nature of insurance. If anything other forms of insurance are worse in this regard than health insurance, because they are freer to exclude scenarios that are likely to occur.

For the sake of overall cost containment, in some cases it may be ok that a health insurer doesn’t provide reimbursement. The poll relies on the respondent to define what care is “needed.” But can the average patient really do so?

 


TAGGED:healthcare costs
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

technology in medical research
The Tools Helping Medical Researchers See the Full Picture
News Technology
August 3, 2025
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
Health
July 31, 2025
holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025

You Might also Like

mainecare health legislation
Health ReformNewsPolicy & LawPublic Health

Will Maine Legislation Punish the Messenger?

March 5, 2014
Zika Virus
Health ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

Zika Virus Legislation, Diagnosis, and Prevention: What You Need to Know

July 8, 2016
health insurance
BusinessFinanceHealth ReformMobile HealthPolicy & Law

Evidence Mounts That Health Insurance Is Necessary, But Not Sufficient for Good Health

August 11, 2014

First HHS Innovation Fellowships’ Meeting Focuses on New Measures of Quality in Healthcare

December 11, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?