February 09, 2012
By: Jana Bell
Adults who are members of low-income households are significantly less likely to have health insurance or receive regular care, according to a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.
Fifty-seven percent of low-income families - families of four earning less than $29,726 per year - were uninsured for at least some period of time over the past year, and more than a third had been without coverage for at least two years.
In addition, households with low or moderate incomes were more likely to go to the emergency room for non-emergency reasons.
"People with low and moderate incomes run the highest risk of lacking job-based health insurance, are least able to afford health insurance on their own, and are the most at risk of not being able to afford care in the absence of coverage," said Commonwealth Fund Vice President and study author Sara Collins.
The group said that it expected the healthcare consumption of those families to increase significantly once more parts of the healthcare reform bill are rolled out in 2014.
The reform bill itself will be a source of debate in the coming weeks. The Supreme Court is set to rule on a case involving its constitutionality later this year.
Related Articles:
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- Report finds many adults losing access to healthcare May 09, 2012
- Obesity accounts for more than 20 percent of healthcare costs April 12, 2012
- Michigan lawmakers pass bill requiring autism coverage March 30, 2012
- Supreme Court hears first arguments in health insurance debate March 26, 2012
