Patient-Centered Health Care for Low-Income Individuals and Their Families

Patient-Centered Health Care for Low-Income Individuals and Their Families

Health and Fitness June 17, 2018

There are different types and levels of medical insurance coverage available to people living within the United States. While some individuals and their families may have employer-based healthcare coverage, others have a variety of different policies. Every two-out-of-five employed adults under 65, for example, have healthcare coverage through their employers.

In 2016, most, or 91.2% of the population, had some type of health insurance. This amounted to roughly 292.3 million individuals. From January to September of 2017, 136.5 million adults had some level of coverage. This pertained to adults between the ages of 18 and 64.

Medicaid, which is the United States’ low-income health insurance program, provides coverage for one-fifth of the American population. Children in particular comprise 43% of the individuals receiving this coverage. Due to a variety of factors, it has been projected that Medicare enrollment will approach 92.6 million individuals by 2050. In addition to providing coverage for low-income individuals and their families, this figure also includes the growing elderly population.

Currently, however, many people living within the United States don’t have any health insurance coverage. The most recent figures indicate that this amounts to roughly nine percent of the population. Since health insurance coverage can be cost prohibitive for low-income individuals and their families, these individuals may not be receiving the medical care that they need. While Medicaid is available for those who qualify, the application and reporting process can be challenging. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of the various policies and what they cover can pose a challenge.

Having sufficient health insurance coverage has been and will likely continue to be an issue for many people throughout the United States. Fortunately, there are low-income family clinics available to assist individuals and their families. These patient-centered health care facilities offer a broad range of services to their patients as well as the communities within which they are located.

If you, or someone in your family, need medical services, remember that there is a patient-centered health care center located near you. In addition to treating minor illnesses and injuries, these urgent care clinics provide ongoing care for a variety of conditions. Preventative care such as regular check-ups, birth control, and various types vaccinations are also available at these clinics.