Can anyone tell me what % of the uninsured are young and healthy but just don't want insurance?

[CTLawGuy]

in other words, what % of the uninsured are the insurance companies itching to enroll?

There are 3 groups of uninsured:
1. Uninsurable people - preexisting conditions, a definite net loss for any insurance company. They don't want to get within 10 feet of these people.

2. People who are too poor to afford insurance, but too wealthy for medicaid and don't get insurance at work, but are otherwise insurable. Doubt the insurance companies want people who might not be able to pay their premiums. Insurance companies might want these people if there are subsidies backing them up, but they are probably more likely to have health problems than group #3 and are probably not very profitable. I should note that these people want insurance and will happily get it if they can afford it.

3. People who are young and healthy and of means, but just don't want to buy insurance because it is not worth it for them. Insurance companies would want these people.

Does anyone know roughly about what % are of each? Thanks

[Edith Ann]

1. Preexisting

Everything is preexisting now. I was turned down several years ago because I had female organs and might need a hysterectomy in the future. I don't have female problems not then and not now. These was BCBS. Now a 1st pregnancy is preexisting. You now how this wingnuts love babies, they just don't want them to have medical care. The young population in this country is not as healthy and my group grew up to be. Diabetes in rampant with type II showing up in children. We are killing ourselves with out bad diets and sedentary life styles. So I believe that the % is low. There will always be stupid people who have to learn their lessons the hard way. Whatever % it is, it would be cheaper than filling our ER's with uninsured, extremely ill people who would have cost less money in an urgent care center rather than a hospital ER. ER and trauma Docs don't need to be treating ear infections because pt's have no health insurance.

[Edith Ann]

2. Preexisting

Everything is preexisting now. I was turned down several years ago because I had female organs and might need a hysterectomy in the future. I don't have female problems not then and not now. These was BCBS. Now a 1st pregnancy is preexisting. You now how this wingnuts love babies, they just don't want them to have medical care. The young population in this country is not as healthy and my group grew up to be. Diabetes in rampant with type II showing up in children. We are killing ourselves with out bad diets and sedentary life styles. So I believe that the % is low. There will always be stupid people who have to learn their lessons the hard way. Whatever % it is, it would be cheaper than filling our ER's with uninsured, extremely ill people who would have cost less money in an urgent care center rather than a hospital ER. ER and trauma Docs don't need to be treating ear infections because pt's have no health insurance.

[Oregone]

3. When I was young and healthy, I actually did want insurance...

But being that my monthly premium quotes as a self-employed business owner were more than my mortgage, I had to forgoe on it and see if I could use those years to get ahead. While it did work, I was but an accident away from losing everything, which was stressful. Though, even if I had insurance, I could of been an accident away from losing everything

[Garam_Masala]

10. If you have no insurance, and need expensive medical treatment, do this...

Fly to Singapore, Bangkock, Mumbai or Bangalore and check into the
most expensive hospital. Your bill will be way less than half of
it will be in US. And you will getter better service, better food,
better room than you would in US.

[TheKentuckian]

4. I think #2 is the largest group mentioned, followed by group #1

Group #3 I think is fairly small with most belonging to group #2. I was 20 and was all about getting good coverage and have hired lots of people 20-30 and one of their first questions was always about insurance. I think that group is simply the most likely to be working in jobs that don't offer coverage or cannot afford the cost because it would be such a big chunk of their pay.

I'd like to see a study of how many young folk turn down coverage from larger companies that can offer comprehensive policies at a relatively affordable rate.

[Bad Thoughts]

5. #3 is a BS Category

Somewhere down the road, they'll become someone with serious health issues and, subsequently, become uninsurable (#1).

[ecstatic]

6. #3--they want it but don't want the outrageous premiums

Young people want insurance--everyone gets sick every now and then and, I'm sure young people would like easier access to STD testing among other things.

My brother is 22 and was paying 75/month but KP notified him that his rate would be increased to 100/month. He is furious but I view him as lucky (BCBS wants me to pay 343/month starting next year!).

[4lbs]

7. Group #1 is the largest and growing, since the insurance companies keep moving the goalposts on what

constitutes a pre-existing condition to them.

Ever been sick enough to require surgery or a prescription drug/IV to fix or manage it? You have a pre-existing condition.

Are you a woman? You have a pre-existing condition because you might get pregnant, or develop breast or cervical cancer.

Work as an auto mechanic or industrial worker? You are around toxic chemicals all day and can get cancer. You have a pre-existing condition.

Work in the construction industry? You are around dangerous tools all day, and can be injured from a fall or a tool. You have a pre-existing condition.

Do you have any genetic markers for disorders or diseases? No? Are you sure? Can we check your DNA for confirmation? If we find anything, we'll need to triple your monthly premium so we can still make a profit off you based on our actuarial tables.

[quiller4]

8. You missed a category that some say is the largest of all--those who meet

financial qualifications for medicaid but have not enrolled. Some communities have outreach events to enroll people and help them connect with other services. Other communities do no outreach at all.

[Aramchek]

9. everyone wants insurance, many young people just cannot afford it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Let's do some math here

At my last birthday, I received a "present" from my insurance company in the form of a 13% increase in monthly premiums. (I'm self-employed, for those who don't know). This is for a policy with a $5000 deductible and a 20% copay AFTER meeting the deductible on the next $25,000. Lousy policy, but it's all I can consistently afford with my fluctuating income.

The letter informing me of this increase included the premiums for various age groups. One figure caught my eye:

A person under 30 has to pay $99 a month for the same pathetic coverage that I get.

Now that might not seem like much, but consider the plight of a recent college graduate who has student loans to repay and can't get a job that pays more than $10 an hour.

Ten dollars an hour is $1600 a month before FICA and tax deductions, not a generous wage at all.

So this young and healthy person is supposed to spend an extra $99 a month for a policy that doesn't cover anything and that will leave him or her bankrupt anyway?

Those who gamble on staying healthy are taking the more prudent course in this case, especially if the insurance will NOT protect them from bankruptcy.

[Hello_Kitty]

12. I've been saying this forever!

The reason many healthy young adults are uninsured is because the "coverage" they can get is expensive crap.

[sandnsea]

13. That describes 50% of the country

The young worker, college grad or not, that you describe. Most blue collar families. Single moms. I can pay $99 a month now, but I never could when I was raising kids and of course $99 was almost half a house payment back in the 80s too. Most people wouldn't have health insurance if employers didn't pay for it, so it's kind of strange to me that employers aren't the first to be complaining about the cost of premiums.