Introduction
Uninsured individuals have high probability of going without vital medical services such as preventive care and end up having premature death. When sick, uninsured individuals mostly turn to emergency rooms for medical attention. Health care cost is highly increasing annually at an approximate rate of 7 %(Stephen, 2008). If this situation is sustained for a prolonged period of time there will be deterioration of the nation s overall annual healthcare. The rising cost of healthcare is one of the primary reasons why there is increased number of uninsured individuals.
If an uninsured individual needed expensive medical treatment and did not have the means to pay for it, should the treatment be provided?
The question on whether an uninsured individual should be given expensive medical treatment especially when they don’t have the means to pay for it can be well answered depending with the circumstance. For instance, if the event is a life threatening emergency, the individual cannot be denied treatment. Regardless whether one is an adult who is going to children hospital. On the other hand when the institution that is providing care is taking part in any government program funding from the department of health and human services, they out to treat the such a patient for emergency care or active labor regardless on whether the patient is capable of paying for the medical services or not(Stuart,1987)). Moreover, it’s not ethically right to deny one medical treatment on the basis that they cannot cover the cost. This is especially in cases where there is an emergency and the present healthcare setting is the only source that can be used to save life.
On the other hand hospitals have the power refuse some patients medical treatment when they don’t think that the patient will not be able to cater for the cost incurred in the treatment. However, in life threatening cases, one is subject to be given treatment incases where the patient is a low income earner and cannot be able to afford for the medical treatment such as an elderly individual or a child. When an insured individual requires expensive medical care but doesn’t pay for the cost, every other citizen will end up paying for the cost (Shi, 2011). Therefore, it’s not ethically appropriated to give expensive medical attention to patients yet this is assumed as leisure. Consequently, it is not considerate for other insured individual to cater for the needs of individuals who ought to have acquired medical insurance.
Conclusion
Health care insurance is a very significant component of health financing and ensuring that patient receives desired level of medical attention. Therefore, this individual’s ends up being charged extra money for the health services unlike when they had been incurred. In situations when uninsured patients are unable to afford there medical bills, the cost of services is directly transmitted to the insured in form of higher premiums (Sunday, 2012). Nevertheless, various laws have been implemented in order to try and ensure that every citizen is insured. Therefore, since everybody has the chance to acquire medical attention through insurance, it becomes quite controversial on whether hospitals should be give medical treatment to uninsured individuals
Reference
Shi, L(2011). Delivering Health Care in America. Jones & Bartlett Publishers:New York
Stephen, A. S.(2008). Health Insurance and the Consumption of Medical Care: Measuring Changes in Access to the Health Care System in Chronic Disease Populations. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Charlotte
Stuart, F.(1987) Ethical Dimensions of Geriatric Care: Value Conflicts for the 21st Century. Springer: Carlifonia
Sunday, E. U(2012) United States Health Care Policymaking: Ideological, Social and Cultural Differences and Major Influences. Springer: California
