Soon To Be Mandatory: Individual Health Insurance
Thursday, October 7th, 2010 by adminHealth insurance coverage has long been a bone of contention in the American health care system. Some have fought long and hard to have care remain in private hands while others feel that a public system would be more appropriate as more and more Americans find themselves without a viable option for health insurance quotes or coverage. Even with the prevalence of online quoting site, health insurance coverage can be difficult to come by at a price that many middle class Americans can afford. The current federal government administration has begun a plan to reform the health care system, and it will end with individual health care coverage being mandatory for all citizens.
In order to accomplish this goal, the government has created high risk pool insurance options in every state. Those Americans than cannot be accepted for regular health insurance coverage may apply for this risk pool funding, but only if they meet certain criteria. In 2014, this high risk pool will be disappearing, as it will no longer be possible for a private insurance company to turn down any health care applicant, no matter their previous or current health history. In addition, the government hopes to have a publicly funded option up and running by that time, one that will be available to Americans if they so choose. This public plan will be limited in scope and will not offer the same range of choices as specialized private plans, but will cover all of a citizen's basic health care needs.
Along with this greater access to healthcare will be coming a provision that states all Americans must carry valid healthcare at all times. This is being done in part to limit the amount of people visiting hospitals with serious medical conditions that must be treated but with no way to pay for them. Doctors, acting in good conscience, will treat these individuals but the hospital will lose money. Ultimately, the government has stated that anyone who does not carry personal health insurance at all times may be subject to a fine or jail time in order to prevent the amount of uninsured that are in the system. There are concerns that such fines will simply compound the problem, but at this time it is unknown what the ultimate effect will be.
Nonetheless, it is a reality that within the next five years all Americans will require individual health insurance in order to be in compliance with federal law. While this may be difficult for some, it is the home of the current government that their health care changes will make health insurance quotes more reasonable for all citizens.

