In 2012, 84 million Americans were without health insurance for at least part of the year or were considered underinsured because of high out-of-pocket costs, according to the Commonwealth Fund 2012 Biennial Health Insurance Survey.
The survey also showed the ramifications of inadequate or no insurance. According to the survey, 80 million Americans did not see a physician or fill a prescription due to high prices. This is a substantial rise from 2003, when 63 million people skipped care because of cost. Additionally, 75 million struggled to pay off medical bills in 2012, or paid off balances over time.
One age group saw a decrease in proportion uninsured — 41 percent of adults age 19 to 25 were uninsured in 2012, down from 48 percent in 2010. The survey cites the provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allowing young adults to remain on their parents' plan until age 26 as a likely explanation for this decline.
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The survey also showed the ramifications of inadequate or no insurance. According to the survey, 80 million Americans did not see a physician or fill a prescription due to high prices. This is a substantial rise from 2003, when 63 million people skipped care because of cost. Additionally, 75 million struggled to pay off medical bills in 2012, or paid off balances over time.
One age group saw a decrease in proportion uninsured — 41 percent of adults age 19 to 25 were uninsured in 2012, down from 48 percent in 2010. The survey cites the provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act allowing young adults to remain on their parents' plan until age 26 as a likely explanation for this decline.
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