Many citizens in Indiana do not possess health insurance coverage, a worrying trend, experts have warned.
Statistics have shown that since 1994, the number of people without insurance coverage has shot up by 223,680. This has affected the prevailing rates of insurance premiums, which have gone up due to the growing population and increase of uninsured people. As a consequence, there have been delays in emergency care as well as dearth of job opportunities.A recent study has shown that in 2005, the average family expended above $900 in premiums to make up for the uninsured residents of the state.
Tim Brown, the state rep for Medicaid, blames the ‘constant’ rate of Medicaid reimbursement, which according to him has worsened the problem. "The state has, because of budgetary issues, not increased reimbursement (rates) to providers for almost 17 years. So when they don't get those increases, guess where that cost gets shifted to? To the people paying the bills", he said.
As a result, many business establishments have simply terminated providing insurance cover, due to rising costs. This is detrimental to the health of the state as well as the citizens, experts caution.
Source-Medindia
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