What Is Health Insurance?
Health insurance is a way to pay for health care. As with all insurance, a person pays a monthly premium and in return the insurer pays for some or all health care costs. Health insurance companies pool the premiums of people on the same plan to spread their risk. Healthier people have lower costs to the companies and counterbalance people with high costs.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 helped standardize affordable health insurance for Americans. It defined essential health benefits and mandated that nearly all residents have coverage. Congress repealed that requirement in 2017; however, some states still have an individual mandate.
Around 53% of Americans have employer-provided insurance, and a further 10% purchase their own insurance. (1) There are also public options including:
- Medicaid: For low-income people
- Medicare: For seniors and people with certain disabilities
- TRICARE: For uniformed service personnel, retirees and their families (2)
The Census Bureau found that 27.2 million people, or 8.3% of the population, were uninsured at some point in 2021. (1) In addition, research has found that almost one quarter of working age adults are underinsured. (3) This means that their coverage doesn’t allow them to affordably access health care.
Not having health insurance can lead to poorer mental health. Uninsured people have higher levels of overall stress. (4) In addition, only 38% of uninsured adults with symptoms of anxiety or depression receive treatment. (5) Individuals who find the best health insurance for their needs are much more likely to receive the care they require.
Our Medical Affairs Team is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience who actively contribute to the development of our content, products, and services. They meticulously evaluate and review all medical content before publication to ensure it is medically accurate and aligned with current discussions and research developments in mental health. For more information, visit our Editorial Policy.
The content on this page was originally from MentalHelp.net, a website we acquired and moved to MentalHealth.com in September 2024. This content has not yet been fully updated to meet our content standards and may be incomplete. We are committed to editing, enhancing, and medically reviewing all content by March 31, 2025. Please check back soon, and thank you for visiting MentalHealth.com. Learn more about our content standards here.
MentalHealth.com is a health technology company guiding people towards self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.
Kaia Koglin is a blog writer, contributing articles about positive affirmations and self-esteem for women and children.
Erin L. George, MFT, holds a master's degree in family therapy with a focus on group dynamics in high-risk families. As a court-appointed special advocate for children, she is dedicated to helping families rebuild relationships and improve their mental and behavioral health.
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Our Medical Affairs Team is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience who actively contribute to the development of our content, products, and services. They meticulously evaluate and review all medical content before publication to ensure it is medically accurate and aligned with current discussions and research developments in mental health. For more information, visit our Editorial Policy.
The content on this page was originally from MentalHelp.net, a website we acquired and moved to MentalHealth.com in September 2024. This content has not yet been fully updated to meet our content standards and may be incomplete. We are committed to editing, enhancing, and medically reviewing all content by March 31, 2025. Please check back soon, and thank you for visiting MentalHealth.com. Learn more about our content standards here.
MentalHealth.com is a health technology company guiding people towards self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.