Health Care Costs Continue to Dominate National Headlines and Debates

Health insurance continues to be in the news as the latest reports indicate that all of the Affordable Care Act may be repealed. In a nation where there is a growing divide between the have’s and the have not’s, it is difficult to deny that health insurance plays a significant role in this gap. Health plans have always played a significant part in the benefits that a company provides its workers, but today the cost of these plans are difficult to budget for. For individuals who are not provided health insurance from their jobs, the cost of health plans is also a major concern.

Over the last few years a growing number of people have gained access to health care plans through the Affordable Care Act, and there are many concerned that the latest threats from the government will limit this access again. When the less advantaged do not have access to health care they often find themselves in some pretty desperate situations. Sometimes these situations send them to an expensive hospital emergency room for treatment of conditions that could more affordable be handled somewhere else, sometimes these situations leave patients not even seeking health care for minor problems that later become more serious issues.

Health Insurance Brokers Help Match Plans with Businesses

Not surprising, during these chaotic times when the politicians cannot find an answer to the health insurance crisis in this country, there are a number of people and businesses who are both working to find solutions and profiting from the confusion. The best health insurance brokers, of course, offer options that their clients can afford that will also provide a way for people to get access to the health care that they need.

The latest research from a TransUnion Healthcare analysis indicates that on average, 49% of out-of-pocket costs for healthcare visits were less than $500 in the year 2017. For the 51% who paid higher costs, however, the amounts vary greatly. Most financial experts will tell you that most families are only one catastrophic health event away from ruin, but the nation continues to struggle to find a solution to these events when they occur.

In a proactive approach to the health care needs of the nation, it should come as no surprise that a growing number of doctors are encouraging their patients to live healthier lives. And while it may be easy to track on a chart that one mile of hiking burns, on average, more than 500 calories, it is not always as easy to understand the implications of leading that healthier lifestyle. People who exercise on a regular basis, however, live not only healthier, but also longer lives. In fact, studies show that adults who do more than seven hours of physical activity a week have a longer life expectancy.

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