Facing the healthcare beast

I often explain to customers in my office, and to audiences when invited as a guest speaker, that in today's world in our country, the health insurance policy has become as much a financial wealth protection instrument as a lifesaver. No hyperbole or over-dramatization intended or implied. This is more of a reality check, and the intent of this piece.

The consequences, both financially and healthwise of not being properly insured, are simply unacceptable. A lifetime of savings and family wealth accumulation can and could be wiped out in a single claim. Access to quality healthcare is the other side of the two-pronged problem. In this last, your health is at stake. This is bread-and-butter, life-or-death stuff that cannot be ignored or swept under the rug.

In this presidential election year, the American public gets it. Most of our fellow citizens realize that health insurance is not a luxury but a core need. Be it on or off the Marketplace, with or without advanced premium tax credits (APTC/subsidies), a qualified health plan is not an if; it is a must have. To support my point, I have cited the paragraphs that follow, so just stay a little bit longer with me and read what follows.

Recently the Kaiser Family Foundation, a recognized and accepted authority in the healthcare field, conducted a poll regarding pressing issues that are most top-of-mind among voters and found that healthcare costs are at the top of the public's list of financial worries, especially among those who are financially struggling the most, which was an unexpectedly high percentage of respondents. Far more people want to expand what the Affordable Care Act does than want to repeal it, the poll found.

Most people surveyed didn't know that the popular, pre-existing condition protections are part of the ACA.

Nearly three-in-four adults said they are worried about being able to afford unexpected medical bills (74%) and the cost of healthcare services (73%), more than said the same about other everyday expenses, such as gas, utilities, food and housing costs. Fifty-five percent were concerned about paying for prescription drugs. Healthcare worries topped the list regardless of political party affiliation. About half of all voters (48%) say healthcare costs are a major reason for their negative views of the economy, though larger shares cite everyday expenses, inflation and housing costs.

Most of the public (59%) views the ACA law favorably, as has been true since the Republicans' failed attempt to repeal and replace it. Fewer hold unfavorable views (39%), though most Republicans do (67%). In addition, half of the public, including nearly a quarter of Republicans (23%), want the next president and Congress to expand what the ACA does, another 16% want to keep it as is. In contrast, only about a third of the public favor either scaling back the law (14%) or repealing it entirely (18%).

The point being is that healthcare is top of the list among the issues that matter most to voters in this election, and it is justified that this is so. It is unthinkable for you to place yourself and your family in a position of self-insuring and battling unprotected against the beast that is today's healthcare system. You need to be well armed.

If you are not insured, get insured!

Roberto Alonso is owner/agent of Borland & Associates Insurance Inc. and 2024 Circle of Champions recipient for the Florida FFM Marketplace. For more information, call 305-451-0090 or visit borlandandassociates.net.