Are You Rich Enough to Afford Health Insurance?
It’s a question that sounds absurd in most high-income nations, but in the United States, it’s very real: Are you rich enough to afford health insurance? For more than 75
It’s a question that sounds absurd in most high-income nations, but in the United States, it’s very real: Are you rich enough to afford health insurance? For more than 75 million Americans, the answer is no.
While health insurance is often framed as a basic necessity—like shelter or food—millions of working adults, parents, freelancers, and even full-time employees are being priced out of the system entirely. The cost of coverage has skyrocketed, and the financial burden now rivals that of housing and education. Health care isn’t just a right or a debate anymore. It’s become a luxury.
The Crushing Cost of Coverage
According to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Commonwealth Fund, over 75 million Americans are either uninsured or underinsured, meaning their insurance doesn’t cover basic needs or leaves them exposed to unaffordable out-of-pocket costs.
Let’s break that down:
- The average annual premium for employer-based family coverage: $24,000+
- The average deductible for a single individual: $2,800–$5,000+
- High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) are now the default for millions
For many families, these numbers represent 10–20% of their total income, even before a single doctor’s visit.
“It’s not just whether you have insurance. It’s whether you can actually afford to use it,” says Dr. Leah Wong, a health policy researcher at Johns Hopkins.
Who’s Left Behind?
You might expect the uninsured to be primarily unemployed or undocumented, but the reality is more disturbing: The majority are working adults. In fact, many work full-time jobs that either don’t offer benefits or offer plans so expensive they’re impossible to use.
Populations most affected include:
- Low-income workers in retail, service, and gig economy jobs
- Single parents and caregivers
- Freelancers and entrepreneurs
- Early retirees not yet eligible for Medicare
- People in states that didn’t expand Medicaid
Even those with insurance are often one medical emergency away from financial ruin.
Underinsured: When “Coverage” Isn’t Enough
Being underinsured means you technically have a health plan—but can’t afford to use it without risking your finances. A growing number of Americans are:
- Skipping medications due to cost
- Avoiding preventive care and mental health services
- Delaying surgeries and specialist visits
- Paying off medical debt for years
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 1 in 3 Americans carry medical debt, and it’s the leading cause of personal bankruptcy in the U.S.
The Myth of Choice
We’re often told that the American healthcare system is “market-based,” giving consumers more choice. But for most people, that’s a myth. Whether you’re navigating an ACA marketplace or trying to understand employer-based options, the choices often come down to “bad” and “worse.”
High premiums, massive deductibles, confusing networks, and denial of care make it difficult to navigate a system built not for patients—but for profits.
“We have freedom of choice in theory, but what does that matter if you can’t afford any of the options?” asks Dr. Anita Delgado, a primary care physician in Austin, Texas.
What Needs to Change?
Healthcare reform remains a political hot potato, but public frustration is rising. More Americans—across political lines—support changes that include:
- Expanding Medicare eligibility
- Creating a public option for health insurance
- Capping out-of-pocket costs for consumers
- Regulating pharmaceutical pricing
- Decoupling insurance from employment
But even as these debates rage on Capitol Hill, millions are making dangerous health choices in silence—because they simply can’t afford not to.
Health Insurance Shouldn’t Be a Luxury
When 75 million people in the world’s wealthiest country are priced out of basic healthcare, we don’t have a health system—we have a market failure. If you’re asking yourself whether you can afford to go to the doctor or fill your prescriptions, the real question is: What kind of country are we building when wellness is only available to the wealthy?
Until we stop treating health insurance like a luxury product and start treating it as an essential service, this crisis will continue—quietly, but at a devastating cost.
By Grace Linzerfield for Ravoke.com
