When I told my parents about my toothache and the need to see a dentist, they informed me that I would have to wait for 5 months because our insurance plan only covers us once every 6 months. When my brother complained about aches in his head and stomach and wanted to see my primary care doctor, my parents told him to wait a day and see if the pain persisted, as they would have to pay out-of-pocket copay fees for sick visits. When my grandmother, who has no medical insurance, fell down the stairs, they advised her to wait and see a health care professional because they could not afford to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to get it fixed, hoping that the pain would go away with time.

The answer is always ‘wait’ because accessing and affording quality healthcare is expensive.

Sadly, my story is not uncommon. Health care is a fundamental human right, yet many individuals and families in the United States face significant challenges in accessing and affording quality health care.

Numerous studies have found that having health insurance is strongly related to better health outcomes.  Individuals with health insurance are more likely to seek preventive care, receive prompt medical treatment, and effectively manage chronic conditions. This leads to early disease detection and treatment, improved chronic disease management, and overall improved health and well-being. Individuals who do not have health insurance, on the other hand, are more likely to delay or skip important medical care due to financial concerns, resulting in untreated illnesses, higher hospitalizations, and even premature death. Health insurance, in addition to providing better health results, also provides financial security. Medical bills are unpredictable and can quickly add up, putting severe financial strain on individuals and families. Health insurance helps to limit these risks by covering a wide range of medical services, drugs, and preventive care, decreasing patients’ financial burden and protecting them from crippling medical debt.

We cannot afford to wait as a society. We must remove barriers to health insurance and enhance access to it. This can include eliminating the cost of health insurance premiums, deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket expenses, guaranteeing that employers provide health insurance and that all employees are eligible for health care, and addressing coverage gaps caused by eligibility restrictions. Investing in affordable health insurance is not only an issue of human rights; it also results in healthier individuals, and communities, and a more robust, fair health care system. It’s time to take action and ensure that everyone has access to quality health insurance, without having to wait or face financial barriers.

Amy is an undergraduate student in the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program/CUNY School of Medicine BS/MD Program at the City College of New York. She is a Biomedical Science major and aspires to become a physician. After feeling voiceless as a child, Amy holds a deep passion for advocating for others and for issues relating to education and health care. In the past, Amy engaged in her passion by advocating for her classmates as Senior Class President in high school and volunteering for various organizations. Amy joined the Young Advocates Program to continue exercising her oral and written communication skills and to fulfill her passion for advocacy. She hopes to develop new skills and gain experience in advocacy and public policy. Amy is excited to use these skills and experiences to help make positive changes in her communities. In the future, she hopes to be an advocate for patients and health care workers.