A new report reveals that the rate of uninsured citizens in Hampton Roads is lower than the state’s overall rate. It is estimated that 17.8 percent of residents in Virginia (VA) lack health insurance.
While Hampton Roads citizens may be more likely than others to have health insurance, the rate of uninsured citizens is still surprisingly high. About 17 percent of residents between 18 and 64 did not have health insurance in 2010. In Norfolk, this rate is even more shocking: 1 in 4 residents is uninsured. Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth also fell below the statewide rate.
For most of us, living without insurance is hard to comprehend. Visiting the dentist every 6 months for a checkup, or making an appointment with a doctor when feeling sick are second nature for most people. But for a large portion of our fellow Hampton Roads citizens, this is simply not a reality. When you factor in the dangerous road conditions and the nature of accidents, the statistic because even more scary.
Speaking as a personal injury attorney, health insurance is really invaluable when accidents do occur. People never expect to end up in a hospital, but when it does happen, they’re often shocked by how quickly the medical bills pile up. Even simply riding in an ambulance to the emergency room can cost upwards of $1000.
Though our lawmakers are taking measures to provide more a more universal health care system for all citizens, we cannot wait for bills to be passed and laws to be created. Accidents can really happen at any time, so we need to be prepared for the worst. One thing I tell folks hurt in car accidents is to get medical payments coverage on their car’s auto policy, as it is cheap and pays bills from wrecks regardless of who is at fault; this coverage is especially important for those without health insurance.
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