Insurance

Most insured Americans get their insurance through their place of employment or through a family member’s place of employment. However, many small businesses, retail establishments and other industries do not provide insurance for their employees. In Pennsylvania, all children under the age of 19 have access to health insurance through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). However, adults who do not receive private insurance and who do not meet the income requirements for Medicaid often find themselves uninsured. Because the cost of medical care in the United States is prohibitively expensive, the uninsured are often forced to neglect treatable health problems and the cost of medical care or prescriptions can mean that families are unable to pay for other necessities, such as rent, utilities, and food.