According to government estimates, approximately 50 million people in the U.S. are uninsured. But if owning a policy requires them to buy one through the state-based exchanges set up rather than employee benefits, many say they'll just assume to stay not covered, according to a recent survey.
The poll, which was conducted by Gallup, questioned approximately 5,100 Americans about their overall awareness of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and will go into effect fully next year. When respondents were asked about the health insurance exchanges and how likely they were to buy a policy through those that were operated either by state officials or the federal government, more than half – 52 percent – said that they don't plan on buying coverage through the marketplaces or hadn't yet decided. Just over 45 percent said that they would obtain a policy through an exchange.
With the insurance pools opening for enrollment on Oct. 1, multiple news agencies have reported that there have been a number of issues preventing consumers from signing up for a policy. Problems cited include being kept on hold for more than 45 minutes and website complications at the official website for the exchanges, healthcare.gov.
Most understand, though, that they are required to buy health insurance sometime before January of next year. Gallup found that eight in 10 respondents – 83 percent – were aware of the insurance demand. Just 17 percent said that this was something they were not cognizant of before they were questioned.
For those who decide not to buy health coverage, there is a $95 penalty for the first year, increasing with each year that a person goes without obtaining a policy. The Christian Science Monitor recently outlined some of the other implications of opting out of the individual mandate.
