Considering the problem of health care indigents from a money perspective, it is easy to see that our efforts and resources are not being used in the most efficient way. For instance, the cost of getting medical treatment during one emergency room visit, in some cases, is far higher than providing basic health care or long term care insurance for an individual one full year. The cost of getting care is so high that most individuals willing to reimburse the physicians, hospitals and long term care facilities, are faced with a reimbursement arrangement that can take years to satisfy. And for most uninsured individuals, the financial drain of paying for medical bills leaves little in their personal budgets to purchase other essentials, including medical and long term care insurance.
Of course, without proper insurance coverage, the cycle of costly trips to the emergency room repeats itself. For some, postponing needed long term care is the only option, but this only exacerbates illnesses and results in even more costly treatments.