In a recent study from the Archives of Surgery, they found patients in trauma centers were twice as likely to die if they didn’t have health insurance.
An extremely interesting study considering emergency rooms are required by law to treat all patients regardless of ability to pay for services.
So what could possibly be the explanation for the difference in survival rates in trauma centers?
According to the Los Angeles Times, researchers believe that the disparity could be due to the fact that the uninsured are more likely to receive fewer specialized services such as MRIs and are less likely to receive rehabilitation care.
Researchers also guessed that patients without health insurance plans may have more additional conditions that factor into their recovery. They even suggested that doctors and nurses are less likely to interact with the uninsured.
Pretty tough findings. This study is telling us that uninsured patients are simply treated more poorly then those who have coverage?
The study’s authors did say the difference could be coincidental. But still, it’s not the sunniest of studies.
All the more reason not to go without health insurance.