Health Insurance

Discount Health Programs vs. Health Insurance

Erica Kahn
Erica Kahn23 Aug 2022
Reviewed and Fact Checked ✔️

A discount health program is not the same as health insurance and instead provides members with discounts for medical services. In 2020, 28 million people (8.6 percent) did not have health insurance. While health insurance provides coverage for a small or large portion of your medical needs, it is not always the most affordable or accessible option. 

Discount Health Programs vs. Health Insurance

Health insurance and discount health programs are very different from one another. Discount health programs do not cover medical costs or services like health insurance. Instead, discount health programs provide reduced fees for products or services. 

Pros and Cons of Discount Health Programs and Health Insurance

 

Pros

Cons

Discount Health Programs 
  • Affordable
  • Provides discounts on medical services and products
  • No paperwork
  • Accessible to everyone
  • Does not pay for medical expenses
  • Accessible to everyone
  • Not well regulated
  • Prone to scams & misinformation
Health Insurance
  • Pays for some or all of medical expenses
  • Regulated
  • Government created a reputable website for purchasing health insurance at www.healthcare.gov
  • Costly
  • Difficult to secure
  • Paperwork
  • Not easily accessible to everyone
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Erica Kahn

Erica graduated from Emory University in Atlanta with a BS in environmental science and a minor in English and is on track to graduate with her Master's in Public Health. She is passionate about health equity, women's health, and how the environment impacts public health.

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