Health insurance is the most important vehicle for gaining access to health care services. It makes a substantial difference in the type of services people are able to obtain. The consequences for people without health insurance are serious: one study found that the uninsured are almost six times more likely than the insured to have postponed health care for a serious condition because they couldn’t afford it. Other studies focusing on health outcomes for uninsured individuals found that they are more likely to die in the hospital, implying that they may postpone care until it is too late.