why should i get health insurance?
Prior to starting a career in health insurance, I didn’t know what health insurance truly was other than something I needed to add to my adult life. For the most part, I had jobs that offered a limited list of options and generally looked to enroll in the most affordable. Co-insurance, co-pays, deductibles, in-or-out of network, out-of-pocket, it was all so confusing to me. I didn’t know there were so many options available and that some plans were better for certain people than other. Basically, there is no “one-size-fit-all” insurance plan.
When I speak with potential clients I ask people why they have health insurance. "Because I have to have it", "I need to have it", "To pay for doctor's visits", "In the event I get in an accident". All of these reasons are all true, other than technically speaking you do not have to have health insurance. Is it is smart to have it? Absolutely! Will protect your financial state? Absolutely, but there is no law requiring us to carry it. The reason for health insurance is not to just cover yearly physicals. Let’s be honest for a second, you can pay cash for physical or a urgent care visit and most of the time it would be cheaper than a year of premiums. The REAL reason for health insurance is to cover those critical illnesses or accidents that may we don’t expect. Medical bills are reported to be the number one cause of U.S. bankruptcies every year (Amadeo, 2021).
Knowing that Americans go bankrupt based on an unexpected health claims and not the small surgeries or accidents that cause financial difficulties, most of the time at least. It is cancer, strokes, heart attacks, comas, paralysis, dismemberments, major accidents, etc. that cause these huge financial heartaches. Knowing this, along with me extensive background in healthcare as a Paramedic my advice to anybody who is unsure if they need health insurance or not would be yes, you do. The policy does not have to have all of the same coverage as another person to the point it breaks the bank but choose a policy that will provide protection in the event of those major catastrophes minimally. No two health insurance plans are the same, just like not all people are the same. Find a broker who can not only educate you but assist you in finding a plan that fits you and will be there for you in the event a claim needs to be filed. Education is the key here. Ensure you work with a broker who educates you. Don’t worry about sounding professional. A good broker will help you understand your policy and be there to answer questions along the way.