Do you have Health Insurance?

If you healthy and over 65 you don’t need insurance. True or False? That statement is not true.

Even if you are healthy now there is still reason to get health insurance. Accidents happen all the time and even if you are healthy you might not always be that way.

As medical care advances and treatments increase, health care costs also increase. The purpose of health insurance is to help you pay for care. It protects you and your family financially in the event of an unexpected serious illness or injury that could be very expensive. In addition, you are more likely to get routine and preventive care if you have health insurance.

You need health insurance because you cannot predict what your medical bills will be. In some years, your costs may be low. In other years, you may have very high medical expenses.

If you have health insurance, you will have peace of mind in knowing that you are protected from most of these costs. You should not wait until you or a family member becomes seriously ill to try to purchase health insurance.

Which type of health insurance is right for you?

Whether you are eligible for group insurance or choosing an individual plan, you should carefully compare costs and coverage. Be sure to compare:

Premiums.

Coverage/benefits.

Access to doctors, hospitals, and other providers.

Access to after hours and emergency care.

Out-of-pocket costs (coinsurance, copays, and deductibles).

Exclusions and limitations.

Don’t wait

Even if you do not get to choose your health plan—for example, if your employer offers only one plan-you still need to understand your coverage. Don’t wait until an emergency arises and then you find out that you were not covered.  It saves a lot of time and stress if you simply had researched it before and so knew the challenges.

Remember, plans vary in what they pay. No plan will pay 100 percent of your medical expenses, but some plans will pay more than others.

Most plans cover a wide array of medical, surgical, and hospital services and offer some coverage for prescription drugs. Some plans also have at least partial coverage for dentists and other providers.

If you are a government worker there is a plan that allows you to cover other members of your family for a reduced cost. There might be a need to supplement this insurance, depending on the needs of your family.

Self employed persons also need health plans although they might initially find it taxing it works out in the long run.

So do you have health insurance? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: medical insurance