Health Insurance
It seems like everyday in the news there is some story about the need to overhaul healthcare. That will probably happen one day, but it will not happen overnight.
Even what is a relatively minor health care event can be add up to several thousand dollars. If a person stays in the hospital for even a day, they can expect their total bill to be well over one thousand dollars.
Many people do not carry insurance simply because it is too expensive. However, if you have assets of any significance, I encourage you to try and find insurance some way. Assets includes savings, equity in a house, retirement accounts, or other holdings.
The internet age certainly can make your search for health insurance easier. Here are some things to consider in your search:
1. Check with you local insurance provider. If you have cars and/or a house covered with that company, you may be entitled to some discounts.
2. Look for policies with high deductibles. A $5000 deductible may seem high, but it is manageable, at least much more so than $20000 if you have a hospital stay.
3. Some companies offer short term policies for a maximum of 6 months, and many of these do not require a health exam. The downside is that they are of course short term, but you can always move to another policy. This is good for one off medical expenses - such as a broken arm. However, for long term illness like cancer, it is probably not a good option.
4. Many jobs offer health insurance for full time workers, which is usually 32 hours per week. Larger places of employment such as hospitals or chain stores often will have jobs that qualify. If health insurance is your main goal, this is something to consider.
5. Do not think you are invincible. Many young people in their twenties may be unemployed and do not bother with health care because they think they are healthy. However, this is the age it is usually most affordable. Case in point, this author finished graduate school in December and I could no longer stay on my parents’ policy. I did not have a job at that time, so I got a short term health policy. Within 3 months I got very sick and it was my appendix. I had surgery and was in the hospital 3 days. My $15000 was covered except for $1000 out of pocket. Let’s say I was very glad I had that policy.
It seems like everyday in the news there is some story about the need to overhaul healthcare. That will probably happen one day, but it will not happen overnight.
Even what is a relatively minor health care event can be add up to several thousand dollars. If a person stays in the hospital for even a day, they can expect their total bill to be well over one thousand dollars.
Many people do not carry insurance simply because it is too expensive. However, if you have assets of any significance, I encourage you to try and find insurance some way. Assets includes savings, equity in a house, retirement accounts, or other holdings.
The internet age certainly can make your search for health insurance easier. Here are some things to consider in your search:
1. Check with you local insurance provider. If you have cars and/or a house covered with that company, you may be entitled to some discounts.
2. Look for policies with high deductibles. A $5000 deductible may seem high, but it is manageable, at least much more so than $20000 if you have a hospital stay.
3. Some companies offer short term policies for a maximum of 6 months, and many of these do not require a health exam. The downside is that they are of course short term, but you can always move to another policy. This is good for one off medical expenses - such as a broken arm. However, for long term illness like cancer, it is probably not a good option.
4. Many jobs offer health insurance for full time workers, which is usually 32 hours per week. Larger places of employment such as hospitals or chain stores often will have jobs that qualify. If health insurance is your main goal, this is something to consider.
5. Do not think you are invincible. Many young people in their twenties may be unemployed and do not bother with health care because they think they are healthy. However, this is the age it is usually most affordable. Case in point, this author finished graduate school in December and I could no longer stay on my parents’ policy. I did not have a job at that time, so I got a short term health policy. Within 3 months I got very sick and it was my appendix. I had surgery and was in the hospital 3 days. My $15000 was covered except for $1000 out of pocket. Let’s say I was very glad I had that policy.