Is Health Insurance Worth Getting?

Health insurance is not cheap, so many people opt not to go for coverage. This is especially true for healthy people or people that think they don’t ever get sick. With expensive monthly insurance payments and other out-of-pocket expenses, many second guess the value of having insurance.  

People on the young side rarely go to the hospital, and even if they need to go to the hospital for something, they tend to try home remedies, which can be very dangerous. And with a lot of young people nowadays being unemployed and having fewer opportunities, having health insurance seems like a pipe dream–many young people just opt-out of it.  

When the time comes to go to a hospital, they tend to pay the expenses themselves out-of-pocket. However, this could be very difficult, especially if they have a serious illness, if they had an accident, or if they have an ongoing sickness, as the costs can pile up quickly.

In times like these, having insurance is a good way to help you with hospital costs. But is it really necessary to pay for health insurance?

 

Insurance Can Help You Save Money

One of the reasons people get health insurance is that it can save you thousands of money by transferring a big financial risk to your insurance provider in exchange for a comparatively small premium. We’re not saying that health insurances are not expensive but think about it. When you have a big bill in the hospital that will put your financial standing at risk, it can be transferred to the insurer.  

The premium you’d have to pay to the insurer is not cheap, of course, but it’s bearable compared to healthcare expenses. For example, imagine that you’d have to stay in the hospital for a long time or be wheeled into the emergency room.  

These services are not cheap, and those expenses can go to the thousands in just a few days. But with health insurance, you won’t have to pay a few thousand and, instead, just pay a few hundred dollars for a premium. Not cheap, but still the better option.

 

Preventative Care

Hospital care is not always available, especially during the pandemic. Hospital beds are lacking, as well as the staff. And even if a person needs immediate medical attention, they may have to wait in line with a few others who need immediate medical attention. As depressing as it may sound, it’s the truth.  

However, when you’re paying a premium for insurance, there’s a big chance that you may not have to fall in line. With preventative medicine, which is easily accessible with insurance, you may not have to stay in the hospital for a long time. Seeing a doctor regularly will help you avoid costly medical bills in the future.

Preventative care and early intervention are accessible with insurance. Additionally, the more time you take to invest in health insurance, the more time it will take to find a provider. This will also lengthen the time you have to wait in line when you need medical help.

Preventative care also means that your insurance will cover 100% of your annual checkup with your doctor. Outside of your annual visit, a visit to the doctor is $10 to $40 in co-pay, depending on your insurance. Meanwhile, other visits covered by insurance are paid for by your monthly premium, which usually costs an average of $400.

If you add up the numbers, you will pay more than $5,500 for a single visit, plus the co-pays for other visits. Of course, some insurance has deductibles, which means you will only pay out-of-pocket until you reach the limit.  

For example, if you have a $1000 deductible, you would pay co-pays and additional costs until you reach that limit. When you reach the limit, the other additional costs will be paid for by the insurer.

 

Options for Lowering Prescription Costs

No existing insurance can fit every medical need you require, just like when you’re looking for a gym. Not every gym out there can address your fitness needs. Because of this, many check various top 12 best home gyms guide to make their own. You can also do that with insurance companies.  

There are many choices when it comes to insurance, and thus, finding the right one for you can be a struggle. But finding one that fits your medical needs is important, especially if they are very specific.  

Once you have your own insurance, make it a point to check your annual coverage, especially when you’ll have a significant change in your life, like marriage or a move to a different state.  

Of course, your coverage also includes your prescription medicine. Understanding your insurance will take you a long time, but you can always ask for help from your provider. Once you understand how it works, you can use it to your advantage.

 

Going Without Insurance

If you choose to opt-out of insurance, you will have to pay for everything in full for doctor visits and hospital costs.  

Let’s say that you annually visit your doctor for a checkup. The average cost will be around $200 to $300. However, when you’re a new patient, it could go up to $578. And how about an emergency trip to the hospital? The average ER cost is $50 to $150 for check-ins.  

Sounds cheap? That’s just the beginning.  

The doctor that will see you can charge you $100 to $1,000, depending on their level of service. And that doesn’t include the tests. All of your CT scans, MRIs, blood tests all come with a price.  

For example, the average cost of a CT scan is more than $1,000, and an X-RAY can cost $140. If you’re admitted overnight, they will charge you for fees, and the more you stay, the more fees will be charged under your name.

 

Takeaway

Just running the numbers alone can make someone faint. The average insurance policy may have a steep cost, but when you compare the costs you’d pay for the hospital fees without insurance, you are better off with one after all. It’s better to pay for a few hundred dollars monthly than to pay thousands just in one go.

 

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Written by HealthStatus Crew
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus teams with authors from organizations to share interesting ideas, products and new health information to our readers.

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