The Importance of Healthcare

Healthcare has been an important part of the human existence since the beginning of time. From the moment we are born until the time we die, we experience growing pains, puberty, adolescence, pregnancy, mental health issues, stress and old age with a myriad of other conditions too numerous to list here. There are various ways of getting help with the problems of being a human. Some people seek Shamans, others may see medical doctors trained in Western medicine.

In the Western world, specifically in the United States, most people pay for their healthcare services. You can get your healthcare through your employer, through the state, if you are low income, or you can pay out of pocket for your services. Which ever way you choose, it is important to select a plan that is tailored to your needs.

Many people choose a plan based off of what they hear on the news or what their friend told them they have. However, none of these individuals are licensed and don’t have a clue about health insurance and how it works.

If you are like me, before I became an insurance professional 10 years ago, the most I knew about insurance was that I had to have it. I signed up for the least expensive or most expensive plan and hoped that it would cover me when I needed it. Little did I know that that was the worst way to choose a plan!

Even though insurance can be expensive in the short term, it is still important to have coverage because none of us has a crystal ball. The bottom line is that unless you are very low income or ultra rich, you would need to pay a hefty bill if something catastrophic happened to you.

Do you want your family to have to pay your hospital debt? Do you want to have to set up a GoFundMe for your chemotherapy treatments? Sure, you can just use the system without paying and let the bills pile up. Or better yet, you can receive those pesky debt collection calls trying to set up payment arrangements for a bill you cannot afford to pay.

Let’s face it, NO ONE wants to deal with bill collectors or worry about how they are going to pay for the hospital stay when you are trying to recuperate from a surgical procedure. Although many people don’t like insurance companies the fact of the matter is that health insurance is a necessity in this country. Unless you have the discipline or finances to save some money every month toward your medical bills, you need to have a policy.

Yes, there are facilities that will make arrangements with you to pay. Yes, medical debt may not count against your credit score right now. Maybe you are in excellent health right now. All of these are valid reasons not to get insurance. But eventually you will have to pay something. So instead of being reactive, be PROACTIVE about your care.

The first line of defense is taking good care of yourself starting now. This prevents you from having to use the healthcare system unless it’s an absolute necessity. If you are already dependent on the system for your care because you have a chronic condition it is imperative that you get on a plan that will meet your needs and keep your costs low.

The good news is that there are licensed professionals who can help you to make a decision on a plan that is right for you. A plan that fits within your budget and won’t leave you stranded trying to pick up the financial pieces after a life changing event.

Tell me about your experience with healthcare. How were you able to navigate the situation? Do you feel that you were ready when the time came to use your insurance? Leave a comment.