Why Do I Need Health Insurance?

If there is any single group of Americans who answer the question “Why do I need health insurance?” with a shrug, it’s young adults just starting out on their own. These people are still not covered by their parents’ insurance plans and not yet covered by their employers’ insurance plans.

Even if these twenty-somethings are in excellent health, have a great health history, and don’t smoke, their insurance premiums sometimes present an impossible expense. What these young Americans don’t know is that the cost of not having insurance can be a lot more than the cost of shelling out the monthly premiums. Here are five examples.

1. Why do I need health insurance? If you don’t have health insurance, many doctors won’t take you as a patient.
Instead of a $25 to $50 co-pay at the doctor’s office, or maybe four free doctor’s visits every year, you may have to get your needed medical care at the emergency room. It’s true that ER has to treat you if you show up, but it’s also true that each visit can cost hundreds or thousands or dollars more than simply going to the doctor’s office, and hospitals, especially city-run hospitals often employ bill collecting agencies.

2. Why do I need health insurance? Even if you are healthy, you may still want oral contraceptives, medications for adult acne, and routine dental care. You will pay full price for these health care options without insurance, but many health and dental plans will cover them.

3. Why do I need health insurance? Even if you are young, you can be involved in a car crash or other accident. In fact, if you are under 25, you are especially likely to be involved in a car crash or other accident.

With insurance, you may have bills, but you will still be able to save for a new car or a new house. Without insurance, you may have so many bills that your credit is ruined and you may have to file bankruptcy. You can still eventually get a new car or a new house, but you will wait several years and you will pay a lot more.

4. Why do I need health insurance? If you have to be hospitalized, you have to pay for a lot more than the hospital.

The emergency room physician probably works for a medical partnership that will bill you separately from the hospital. The tests run in your hospital room may be billed by a test provider. The doctor who sees you once or twice a day also probably works for another medical practice that sends you still more bills separate from your hospital bill. Each and every one of these organizations will bill you and expect to be paid in full. Each and every one of these organizations can put a comment on your credit report. Each and everyone of these organizations has bill collectors who can call you over and over every day and “accidentally” call your parents and friends if you don’t pay.

5. Why do I need health insurance? It’s cheaper to get it now. In 2014, all Americans will be able to get health insurance regardless of their pre-existing conditions. For the rest of 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013, some Americans can be denied coverage once they have a chronic condition.

The chronic health condition that keeps you from getting health insurance coverage can be high blood pressure, diabetes, or any of hundreds of health conditions that can strike even if you are in your 20’s or 30’s—and then what will you do between now and 2014?

Two-thirds of Americans under the age of 30 who are not insured now were covered by their parents’ policies. Acquiring health insurance is just one more part of the rite of passage known as leaving home. Fortunately, for most young adults health insurance costs less than $200 a month and is easy to get. Apply for health insurance today!