I'm not sick and I don't plan on getting sick.
Most people don't plan on getting sick: Having insurance is not about thinking you're going to get sick. Having insurance is about having easy access to care, and removing barriers to seeking it. It has been well documented that if something is more accessible, it will be more likely to be used. If you have access to health care and are already on a plan, it is more likely that you will go earlier if something pops up.
I can't afford it.
The fact is that most plans for 20-30 year olds are at or below $100 a month. Especially with the changes in health care policy coming out of Washington, these rates will continue to be affordable, especially as it will be the law starting in a few years.
It's too complicated. I don't understand the terms/ nomenclature: eg, hmo vs ppo
Definitely a valid concern. Below this is a link that will define the terms of insurance in an easy to understand manner. If you want more help, we recommend a few agents that will take the time to explain it even more.
http://hmovsppo.org/
I'm overwhelmed by the choices.
A good agent will help you through the process. The money they make from the policies comes from the agencies themselves, not from the buyer. Check out Todd Fries at www.tfries.com (we have no financial incentive to recommend him)
I can just pick up insurance when I get sick.
No you can't. Most insurances have a 90 day waiting period until a person can access his or her plan. Most things that you need to go to the hospital for will need attention before 90 days (like accidents). The things that are serious, like cancer, will be better treated earlier.
My positive affirmations and my vegan/vegetarian/healthy diet will take care of me.
If you have come to this site, it probably means someone is trying to tell you something. Things don't happen by accident, even accidents.
Repeating affirmations, being healthy in your dietary choices are great things. Part of a conscious life is seeing the whole picture and acting from a responsible place, not out of fear but out of love for yourself. Protecting and taking care of what you love is a different perspective than fearing a sickness or injury.
"It isn't what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
-Thoreau
Common Questions:
What's an ideal plan for me?
An ideal plan is something that A. you can afford and B. covers you for possible illnesses in your age group. Most young artists (20-30 y/o) have no illnesses to speak of, so a high deductible plan (see below) would be ideal. This plan would be around 100$ per month. If you are carrying a diagnosis (have a disease), the plan would be more. To find out how much more, you can use www.ehealthinsurance.com or call one of our recommended insurance agents. (We have no financial ties to these agents, they are just knowledgeable people.)
What is a deductible?
A deductible is an amount of money that one pays before they can access the insurance to pay medical costs. Although this is mostly the case, some plans cover one to two visits a year to your regular doctor before paying the deductible. It is the way insurances recoup some of their payments and also it keeps people from overusing the insurance unnecessarily.
What is a high deductible health insurance plan? Why do I need one?
What is co-insurance and why do I need a plan with 0% co-insuran
Show me options under $100 bucks per month.
There are two ways to access this information: Calling a broker or access a webportal. A broker is a good way if you feel lost by the process and like to have a human being guiding you. Todd Fries is an honest and knowledgeable independent broker. http://www.TFries.com
(We have no financial incentive recommending him. If you know of others, please email us and we will interview them!)
As for webportals, http://ehealthinsurance.com is a web portal that can give you an estimate. This is a good way if you feel you know what you need and if you are a self starter.
Why not just wait til I get sick to get insurance?
It has been well researched that preparation is cheaper and more effective than treatment. Consider the costs of having insurance vs not having insurance in the case of an broken wrist requiring, ambulance, ER visit, xrays, surgery and rehab:
with 100$ a month insurance plan:
max out of pocket per year $3500
doctors and hospital of your choice (within the network)
speedy access
no arguing over bills
fulll treatment, including second opinions from other specialists,
rehab for the wrist (occupational therapy, physical therapy)
without insurance:
out of pocket costs over $40000 to $50000
long waits at the ER
months of bills being sent
hour-long calls to decrease payments to hospitals and providers
no rehab (ie, physical therapy, occupational therapy to make your wrist normal again)
Why can't I just go to the ER vs having a doctor who knows me?
That's like a one night stand versus a relationship. The level of personal care is just on a completely different level. There is no to little investment in a personal way in the ER, and that really isn't the goal.
The ER is a place where acute problems are addressed, meaning the time a doctor takes with you there will only focus on the short term. He/she won't know your history, only what you tell them. They may miss something that will improve your care for the long term, because they are there to get you out as fast as possible to make room for the next patient.
A primary medical doctor will know you over time, know your habits, know potential areas of risk and with that can really tell what you need and may be able to avert a serious problem down the road.
Waiting time differences
For those who have sat in an ER or a free clinic, this is obvious. To those who haven't, the amount of waiting for care double to triples, as the more serious patients get seen first. In a system where you are plugged in (meaning you have insurance), you can see the doctor you know and trust in an organized fashion, where honestly you will probably wait, but not nearly as long.