Here are five good reasons to have health insurance, even if you’re healthy today (or think you are). And coverage now could be less expensive than a surprise bill later.
1. You’ll be prepared for the unexpected
No one plans to get sick or hurt (and no one planned on a pandemic). Just like car insurance, health insurance protects you and your wallet from the unexpected. Your situation could change quickly with an injury, accident, or major illness.
2. You could end up paying more without coverage
While health insurance is an expense, the cost of getting care without it could be much more than you expect. Going to the emergency room, seeing a doctor, having tests run and/or medical procedures (even if minor), can all add up quickly.
For example:*
- $7,500—what fixing a broken leg could cost
- $30,000—average cost of a three-day hospital stay
- Hundreds of thousands of dollars—what comprehensive cancer care can cost
3. Keeping healthy now may help you avoid expensive health issues later
People with health insurance are more likely to visit the doctor regularly for services like annual checkups, flu shots, and routine bloodwork. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health insurance companies, like EmblemHealth, to cover many preventive services at no cost to you.
We can’t stress enough the importance of routine preventive care. Checkups and screenings may uncover health problems before you know you have them, potentially heading off an expensive, major illness—and major expense—down the road.
4. You can!
If you’re employed, even by a small business, it’s likely you have options to get health coverage. And, if you’re age 26 or younger and your parents have health insurance, you may be able to be added to their plan. Those over age 26 may be able to buy individual plans on or off state-run health exchanges. Click here to learn about EmblemHealth's individual plans.
5. Young people DO care about staying healthy.
A 2018 survey of Millennials (people born between 1980 and 1997) by the Transamerica Center for Health Studies found that cost was a barrier to getting health insurance—but staying healthy was a priority.
Of those surveyed, 55% listed “staying healthy and covering basic preventive healthcare expenses” as their top health-related priority. And that is a priority that health insurance can help you achieve.
The bottom line: Don’t let today’s good health keep you from securing the benefits and future protections that health insurance provides.
*Estimates from Healthcare.gov; actual costs may vary.
This article was originally published on ConnectiCare.com.
