Shoppimg for Health Insurance Limited Time Only!

Health insurance open enrollment time is here again.  For something so important, it is quite a quandary instead of a clear, concise issue.  First of all, open enrollment implies that you must wait for a certain time once a year for a sixty to ninety day period when you can shop for insurance. This is exactly what it is.  Unlike most nonmedical services you need or want, you can only shop for and get it for a limited time.  Without it you could get sicker, and pay more for your healthcare.  It would be healthier, more convenient, and make more sense to have open enrollment all year long. At one time many years ago, you could shop and get health insurance all year. Time for shopping for your health and insurance should be like shopping for other things you need.  If you had to wait to buy a car during a once a year open enrollment period, and you were without a car, what would you do? 


Health insurance is too important to have such limited access. Though the cost is high for some, most are able to procure enough to prevent bankruptcy from healthcare costs.  Once you have health insurance, you know and feel what is like to have healthcare provisions.  This is a major issue if you have been without it.  The health insurance experience is a healthy way to learn about your healthcare, and what you can do to make yourself healthier.  Many find it to be a security blanket in case of catastrophic illness, but it is also a prevention guide.


If the objective is to insure more people, limited open enrollment time once a year seems to be a contradiction to getting more people insured.  This could better serve everyone if it were provided in a timely, sensible manner if open enrollment was ongoing.  After all, your health is your most important asset.  You should be able to shop, and buy what you need when you need it beyond a limited time.  Best health!