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!


 

Surge in Surgery

How many surgeries does the average person have in a lifetime?  According to the most recent study of its kind from 2002, it was found that you could need surgery at least 9.2 times if you live to 85 years of age. It is no surprise that surgeries increase with age.  Surgery is also prevalent in women during their reproductive years.  For both men and women between ages of 45 to 75 there is also an increase.  Three of the top ten most common surgeries were for women’s gynecological conditions.  C-sections ranked as number one.  For men the top surgery was for cardiac conditions (angioplasty, heart bypass).  Fortunately many surgeries done today are minimally invasive done as an outpatient instead of in a traditional hospital stay.

These facts indicate that you will have surgeries in your lifetime.  Think about the cost of this.  Would you be able to pay for it?  Rising health care costs and increase in illness have made this nearly impossible for most on an average income of today. The sensible and responsible thing to do is have health insurance.  Is your health more important than that $50,000 car or $200,000 home you insure? Plus these insurances are usually required.  Your health deserves to be insured as well.

If your health insurance policy has been cancelled, your health insurance provider has other plans that will fit your need with comprehensive, affordable coverage that covers more and includes your same providers.  Look at the cancelled product as new and improved health benefits at a much lower price. Basically your policy has not been “cancelled”, but upgraded with many more options.

There is also the option of looking at the National Healthcare Insurance Exchange by phone, paper application, online, or in person at designated places.  This offers more choices from other health insurance providers with different “levels” of coverage.  Each level offers basic and free preventive care from less than 60%  to 90% coverage.  The cost is now actually less than what you may have paid previously under the “cancelled” policy!  Now that health insurance is more affordable and chances are you will need surgery, it makes sense to have it.  Plus you get the chance to maintain your health with prevention and proper treatment in hopes of preventing surgery.

The yearly cost of your health insurance premium is much less than the cost of one major surgery and recuperation (equals 5-10 years worth). Even if you have enough cash to pay, you will save more than your money by being insured. Get covered for good health!

Best health!