by Mandi Weems

Created on: May 22, 2008

If you work for yourself, retired before Medicare is available, or don't have health insurance through your job, finding individual health insurance coverage that you can afford is a necessity to financial and life security. Some people cannot access job-based coverage because their employer does not offer it, they retired early, or because they are self-employed. If this is the case, you will find it beneficial to buy your own insurance plan. It is very unpleasant to look for insurance on your own, especially if you've been spoiled by years of relatively carefree coverage through your employer. To obtain health insurance, you must go to an agent and purchase an individual policy.

Health insurance is primarily necessary just because of the rising costs of health care. An emergency room visit can be well over $1,000 when x-rays and treatment are factored in. Most people do not have that kind of money to spend every time they need to visit a doctor or medical specialist, let alone an emergency room. The future is so uncertain that you need health insurance for any sort of peace of mind. If you have a family, it makes it even more important to have a good health insurance plan. Any health issue your child has will be covered, minus a small deductible. In the event of an accident, you want to make sure you or you and your family have coverage for the high costs that emergency would bring about. In the event of a major health issue or accident, you need the peace of mind that your finances are not going to be threatened. You want to buy health insurance for the same reason you buy any other kind of insurance. You want to protect yourself financially.

Being without it is a risk that nobody should ever have to take, especially if they have chronic health conditions and need regular medical care. Even if you consider yourself healthy because you don't ever catch much of anything, you should still buy health insurance to cover accidents or any thing else that may come up. Consider it the social excuse "Murphy's Law". If something does happen, and you're not insured, you could end up paying bills well in excess of the health insurance premiums. There are some very reasonably priced plans available to people with all sorts of health needs.

Health insurance is one of the wisest investments a person can make. You are protecting yourself in case you need medical care, because you can expect that it might be very expensive. You cannot predict what your medical bills will be, especially in the event of an accident or an illness. In good times, your costs may be low. But if you become ill, your bills could be high. If you have insurance, many of your costs are covered through your health insurance company, not by you, allowing you much financial freedom and protection.

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