Individual Health Insurance
Headline Article
HEALTH INSURANCE: A
GUIDE TO SHOPPING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE
Health insurance has become an essential
part of our everyday life. At one time, doctors made house
calls and worked one-on-one with the patients. At that time
health insurance was not needed because the
cost of health care was affordable. Often in rural areas the
doctor would take chickens or other items in trade - from
those who could not pay cash.
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Health Insurance came about later. As medical
technology advanced so did the cost to provide these new
services to the public. As doctors and hospitals had to
raise their treatment rates, they realized that the average
person wouldn't be able to afford the increased costs. The
focus was not so much your welfare but being able to get
paid. After-all, providing health services is a for-profit
business like any other business. Thus was born health
insurance.
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With health insurance, the "sticker-shock" was no longer an
issue. You would pay a monthly, quarterly, or annual fee for
your health insurance - all the premiums would go
into a fund and pay out for those who needed it. Similar to our
social security program today. And you, as the patient, were not
so concerned with the cost of the treatment you needed because
"the insurance company was paying it, not you ".
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Health insurance was a great invention - especially
for the health care industry. Now they could raise their
prices at will with very little protest from the public. And
they were pretty much assured of getting paid and in a
timely manner.
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A patient may have a small co-pay - perhaps $20 on a $200
bill - so they weren't too concerned with the higher and
higher price of health care procedures. I remember in the
60's questioning a high price for a health procedure and
being told "you have health insurance - the health insurance
company will pay it - what do you care?".
Well, we do care today because the health care industry has
become quite a large money-gulping monster. The health
insurance premiums have become a real financial burden on
individuals and businesses alike. It seems to be out of
control. The average health insurance premium per month for
a family quite often exceeds their monthly home AND car
payment combined. Many companies that used to provide
excellent health insurance benefits for their employees are
now not able to do so.
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To be fair, the health care facilities, and thus health
insurance companies, have seen their costs go through the
roof also. Just as a computer becomes obsolete soon after
purchase, so does technologically advanced medical equipment. We
can continue to use an obsolete computer but in the medical
industry the patients demand the latest and greatest. This
forces the hospitals to continually invest in the newest
equipment for which the inventor and manufacturer can charge
just about any amount they want. Individual Health Insurance
Lawsuits have driven health insurance costs up also. So many folks are
looking for an opportunity for "early retirement" if they
can find some reason to sue the hospital or doctor. And the
outrageous multi-million dollar settlements cause the need
for medical people to carry mal-practice liability
insurance. And, believe it or not, even the health insurance
companies are now buying insurance to cover themselves. What
is known as a vicious circle.
How can we survive with this health insurance dilemma today?
Here are six ways - you may think of more.
1. Take on more of the small bills yourself. Purchase a
health insurance
policy with higher deductibles. The small clinic visits will
not hurt you - it's the big surgeries that will break you.
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2. Consider using a health insurance company that offers preferred
providers. The health insurance company will negotiate
lower prices with willing hospitals, clinics, and doctors
ahead of time. Then the health insurance companies can offer
you lower rates for using these health providers. The
medical providers benefit because the health insurance
company will send them a lot more business than they might
get on their own.
3. Be a shrewd shopper. Shop around even if you currently
have a health insurance policy. Continually compare prices
and coverages. This is a fast changing and VERY competitive
market today. The health insurance companies are literally
fighting over your business. Use this fact to your
advantage.
4. Support "lawsuit caps" with your state and federal
representatives. It's time to put a stop to those greedy
people who want to become a millionaire on your health
insurance money. Individual Health Insurance.
5. Buy only what you absolutely need. And stay away from
those little health insurance policies that have so many
restrictions that they are virtually worthless. Little
accident policies that sound great but only pay "if the
stars are in line" at the time of the accident.
6. Most importantly - live your life in a healthy fashion so
you don't need to visit the doctor. Read up on home remedies
and other self-help medical information. Bottom line is -
the healthier you become, the less you will need health
services. View health insurance as a secondary financial
protection. Prevention is, without a doubt, your cheapest,
most affordable health insurance.
7. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE
HEALTH INSURANCE QUOTES
AT TOP OF PAGE. These will give you instant
comparison between companies and policies. You're the
winner because these companies are fighting over you're
business. DO IT NOW. Individual Health Insurance |
