Wellness

[curlygirl13]

You never need it until that day happens. I am living proof of that. I take care of myself, used to run everyday, eat healthy. and then BOOM, next thing you know i'm in the hospital for 10 days. lots of tests, lots of blood and diagnosed with a grim, chronic condition. Had I not had insurance, my hospital bill would have been close to 100K!!. Now, I have a preexisting condition and they gauge me. I pay 1,000 a month for coverage with a 6,000 out of pocket deductible. But if I didn't do it, I'd be bankrupt. It only takes one small thing to change the course of your life. You're gambling without insurance. Just my opinion

[Kachina624]

Going without medical insurance is like playing Russian roulette with your future. One major accident or illness could ruin you financially and affect you for the rest of your life. Seriously consider the worse possible outcome before making such a decision.

[kitcat51]

Yes I went without for several years because I had too, it wasn't by choice. There are wonderful cash only Dr's, they keep costs low by not accepting any form of insurance....the Dr. I went to also partnered with a lab & my needed blood work every 6 months was done at cost. My out of pocket cost vs insurance for a year was unbelievable...I paid less than 2 months of what insurance would have cost. I highly recommend cash only when you simply can't afford health insurance. I have Medicare now.

[cherry]

What ever way you decide @Laura14  good luck

[SilleeMee]

I'm not quite Medicare-age but my income is low enough that I qualify for  no-cost ACA (Obamacare) insurance from our state health insurance marketplace. However, because of it's dwindling marketplace participants, I no longer have good, if any, coverage from it. So, because my income is low enough, I am fortunate to have available to me a health care clinic that will accept patients who have little or no insurance. This clinic requires a patient to pay for care according to their income level...a 'sliding scale' based billing system. The clinic has ties to regular hospitals and other doctors outside the clinic should I need them and the charges made for my care from those locations are also based on a sliding scale in income. If I need emergency services then I'll have to rely on my regular Obamacare insurance. I'll be 65 next year but I will not qualify to receive Medicare benefits...long story and I am concerned about that part...I heard I may qualify for Medicaid but I don't know about that either. Doesn't seem right.

[Peaches McPhee]

I believe I will be working until age 65, just for the insurance benefit. 

[SeaMaiden]

Health insurance is like any other insurance.  I have had car and home insurance for 40 years.  Never have used either of them... BUT, how can you say nothing is going to happen?  So I pay for car insurance and home insurance. Even have earthquake insurance..... 

If you want to live your life saying I NEVER GET SICK.. and that works for you and you can sleep at night, fine.

I chose to be covered and insured and protected as best I can for the unknown.  Each day we wake up we are so grateful for... but , we never know day to day what may happen in that 24 hours.    

[Krimpette]

@SeaMaiden My sentiments exactly.  I couldn't sleep nights if I didn't have health insurance coverage.

[colliemom4]

@Laura14  My daughter doesn't have it. Of course the older you are in most cases the more you are likely to need it and she's young. She only went to the doctor once last year and paid out of pocket.

[geezerette]

I would consider a major medical policy (catastrophic coverage), but I don’t think I would go without insurance entirely.  And then only if I was very healthy and was doing everything in my own power to stay that way.  You just never know when something is around the next corner.  

But if I was paying thousands of dollars a year in premiums with a deductible in the thousands and limited medical professionals I could see, I would consider dropping that for the catastrophic coverage.  Even paying $700 for your physical would still be cheaper than thousands in premiums.  

I see a doctor that runs a walk-in clinic.  They offer primary care services and wellness visits as well.  It’s kind of a cross between a primary care and urgent care facility.  Several of the walk-in clinics in my area offer similar services.  Perhaps your area has some too.  But if I liked my doctor, I’d talk to him or his office manager about becoming self-pay and what type of discount they would offer for paying cash at the time of service.

All that said, with every type of insurance we have ever had, in the end, we have always paid thousands to them and got back a minuscule amount from them.  But we were grateful to have them when needed.  Thankfully, we didn’t need any very often.