As a single person, you may ask if you really need to spend money on health insurance. The truth is that despite the cost, health insurance protects you in case of a serious illness or accident. If you think your health insurance premiums are expensive, just wait to receive a medical bill without any help from an insurance company.
In the United States, the average cost of a trip to the emergency room is almost $1,100. This does not count tests and any follow-up care or necessary hospitalization. The $1,100 covers the cost of the emergency room doctors and supplies. If X-Rays are needed, expect your bill to increase by at least $125 to $150. MRI’s will drive up your bill by another $1,800. CT scans average $1,200.
A broken leg assistance may range from $3000 to $7,500. This price includes X-Rays, casting, any necessary surgical procedures, and physical therapy. A damaged rotator cuff (common ailment with baseball pitchers) costs almost $8,500 to repair. Hip replacements cost almost $32,000.
If your appendix ruptures, the bill for that necessary surgery tops $11,000. Meanwhile, hernia troubles can run you a bill of almost $6,200. Carpal Tunnel surgery averages $3,200. Heart issues requiring a stent or angioplasty lead to a bill of almost $26,000. Coronary bypass surgeries start at $57,000. A diagnosis of chest pain averages $6,000.
Children commonly face having their adenoids removed to help ease chronic ear infections. Did you know that an adenoidectomy costs almost $3,500? A required hospital stay for pneumonia will cost around $8,000. Childbirth costs range from $5,000 to $11,000 depending on the situation. Receiving a c-section drives the cost up.
If you require normal medical care, you might be surprised at what routine care costs. An average trip to your family doctor costs a little more than $50. If you are a new patient, the more complex visit will cost around $150. This does not even count the necessary tests. Standard tests drive up your average doctor bill.
Healthcare cost may raise up to a fortune
- Blood count: $35
- Blood Sugar Test: $45
- Cholesterol Test: $60
- EKG: $64
- Liver Function: $45
- Mammogram: $105
- Pap Smear: $55
- Pregnancy Test: $25
- PSA: $70
- Strep Throat: $35
- Thyroid: $65
- Urine Test: $15
Knowing some of today’s average costs for health care, can you really afford to go without health insurance? If the unimaginable does happen, you will certainly want to have an insurance policy covering a portion of the extremely expensive costs.
When you are choosing health insurance, it is essential to pick the type of insurance that best fits your needs. Hopefully, you are employed and can receive insurance through your employer. This usually saves you a bundle. If not, there are still insurance plans available, but they often require higher monthly fees.
A number of years ago, the federal government and certain state governments established laws preventing insurance companies from denying any application for insurance. If you have a preexisting condition, you are guaranteed a right to insurance, but this doesn’t mean that insurance will be inexpensive.
If you have just quit or been fired from a job, request COBRA coverage. COBRA plans will cover you with the same insurance company, insurance plan, and monthly premium for a period of up to eighteen months. This is the best step if you will be looking for another job or need affordable coverage while you look for a new plan.
HMOs and PPOs are most common. You select either one doctor or one medical practice to handle all of your medical needs. In return, you are assigned a co-pay amount. Anytime you need medical care from your doctor, you pay this co-pay up front and then your insurance company pays the balance. With HMOs and PPOs, there is no claim form or messy paperwork to deal with. All transactions are computer based and run through your identification card.
Medical Savings Accounts (MSAs) require you to make monthly deposits over a span of time. The balance then must be used up as soon as you elect to withdraw the money. If you request a withdrawal, there is usually a span of time that allows you to use up the entire balance or you may risk losing all of that money.
Point of Service plans require claim forms to be filled out with every doctor visit. After a doctor visit, you pay your percentage, or sometimes the whole bill, and then fill a claim form to get the insurance payment to cover the balance. If you are required to pay for the entire bill up front, the claim form is filled out so that the insurance company will then reimburse you for the other percentage. Point of Service plans are usually more trouble because doctor’s offices and insurance companies can easily misplace your claim forms.
2 Comments on "Is Health Insurance Needed? What Health Coverage Types To Choose?"
I would go for Point of Service insurance plan, especially if you are not the sickly or in frail health person.
I think health is is important. As medical is very costly, you insured yourself so insurance company bares your expenses if you have some medical problem. Before buying it do research work, get information from websites so that you get good knowledge in which policy you are going to invest .