Healthcare reform is something that has been discussed for years, yet for some reason the government has failed to enact any substantive changes to make health care more accessible and affordable to everyone.
Among the problems with the modern-day health care system is the fact that health insurance is tied to the employer. Thus if the employee loses his or her job, they also lose their health insurance along with it.
Should we switch to a government-run health care system? Or should we keep the system going as is? Ideology aside, it is becoming ever clearer that going without health coverage is a risk people may not want to take.
Why Loss of Health Coverage is Risky
Anybody who has had a dental or medical issue and has sought healthcare while unemployed knows full well how expensive it can be. It can bankrupt the individual very quickly. In fact, recent studies have shown that lack of healthcare coverage causes more bankruptcies than credit card debt.
This is why, particularly with people who have pre-existing medical conditions, it is very important to ensure a continuity of healthcare coverage with an individual health plan. Though generally more expensive than an employer-based plan, it eliminates the financial risk associated with the absence of a health plan.
Those who are in good health and desire a less expensive health plan may want to consider short-term health coverage. However, short-term health plans generally only cover catastrophic injury that would result in a major accident such as a car wreck.
Finding Health Insurance on the Web
Finding an individual health plan on the web is easy, and the person can get a rate quote quickly. Numerous websites offer a wealth of information on health insurance and what the person needs to know when purchasing an individual health plan.
Health insurance websites typically offer rate quotes and comparison health plan shopping among a number of major health providers including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Cigna, Kaiser Permanente, and UnitedHealthcare. Some also offer healthcare tips, policy options, and healthcare news.
Ten websites that offer individual and group health plans are:
- eHealthInsurance.com
- InsureLane.com
- InsureMe.com
- Benepath.com
- GoHealth Insurance.com
- Affordable-Health-Insurance-Plans.org
- Health-Insurance-Rates.org
- HealthInsurance.org
- Health Insurance Finders.com
- National Association for the Self-Employed
Though the up-front cost of individual health plans may seem expensive, going without health coverage is financially risky in this age of skyrocketing healthcare costs. All it takes is a dental procedure or an unplanned hospital stay to send a person into bankruptcy. That’s why it is so important to continue healthcare coverage, even if it costs a little more.
See related articles, "How to Apply for COBRA Health Insurance," “How to Start a Business,” and “ How to Become Self-Employed."
Daniel Gansle - Daniel J. Gansle is the author of 2012: Day of Reckoning, graduate of Anthropological Studies and expert in ancient Mayan culture.
