Lately, with all the talk of healthcare reform, I have had people ask me whether they should get health insurance now or wait to see what the government does.
Personally, I don’t think you should wait on the government to do anything for three reasons.
1. We don’t know how it could change.
2. We don’t know how soon it will start (some provisions don’t start until 2018).
3. We don’t know what the lasting effects will be.
Decisions should be made based on current risk, not on what might happen if the government changes the system. Many of the people I talk to who are uninsured are in that situation because it either isn’t a priority or they think it’s too expensive. These same people usually have a nice cell phone and/or drive a nice car and are telling me this over a cup of coffee at the local hang.
In my opinion, it’s more expensive to not be insured.
For example, my friend broke her ankle, didn’t have any health insurance, and faces a $27,000 hospital bill. The hospital gave her the “good” news that, as an uninsured patient, she may qualify for a discount of up to 15% off!
When it comes to cost, as long as you don’t expect your health insurance to cover every possible medical expense, it can be pretty reasonable. Just today, I quoted a higher-deductible plan for a 35-year-old male that was under $85 a month. I would say that is pretty reasonable.
Whatever form the health initiative takes, it may eventually mandate that everyone carry health insurance or pay a fine. It’s likely going to have to be a priority for everybody, much like auto or homeowner’s insurance is.
My advice is to go ahead and get the coverage you and your family need and not wait around trying to guess what the government will do next.
If you’d like to discuss healthcare reform or your coverage, grab a spot on my calendar today!
