How important is medical insurance?

[DRoseDARs]

Corrected in post below...

vVv

[Imran Siddiqui]

They definetly are .

I don't know any state where car insurance isn't mandatory... and driving without insurance... wooo... that carries some hefty penalties .

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
Some insurance is better than no insurance. You are fine without any coverage what-so-ever...until you need it. I injured the tissue below my knee this past Sunday at work and there's minor concern I might need to see a doctor if it persists. Workers' Comp. may or may not cover part or all of the cost, but lacking any insurance since December, my stepdad will have to pay any medical expences left over.

EDIT: Clarification: I have Driver's Insurance (required by law). It's Health Insurance I've lack since December.

[Dis]

It all depends on if you like to gamble.

I grew up without health insurance and I turned out just fine

Now days I prefer to have health insurance. Even though I never get sick and never go to the doctor.

[connorkimbro]

i was thinking about this earlier today actually. it would seem (maybe i'm wrong) that as the severity of a thing happening goes up, the chance of it happening goes down. also, the severity of a thing goes up, and cost goes up.

so that means that as the cost of a thing goes up, the chance of it happening goes down.

as the chance of it happening goes down, the frequency of it happening also goes down.

so, if you add up regular insurance payments for a set period of time, and then add up what is likely to happen that will require payment within that same time period, which would cost more? . . . .

insurance companies make money somehow, and it isn't from the doctors. and ESPECIALLY if doctors/hospitals cut bills if you pay in cash. . . me thinks i'll be skipping out on health insurance and saving the money in a bank or something, then IF something happens, i'll pay for it in cash.

i think, in the long run, this would save money, under all but the most extreme of circumstances.

is my logic flawed here?

[Dis]

yes, because hosipitals charge you more money if you don't have health insurance.

don't ask me why, but it is something they do.

[connorkimbro]

Slowwhand says -

I'll tell you something, not readily known.
You pay a hospital/doctor in cash, they'll cut the bill significantly.

Dissident says -

yes, because hosipitals charge you more money if you don't have health insurance.

Ok, fight it out.

3 minutes on the clock. touch gloves. . . now come out boxing!

[Dis]

well a hospital isn't a car dealership.

hospitals prefer you have health insurance.

I live in the U.S. And most employer's cover most of the cost of health insurance, so for me, it is worth it. I pay $30 a month for health insurance.

[connorkimbro]

i'm from the US too, did you forget?

Anyway, i have health and dental and all that now, the army gives it to me. not that military medical care is terrific, but i don't pay anything for it either. i was just thinking about after i get out.

tell me, why do hospitals prefer you to have health insurance, than you paying in cash?

I can see that they want to you have health insurance, because NORMALLY, if you don't, you wouldn't be able to pay in cash either. they don't want to be doing their work for free.


But if you can and do pay in cash, why would they not want that? They get their money easier, faster, with less hassle, and no middle man to skim off the top.

[CorpusScorpius]

A friend once told me she had catastrophic insurance just incase some Catastrophic health issue arrived........sounds good.... I told her if something catstrophic happened I more than Likely wouldnt be around.
health insurance is good if you have dependents.

[Dis]

well unless you have the cash on you, the hospital might suspect you don't have enough money to pay for it.

Illegal immigrants use the emergency room for their health care. They don't actually pay for their medical treatment.

[Imran Siddiqui]

tell me, why do hospitals prefer you to have health insurance, than you paying in cash?

Because most people usually don't have hundreds on them in cash . They try to pay for it with credit or checks... and hospitals will charge more for them.

[Al B. Sure!]

well, you got the harpoon out of your chest... does that mean you got to rush to the ATM machine to withdraw your account?

[Q Classic]

it's a gamble. since i don't have insurance, i'm ****ed right now bcause i can't afford my antidepressants.

i've been on "samples" for quite a while now, and taking half what i should be.

[Makeo]

get health insurance. i'm a healthy youngish guy as well, but i've had medical bills over $2000 over the last two years. its a gamble that could give you debts for the rest of your life if you need complicated surgery.

eventually you'll end up in the medicos office and I feel alot better knowing i've got insurance.