Do you have a health insurance? Do you think it is important?

@grkelly (1206)
Malta
April 21, 2010 9:23am CST
Lately I have come to know the benefits of having a heatlh insurance policy. I never had one before but I am considering having one now or in the near future. Any suggestions or tips please?
2 people like this
5 responses
@phoenix8606 (4942)
21 Apr 10
do you mean life insurance or health insurance, because they both are completely different and in my country everybody has to have a health insurancein order to be treated in all the medical institutions, if not he/she must pay a lot of money to be treated like the people who have that insurance.
@grkelly (1206)
• Malta
21 Apr 10
No a health insurance specifically for medical requireemtns. In my country it is not obligatory since we have most health services provided almost all for free through the taxes we pay.
• United Arab Emirates
22 Apr 10
I guess this discussion is mostly for americans because in my country nobody or only the richest people can think of insurance, here we live like we are in the jungle.
@JoyfulOne (6232)
• United States
21 Apr 10
Yes, I think it's very important to have health insurance no matter what your age. I've seen many lives ruined because of an emergency and they had no insurance. One visit to the emergency room and you're owing thousands (just to walk in the door and have some simple emergency care). Then if you get admitted, or have to have surgery or something, you can end up owing for the rest of your life almost. I have a friend who just had that happen, and he had to declare bankrupcy, lost his job, his house and all his belongings. Do I have health insurance? I used to, but then I had an episode with cancer that took a year of treatments. The end result is that I am 'uninsurable' to most insurance companies, and to the few that would accept me it's at a monthly price that is so far above what I can afford that it's unbelieveable! Being unable to work anymore means I have no shot at health insurance, even if I could afford the $1800/month insurance. Suggestions: get health insurance while you're young and healthy and it's still affordable. Illness can strike at any age, no matter how young or how old you are, so it's important to protect yourself from future hassles!
@picjim (3002)
• India
21 Apr 10
I don't know about cost of medical aid in your country but i feel it is essential to have medical insurance.It is better you go for medical insurance at a young age as you grow older you are likely to develop ailments and the insurance companies will charge you more for pre existing diseases.Its better to have medical insurance as the cost of Medicare is rising and if we are stricken with an ailment it will deplete our finances.If you are married you and your spouse can take individual policies.If you have children then please take policies in their names as it will cover future expenses.
• India
21 Apr 10
Hi, Here is how the entire insurance system works. If a person is making up for his own loss it can not be considered insurance. In insurance, loss of a person is shared by a group of people willing to cooperate. Insurance calculates the amount of risk based on the Theory of Probability. Your past record, your present condition as well as future prospect will be considered to calculate the amount of premium. With the help of probability which is basically a mathematical theory or method, the amount of uncertainty is calculated. This uncertainty or risk is then translated in terms of certainty. Many people thinks that insurance is just another form of gambling. But its not. On the contrary when a person is relying on his savings for all these, he is actually ignoring factors like market conditions, inflation and the monetary and financial policies. These factors never remain the same. Insurance is instrumental in reducing the 'worry' factor which effectively increases the overall productivity and prospect of man. I have tried my best to explain here the internal mechanism of insurance and I strongly recommend that you have that health insurance. Thanks God bless you