Benefits of Health Insurance
Negotiated Charges
Uninsured patients sometimes pay more for services or medications than those with health insurance.
For instance, a hospital may charge you $1.50 for one Tylenol, while the entire bottle may cost $1.50 at a local pharmacy.
During a surgical procedure, a hospital may charge you $77 for a box of gauze pads. The same pair of gauze pads found for $10 at Walmart.
When you have health insurance those prices are already negotiated with the hospital and not nearly as pricey.
Improved Medical Outcomes
The goal of an ER is to treat your current condition, keep you alive and discharge you with follow-up instructions. ER visits are not meant to treat chronic conditions.
By enrolling in a health insurance plan you receive access to a primary doctor who will know your health baseline and health history meaning you don’t have to explain your situation over and over an unfamiliar ER doctor. Your own primary care doctor will also help can help you to better manage and potentially overcome any chronic conditions; something that can’t be
Your own primary care doctor will also help can help you to better manage and potentially overcome any chronic conditions; something that can’t be done by visiting ER’s for health care.
Avoid Hour Long ER Visits
It’s estimated that 40% of ER visits are unnecessary.
Visiting an ER for something as simple as an ankle sprain can cost you anywhere from $4-24,000. Cost like these can quickly put you in a financial hardship as well as cost you hours waiting in a crowded ER.
The good news is many times you can avoid ER visits by using your health insurance to schedule a doctor appointment. In most cases, your doctor can treat minor illnesses before they turn into major problems.
Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
