Protecting Your Family Part 1

When it comes to protecting your family, several things come to mind.  However, is securing health insurance one of them?  Take a look at this blog and share your thoughts.My thoughts on this matter are that while every family should work toward securing health insurance for themselves, I know how hard it is.  With the incredible cost of premiums, insane deductibles and co-payments, it is very hard.

I am part of just one of millions of families that do not have any health coverage in place.  Coming from the low-income working middle class family means that while I know I need it, food is more important.  I do qualify for state health coverage for my son, and I do utilize it.  Thankfully, being young as I am, I do need medical care often, but what I am to do when it happens?

I broke my foot in 2004, when my son was just 11 months old.  I was rendered nearly useless, and racked up over $700 in debt from the emergency room, the x-ray techs, and all the other stuff.  Is this debt still there?  Yes!  Well, a portion of it is, anyway.

The sad thing is that when I carried health insurance ($247 a month for a family of three, provided by my husband’s employer), the one time I actually wanted to use it, the deductible and co-pay was more expensive than outright purchasing the medication!

With the hectic nature and confusion that sounds health insurance coverage, it is no wonder that many of us do not have it, and those who do cannot utilize it to the extent it should be used to actually help them.  That being said, I can offer this advice.

• Research the provider. Make sure you understand the ins and outs of coverage, and limitations.
• Get what you can afford. Something isn’t always better than nothing as my case demonstrates though, so that’s where research comes in.
• Save cash for medical expenses when you can, and however much you can in lieu of coverage.

Share your health insurance coverage stories below!