Today I am thankful for insurance. Now before we get into a debate over the current state of affairs, I want to say that this isn’t the case here. I’m here to talk about my experience with having insurance versus not having insurance. I’m not going to talk about the flaws of any system, I’m not going to talk about how I think I got shafted or not. So please, no negative comments or opinions because this is not the forum for that. There was a time when I didn’t have insurance because I wasn’t working. I came home from being away at school, so naturally I didn’t have job. At the time I came home I wasn’t even thinking about insurance. And then it hit: I got sick and normally I wouldn’t go running to a doctor, but my illness was enough to merit going to see one. I held off for as long as I could but I needed to go really badly. Just for the appointment I spent $200. Here’s the irony: I didn’t have a job and therefore no insurance, yet I had to pay a lot of money for a visit that would’ve only seen me have a co-pay of $20! BIG DIFFERENCE! I knew then that unless I had a life-and-death emergency, I wasn’t going to see ANY doctors!
Jumping ahead, I got a job and because of this was able to get insurance. What a difference! If I have a sniffle that ranges from pesky to annoying to debilitating, I can go to my doctor, or to an urgent care center. If I need a specialist, I don’t have to worry about a $200 bill at the end of my visit, just simple co-pay.
I am grateful that I have insurance that is accepted in a lot of places, if not practically everywhere! I feel for those who don’t have this luxury ( as it is sometimes seen nowadays). With all the ailments and illnesses that crop up or are re-emerging (think: Ebola), it’s scary to think of getting sick and not having any insurance. Here’s an example: If I am travelling somewhere within the United States, and something happens where I need to go to the hospital or see a doctor, at least I know I have insurance that can help me foot the bill. It gets a little trickier when travelling abroad, but I would make sure to research how the rules change overseas (that’s if I can even use my insurance at all in a foreign country!) If I can’t use my insurance, I would research what I would need to do in case of emergency in a foreign land. Unfortunately, these are not things we would normally think of right off the bat when planning a trip, but it’s actually one of THE most important. Having a contingency plan while travelling should be priority like packing your toothbrush! You just never know what might happen, and you don’t want to be sorry later. You can avoid a lot of heartache with taking a little time to do your homework, regardless if it’s a pain!
When I go ANYWHERE – whether an adventure or a trip, I never used to do it before when I was younger, but now I always make sure to take ID and a credit card or two in case of emergency. I know that’s standard but what I include now are my insurance cards. Picture it: I’m on an adventure and I get sick or hurt (heaven forbid). Now my friend or family member has to call for the ambulance and I am brought to the hospital. With my insurance card, at least I know I’ll be seen and the claim can be sent to my insurance company.
Another reason I’m grateful: having had an accident recently, things were put into perspective for me. Thank goodness I wasn’t physically injured, but had the accident been worse, I could’ve been seriously hurt. That would’ve merited a trip to ER and HOW WOULD I PAY FOR MY BILL???
Sometimes, this is something people take for granted and it’s a shame. Granted, insurance companies pretty much dictate how life runs, but it could be worse. I’m not saying I’m a fan about paying an arm and a leg for coverage, but I try to look at it this way: I’m buying peace of mind, should any health concerns arise. It sucks that we’re bound to insurance rules just to survive (gone are the days of simplicity). I’ve had a few insurance plans and it hasn’t always been a “cake walk” dealing with them, but debating if I could go to a doctor or hospital when I know something is wrong and should be checked out, is something I don’t care to revisit if I can help it.
Since we’re on the topic of insurance, here’s another reason why I’m thankful for it. Ever see those insurance options when booking a trip or event tickets? Lately, I started seriously considering opting for the extra insurance. Just recently I booked tickets to a show in the city. Not knowing what circumstances may befall me in March of next year, I opted to purchase the insurance that would protect me from sudden medical emergencies, show cancellations, and the like. Yes, it was listed as travel insurance. I think for the extra amount, I added peace of mind. Life is constantly changing and booking things well in advance has to be accounted for somehow. With the amount spent on tickets to anything nowadays, I think it’s a smart add-on that will be of benefit in the long run.
Any stories you’d like to share? (And PLEASE remember : this is NOT a forum for bashing any past or current system, just a forum for being thankful to have insurance in today’s day and age.)
XOXOXOXO,
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