Do You Need Health Insurance?

Consider your needs and all the options.

Why Do You Need Health Insurance?

Today, health care costs are high, and getting higher. Who will pay your bills if you have a serious accident or a major illness? You buy health insurance for the same reason you buy other kinds of insurance, to protect yourself financially. With health insurance, you protect yourself and your family in case you need medical care that could be very expensive. You can't predict what your medical bills will be. In a good year, your costs may be low. But if you become ill, your bills could be very high. If you have insurance, many of your costs are covered by a third-party payer, not by you. A third-party payer can be an insurance company or, in some cases, it can be your employer.

Today, there are more types of health insurance, and more choices, than ever before. The information presented here will help you choose a plan that is right for you. You may be buying health insurance for the first time, or you may already have health insurance but want to consider changing plans. Married or single, children or no children, this information will help you to find out how to choose a health insurance plan that best meets your needs and your pocketbook. Definitions of the health insurance terms used are included in the section called Understanding Health Insurance Terms.