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As you graduate college and head into the great, big, scary world,
there are probably a lot of things on your mind. First and foremost is
finding a good job, then finding a place to live, and then maybe
figuring out how to pay back those student loans. One thing that might
not cross your mind is health insurance. All of your life, you’ve most
likely been a dependent on your parents’ coverage, but that ship is
about to sail—if it hasn’t already.
We know what you’re thinking, “Why do I need health insurance? I’m
young, I’m healthy, and doctor visits are few and far between. So why
pay for something I’ll never use?” Hey, we understand where you’re
coming from. But accidents and illnesses happen without warning, even
to the strapping young adults such as you. Sure, health insurance is
expensive, but not having it will cost you dearly.
First things to know
Let’s get one thing straight, health care in the United States is a
nightmare, few will argue that. There are thousands of options when it
comes to receiving care and paying for it, some of them good, some of
them not so much. When it comes to choosing an insurance policy that’s
right for you, confusion abounds. So let’s learn a little more about
your options.
There are two essential categories of health insurance: managed care
and indemnity plans. Though you’ll pay more for indemnity coverage, it
offers much more flexibility than does a managed care plan. Through
indemnity coverage, you’ll have your choice of doctor, lab, hospital or
specialty clinic. When you seek medical care, you’ll have to pay an out
of pocket expense—called a deductible—before your coverage will kick
in. Deductibles range from a few hundred dollars up to $1,000 or more,
depending on your policy. Also, indemnity plans require a co-payment on
medical care; meaning you’ll be responsible for a percentage of the
treatment costs along with your deductible. Generally, indemnity plans
pay only for accidents or illness; they usually don’t cover
preventative care.
Managed care is the complete opposite of indemnity coverage.
Deductibles are usually smaller, co-payments are lower, and
preventative care is usually covered. Your options, however, are
limited. Through a managed care plan, you can only choose between
health care providers who are contracted by your health maintenance
organization. If you go elsewhere, you pay—the full amount. Since
that’s a pretty rough deal, many managed care plans are offering hybrid
options that include many of the desirable characteristics of an
indemnity plan.
Which way to go
If you find a job that offers health insurance and you’re single, take
it. It may not be perfect, but it beats anything you can find on your
own. When you sign up through your employer, you’ll probably be
confronted with many options. Take a good, long look at them and ask
for help from a human resources representative if need be, but make
sure you choose the plan that’s right for you. Chances are—if you’re
young and healthy— you’ll want a plan with a low premium and higher
deductible. Look for a plan that minimizes your out-of-pocket expenses.
When it comes to choosing between and indemnity plan or a managed care
plan, you may or may not have a choice depending on your employer. Both
offer advantages and disadvantages, so make sure to crunch the numbers
before committing to one or the other.
Make yourself a deal
Though health insurance is a costly part of our lives, there are ways
to save. If you’re self-employed, shop around before you commit to a
plan. If you’re under 50 and in good health, insurance companies will
want your business, and cut rates are to be had. Also, take advantage
of breaks from Uncle Sam. The self-employed can write off up to 45
percent of their insurance premiums. Some employers offer flexible
spending accounts, where you can pay for premiums and costs not covered
by insurance with cash that isn’t subject to taxes.
If you’re married and your spouse also can get coverage from their
employer, weigh your options carefully. It might benefit you
financially and coverage-wise if you measure the pros and cons of
separate coverage, double coverage, or one of you opting out of your
work’s plan and enrolling in the other’s.
Finally, if you’ve been healthy and believe you can get by with minimum
health coverage, look into purchasing “catastrophic coverage”. This
indemnity policy offers extremely low premiums, but deductibles can be
very high—up to $2,500. Coverage is extremely limited to “catastrophic”
events, which you’ll need to learn all about. |