What is health insurance, and do I really need it?
If you have recently graduated from high school or college and are on your way into the workforce, you've got a lot of important decisions to make — including figuring out your health benefits options — to keep you feeling and looking your best. allaboutthebenefits.com gives you the information you need to make better health benefits choices.
In a nutshell, health insurance can dramatically cut the amount you pay for things like doctor's appointments, dental care and prescription drugs. It also protects you from expensive medical costs if you need more serious care, say, for injuries from a car accident or an unexpected illness. Plus, many health plans cover services that you may not expect. Mental health counseling and preventive doctor visits (for things like flu shots) may be covered by your plan. Some even offer perks like discounts on gym memberships, eye glasses, LASIK surgery and vitamins.
And not having health benefits can really hurt! If you have a mysterious pain in your side (appendicitis most often strikes people between the ages of 10 and 30) and you need an appendectomy, it may cost you more than $12,000. Yikes! So much for your upcoming trip to Vegas! Taking a gamble by not having health insurance not only jeopardizes your health, but also your wallet. Consider this. Let's say you take a fall while skiing and break your arm. Your total bill for prescriptions, a stay in the recovery room, X-rays and various other health care costs could add up to $8,000.
