Why NOT to be without health insurance in US?

Health Insurance… If you do not have it,  FIRST GET IT !  Many people do not realize the importance of health insurance in America. It is a MUST.  Some may argue,  I am in good health condition and it is a waste of $100 or $300 for health insurance. But, we do not plan accidents. Lets imagine, you are walking down the road and just slipped for some reason and fell down. In other countries, you can go to doctor and get decent treatment for less money. Guess what in America, if you do NOT have health insurance, you may spend a LOT of money. Can be anywhere from $500 – $50,000 or more. May be I am overstating, but the reality is it costs you a LOT of money without health insurance. This article just explains the importance of having health insurance in USA. Let me show you quick pricing comparison of just one treatment.

Medical Treatment	Cost in India without Insurance	Cost in US Without Insurance	Cost in US with insurance
MRI Scan	Rs 4000 – Rs 7000 ($90 – $155)	$700- $2500	Can be FREE after you reach the deductible and insurance Policy

Also, let’s say if you call 911 and take Ambulance, it can cost you anywhere from $300 to $700 or more. Check this article:  Did you know How much Ambulance Costs? . If you have proper insurance you might get this free. But, it depends on the plan though. Let me tell you a real story of a friend of mine, he was just going on a bike and fell down. He did not have proper insurance. For some reason, the health insurance did not cover the expenses. He had his elbow broken and it was bad. Probably, in India he would have got away with Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 if he were to go to a nice fancy hospital. If not, around Rs.10,000 to Rs.50,000. Guess what my friend had to pay ?  It cost him $45,000 Dollars. It is equivalent to Rs 20,25,000 ( over 20 Lakhs). You can just compare the numbers and realize the importance of health insurance. Even if you do not compare, that’s a lot of money in US dollars and it is years of savings for average Americans. Here is the thing in America, most of the times, you will not be left out and forced to bear pain with a broken arm or anything like that. The hospitals do treat you well, but they will take your SSN and other contact information and send you all the bills home.  You cannot escape from bills and collection agencies. They get you there and you will end up paying all your life, just medical bills. So, be careful and take insurance right away if you do not have. In future articles, I plan to write the types of health insurance and what is best one to choose if you had a choice… Refer to following if you need references for comparison,

• MRI Scan costs, UK, USA, India
• Compare MRI Costs