One of the big political tennis balls being bounced around Washington these days is the issue of health care coverage for Americans. After a while, listening to the debate gets tiresome and maybe a little irritating, but there seems to be an important factor being left out. Unmarried adults. We always hear about the need for families to have health insurance, especially when young children are involved, but we almost never hear of the twenty and thirty-something singles.
What if we started saying as part of the debate, "Young, working, single adults need to get individual health insurance today." What would be the reaction? I'm not sure, but I do know that there are millions of people in this category who are new to the work force and are working jobs with less than stellar benefits. For most entry-level positions, individual health insurance is not part of the package. In cases where it is, the coverage may be minimal as a way of keep employer costs down. It's not uncommon for the kid fresh out of college to take his first job and not have health insurance.
Many young adults who don't have health care coverage, don't seem to be very worried about it. They've never felt better and are able to bounce back quickly after a cold or the flu. They are entering the prime of their lives as young adults and they are full of passion for life. Chronic disease is something for old people, certainly not the young.
So what options are available to young singles? There are three. The first is to not worry about your health and hope nothing goes wrong. In the event of a serious health issue, you can just let it go, ride it out, and hope it doesn't kill you. Not a very attractive option. Second, you can keep an eye on your health and pay out-of-pocket for preventative medicine. If something serious occurs, you can apply for government assistance. This is better than the first option, but still not the greatest.
The final option is clearly the best choice. It requires the young adult to get covered under an individual health insurance plan. The cost up front will likely hurt your pocketbook, but in the long run, it is the safest and wisest bet. It may seem very important to have the latest fashions and electronic gadgets, but without your health, you wouldn't be able to enjoy them anyway. Do yourself a favor and make yourself number one. Get some health insurance.
What if we started saying as part of the debate, "Young, working, single adults need to get individual health insurance today." What would be the reaction? I'm not sure, but I do know that there are millions of people in this category who are new to the work force and are working jobs with less than stellar benefits. For most entry-level positions, individual health insurance is not part of the package. In cases where it is, the coverage may be minimal as a way of keep employer costs down. It's not uncommon for the kid fresh out of college to take his first job and not have health insurance.
Many young adults who don't have health care coverage, don't seem to be very worried about it. They've never felt better and are able to bounce back quickly after a cold or the flu. They are entering the prime of their lives as young adults and they are full of passion for life. Chronic disease is something for old people, certainly not the young.
So what options are available to young singles? There are three. The first is to not worry about your health and hope nothing goes wrong. In the event of a serious health issue, you can just let it go, ride it out, and hope it doesn't kill you. Not a very attractive option. Second, you can keep an eye on your health and pay out-of-pocket for preventative medicine. If something serious occurs, you can apply for government assistance. This is better than the first option, but still not the greatest.
The final option is clearly the best choice. It requires the young adult to get covered under an individual health insurance plan. The cost up front will likely hurt your pocketbook, but in the long run, it is the safest and wisest bet. It may seem very important to have the latest fashions and electronic gadgets, but without your health, you wouldn't be able to enjoy them anyway. Do yourself a favor and make yourself number one. Get some health insurance.
About the Author:
If you are one of the millions who don't have group health insurance, there are excellent options available for you. Visit www.GoHealthInsurance.com and get your questions answered on the web's most extensive collection of health insurance information.
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