The scream of health insurance can be a confusing and frustrating one for home business owners. It may seem like affording health insurance is an impossibility. However, health insurance is one expense that you really cannot afford to skip. If you are the principal source of income for your family, you must think the ramifications of not having health insurance. Your family is counting on you. One serious accident or illness can lead to the loss of your business and your family’s income.

For those who work from home and have no other employees, you can either prefer individual health insurance or group health insurance. Many insurance companies now offer group plans for a single business owner. Prerequisites to purchasing group health insurance will differ for each provider. Individual insurance plans will retract your new health and any preexisting medical conditions into epic when deciding whether or not to give you coverage. However, a group view cannot refuse coverage based on existing medical problems.

When considering which health insurance thought to prefer, be certain to consider about how noteworthy of a deductible you can afford. If you have some money in reserves, you may deem a larger deductible. Increasing your deductible from $100 to $2000 can actually lower your payments by half. Also steal into yarn your health and the health of your family when deciding upon a deductible. There are a myriad of health care plans available. They can range from HMOs to fee-for-service plans. Each idea has its believe fresh pros and cons. Be definite to do some research and come by all of your questions answered before selecting a opinion.

If you really need to keep money, it is possible to assume a health insurance idea that does not include doctor’s appointment, hospital visits or medical tests. This type of coverage is called catastrophic coverage. If you are a healthy person and rarely go to the doctor, you may be joyful with health insurance that will only cloak major accidents.

It is very difficult for an individual to negotiate coverage terms and cost with providers. One option is to join a group of other home business owners in order to have more leverage to ask for better rates. Research any trade or professional associations that you are righteous for. Many of these associations offer ways to join groups for health insurance coverage. College alumni associations are another resource when looking for group coverage. You can also contact the local Runt Business Development Center or similar organization for advice and wait on in finding groups to join for insurance coverage purposes.

You can also perceive for health care plans that are geared toward tiny businesses. These plans are specifically tailors to meet diminutive business needs. You may be able to accept plans that have special premiums and offers.

Although the cost may seem high and the process confusing, it is famous for a home business owner to mediate purchasing a health insurance opinion. Believe cost, premiums, your health and the health of your family, and types of coverage before making this critical decision.

The disclose of health insurance can be a confusing and frustrating one for home business owners. It may seem like affording health insurance is an impossibility. However, health insurance is one expense that you really cannot afford to skip. If you are the valuable source of income for your family, you must think the ramifications of not having health insurance. Your family is counting on you. One serious accident or illness can lead to the loss of your business and your family’s income.

For those who work from home and have no other employees, you can either lift individual health insurance or group health insurance. Many insurance companies now offer group plans for a single business owner. Prerequisites to purchasing group health insurance will differ for each provider. Individual insurance plans will bewitch your novel health and any preexisting medical conditions into epic when deciding whether or not to give you coverage. However, a group conception cannot refuse coverage based on existing medical problems.

When considering which health insurance opinion to capture, be positive to judge about how mighty of a deductible you can afford. If you have some money in reserves, you may mediate a larger deductible. Increasing your deductible from $100 to $2000 can actually lower your payments by half. Also consume into record your health and the health of your family when deciding upon a deductible. There are a myriad of health care plans available. They can range from HMOs to fee-for-service plans. Each understanding has its gain current pros and cons. Be certain to do some research and accumulate all of your questions answered before selecting a conception.

If you really need to place money, it is possible to buy a health insurance notion that does not include doctor’s appointment, hospital visits or medical tests. This type of coverage is called catastrophic coverage. If you are a healthy person and rarely go to the doctor, you may be satisfied with health insurance that will only veil major accidents.

It is very difficult for an individual to negotiate coverage terms and cost with providers. One option is to join a group of other home business owners in order to have more leverage to ask for better rates. Research any trade or professional associations that you are apt for. Many of these associations offer ways to join groups for health insurance coverage. College alumni associations are another resource when looking for group coverage. You can also contact the local Cramped Business Development Center or similar organization for advice and support in finding groups to join for insurance coverage purposes.

You can also peep for health care plans that are geared toward tiny businesses. These plans are specifically tailors to meet microscopic business needs. You may be able to procure plans that have special premiums and offers.

Although the cost may seem high and the process confusing, it is valuable for a home business owner to believe purchasing a health insurance concept. Think cost, premiums, your health and the health of your family, and types of coverage before making this principal decision.

We exhaust thousands of dollars on health insurance each and every year. For some people this is a wasted amount. There are many people who don’t fully spend their healthcare coverage. If you are one of those people, listen up! You are spending your hard earned dollars each and every month for healthcare coverage, so you might as well employ it. There are many ways to collect the most out of your health insurance coverage.

Preventative Care
Most insurance plans will shroud preventative care for free, or virtually free, a obvious amount of times each year. There is no reason why you shouldn’t use this service. Getting routine lab work, pap smears, mammograms, prostate exams, etc can do a lot to improve your health and prevent future issues.

Using your preventative care doesn’t only mean medical care. If you have dental coverage, derive biannual cleanings and exams. You would be amazed at how mighty healthier your teeth and gums are with regular check-ups.

Prescription Drug Coverage
There are a lot of people, myself included, that fail to note an insurance card when purchasing prescription drugs. Yes, some drugs only cost $15 or so, but usually prescription drug coverage allows you to keep a bit of money.

Health Savings Idea
If your company allows a pretax health savings idea, by all means, seize advantage of it! The dollars spent in this fund are tax free. However, a lot of plans do not let you carry money over from year to year. If you site money into one of these health insurance savings plans, be clear to utilize all the money each year. This money doesn’t have to go only towards x-rays, doctor visits, lab work, etc. You can hold simple things like contacts and glasses with the money. The bottom line is: don’t let this money go to raze!

Education
When a health insurance claim is submitted for payment, there are two main parties involved: the healthcare provider, and the insurance company. Either one of these entities could fabricate a mistake in calculating your coverage or payment. Design certain you know how mighty money you should be paying for a deductible and how great you pay as your coinsurance rate. If you are educated about the type of policy you hold, you won’t be taken for a fool when a mistake is made.

Health insurance coverage is a necessity for families. Although most families know this fact, some don’t fully spend the benefits. Gain determined you obtain your money’s worth and exhaust every penny of your health insurance coverage.

We exhaust thousands of dollars on health insurance each and every year. For some people this is a wasted amount. There are many people who don’t fully expend their healthcare coverage. If you are one of those people, listen up! You are spending your hard earned dollars each and every month for healthcare coverage, so you might as well expend it. There are many ways to net the most out of your health insurance coverage.

Preventative Care
Most insurance plans will hide preventative care for free, or virtually free, a sure amount of times each year. There is no reason why you shouldn’t spend this service. Getting routine lab work, pap smears, mammograms, prostate exams, etc can do a lot to improve your health and prevent future issues.

Using your preventative care doesn’t only mean medical care. If you have dental coverage, pick up biannual cleanings and exams. You would be amazed at how remarkable healthier your teeth and gums are with regular check-ups.

Prescription Drug Coverage
There are a lot of people, myself included, that fail to exhibit an insurance card when purchasing prescription drugs. Yes, some drugs only cost $15 or so, but usually prescription drug coverage allows you to assign a bit of money.

Health Savings Notion
If your company allows a pretax health savings conception, by all means, win advantage of it! The dollars spent in this fund are tax free. However, a lot of plans do not let you carry money over from year to year. If you residence money into one of these health insurance savings plans, be clear to utilize all the money each year. This money doesn’t have to go only towards x-rays, doctor visits, lab work, etc. You can capture simple things like contacts and glasses with the money. The bottom line is: don’t let this money go to raze!

Education
When a health insurance claim is submitted for payment, there are two main parties involved: the healthcare provider, and the insurance company. Either one of these entities could do a mistake in calculating your coverage or payment. Accomplish positive you know how grand money you should be paying for a deductible and how great you pay as your coinsurance rate. If you are educated about the type of policy you fill, you won’t be taken for a fool when a mistake is made.

Health insurance coverage is a necessity for families. Although most families know this fact, some don’t fully consume the benefits. Earn obvious you secure your money’s worth and spend every penny of your health insurance coverage.

If you are self-employed or maintain a miniature business, you have a number of options when it comes to choosing health insurance. Regulations vary from situation to region. In North Carolina the self-employed and slight business are guaranteed access, and insurance companies are cramped in how distinguished more they can charge unhealthy versus healthy self-employed individuals and exiguous groups.

Even under the best of circumstances, those who are recent to the health insurance market, or have previously been covered by an employer, should be prepared for sticker shock. A standard itsy-bitsy group health insurance policy in North Carolina can easily cost $15,000 or more for a family. This can be comparable to what a tall company pays, but the individual employee is probably exhaust to having only a part of this amount deducted from their paycheck.

The best option health insurance option for the self-employed or miniature business owner is to lift individual/family coverage. Depending on health plot, this type of coverage can be substantially less than a group policy. However, in North Carolina the insurance company can decline to conceal someone, and is not slight in how distinguished they can increase premiums based on health plot. (This process is referred to as underwriting.)

There are a number of companies that offer individual/family health insurance policies in North Carolina. Blue Immoral and Blue Shield of North Carolina has the largest customer sinful, but it pays to peep at multiple companies since rates, underwriting policies, and benefits vary from one to the next.

As previously stated, North Carolina health insurance regulations guarantee access and limit rate differences for the self-employed and shrimp business owners, so if individual/family coverage is declined (or a high monthly rate is offered), this would be the next avenue to pursue. Once again, Blue Harmful and Blue Shield of North Carolina has the largest customer disagreeable, but it pays to examine at multiple companies.

A final option to contemplate is North Carolina’s health insurance risk pool, which is called “Inclusive Health.” This is a state-run health insurance program designed for individuals unable to obtain affordable health insurance in the inaugurate market. While not cheap (rates can be twice as noteworthy a comparable standard policy), this can be the best option for individuals with a serious medical condition.

Under any circumstance, the spend of an insurance agent is highly recommended. Agents are paid a commission by the health insurance company, and using one should not affect the rate you pay. You should determine an agent who represents multiple companies. A obliging agent will attend you identify the best policy for you, attend you with the application, and can be a essential resource in dealing with the insurance company down the road.

If you are self-employed or fill a exiguous business, you have a number of options when it comes to choosing health insurance. Regulations vary from space to residence. In North Carolina the self-employed and exiguous business are guaranteed access, and insurance companies are diminutive in how grand more they can charge unhealthy versus healthy self-employed individuals and diminutive groups.

Even under the best of circumstances, those who are novel to the health insurance market, or have previously been covered by an employer, should be prepared for sticker shock. A standard minute group health insurance policy in North Carolina can easily cost $15,000 or more for a family. This can be comparable to what a expansive company pays, but the individual employee is probably exercise to having only a part of this amount deducted from their paycheck.

The best option health insurance option for the self-employed or shrimp business owner is to capture individual/family coverage. Depending on health site, this type of coverage can be substantially less than a group policy. However, in North Carolina the insurance company can decline to mask someone, and is not exiguous in how powerful they can increase premiums based on health place. (This process is referred to as underwriting.)

There are a number of companies that offer individual/family health insurance policies in North Carolina. Blue Irascible and Blue Shield of North Carolina has the largest customer faulty, but it pays to notice at multiple companies since rates, underwriting policies, and benefits vary from one to the next.

As previously stated, North Carolina health insurance regulations guarantee access and limit rate differences for the self-employed and itsy-bitsy business owners, so if individual/family coverage is declined (or a high monthly rate is offered), this would be the next avenue to pursue. Once again, Blue Defective and Blue Shield of North Carolina has the largest customer imperfect, but it pays to observe at multiple companies.

A final option to reflect is North Carolina’s health insurance risk pool, which is called “Inclusive Health.” This is a state-run health insurance program designed for individuals unable to pick up affordable health insurance in the begin market. While not cheap (rates can be twice as worthy a comparable standard policy), this can be the best option for individuals with a serious medical condition.

Under any circumstance, the spend of an insurance agent is highly recommended. Agents are paid a commission by the health insurance company, and using one should not affect the rate you pay. You should decide an agent who represents multiple companies. A valid agent will back you identify the best policy for you, wait on you with the application, and can be a well-known resource in dealing with the insurance company down the road.

With the United States ranked 37th in healthcare, by the World Health Organization, many public officials are beginning to query key components of the healthcare plans.   Whether insured under a PPO, HMO, Indemnity Plans, you may become the victim of financial misfortune simply through a deductible maze.  So, how do we elaborately work through the maze?   Let’s first request what a deductible is.

A deductible.  Commonly referred to as a clause, within an insurance policy, which relieves an insurance company from the responsibility of paying on a claim until a specific dollar loss is reached.   In other words, your stated insurance deductible will be the amount you are expected to pay towards your personal healthcare services before the insurance company will commence to pay any section of your loss.   Listed in the Summary of Benefits allotment of your policy, the deductible is clearly stated and may range from $50, as seen in dental plans, to amounts in excess of $10,000, as seen in individual indemnity or catastrophic plans.   As a general rule, there is a reverse relationship between premium rates and deductibles.  That is to say, the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premiums.

Insurance coverages such as auto, homeowners and Medicare all carry deductible provisions.   Medi-gap is generally carried by seniors to aide in covering the deductible expenses imposed by Medicare.   However, the auto and homeowner’s policy has no such option for waiving the deductible.   It is also notable to effect that most life insurance, disability and workers’ compensation plans will not impose a deductible upon the insured.

In an difficulty to control the health claim costs, insurance companies have devised bewitching methods for passing the cost of some health expenses encourage to the consumer.   For the lay consumer, deductible language can be confusing.    To justify, let’s put a question to the definition of each deductible we typically peep in a health care coverage view.

Per Person vs. Family Deductible
Most insurance policies, with deductible provisions, will spot the deductible level as a flat calendar year figure or as a percentage of your policy limit.  In healthcare plans, the calendar year deductible will apply.   Calendar year, of course, refers to the period from January 1st through January 31st of each year.  The calendar year deductible is applied on a “per person” basis meaning each individual must satisfy his or her deductible before the insurer will commence paying benefits toward future losses.  

To further complicate the policy language, and to the wait on of the insured, insurance carriers added an additional deductible element called the “family deductible”.    The family deductible was designed to address the needs of an entire family unit rather than focus on each individual person.   Under this provision, the family deductible is referenced as an aggregate figure.   The family deductible is considered exhausted when the family’s individual member deductibles, in total, reach this aggregate level.   The family deductible can generally be exhausted in any combination of claims but, in some cases, the policy may require that at least one individual utilize his or her personal deductible.   

Carry Over Deductible
In unusual years, insurance carriers have begun to offer a policy provision called the “Carry Over Deductible” provision. This policy provision does not get a unusual deductible.  Instead, it is intended to offset costs incurred by the insured.  Under this provision, any covered expenses, incurred and applied toward the calendar year deductible in the last quarter (October thru December) of the calendar year, will be carried over and also applied toward the deductible of the next calendar year.  In other words, if you incur $500, in covered medical expenses, in the month of November and those charges are applied toward your reveal calendar year deductible, the insurance carrier will catch that same $500 and carry it over to the next year’s calendar deductible.    This is a tremendous provision for the insured but many insurance carriers do not readily section the details of a carry over deductible provision.  It is up to the insurance saavy consumer to locate the provisions.  

With health care costs continue to increase it is indispensable that we, as consumers, become educated in the provisions of our insurance plans.   Cost cutting and cost saving measures are the key and, with the factual information, the educated consumer can come by adequate coverage in the event of a loss.    To ensure cost savings, familiarize yourself with the relationship between deductible levels and premiums, the provisions and existance of a family deductible and the availablity of a carry over deductible provision.    In an ideal setting, a extreme premium/high deductible policy could be purchased, with all family members deferring treatment until the demolish of the calendar year and then carry over the deductible into the next calendar year.   By doing this, you will lower your health premiums, meet your family deductible in one year and then potentially arrive that same family deductible for the next calendar year by “carrying over” the same expenses.  

It’s about educating yourself as the consumer.   For more information on your health thought, review your Summary of Benefits provisions or contact your health insurance company.

With the United States ranked 37th in healthcare, by the World Health Organization, many public officials are beginning to request key components of the healthcare plans.   Whether insured under a PPO, HMO, Indemnity Plans, you may become the victim of financial pains simply through a deductible maze.  So, how do we elaborately work through the maze?   Let’s first interrogate what a deductible is.

A deductible.  Commonly referred to as a clause, within an insurance policy, which relieves an insurance company from the responsibility of paying on a claim until a specific dollar loss is reached.   In other words, your stated insurance deductible will be the amount you are expected to pay towards your personal healthcare services before the insurance company will start to pay any section of your loss.   Listed in the Summary of Benefits allotment of your policy, the deductible is clearly stated and may range from $50, as seen in dental plans, to amounts in excess of $10,000, as seen in individual indemnity or catastrophic plans.   As a general rule, there is a reverse relationship between premium rates and deductibles.  That is to say, the higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premiums.

Insurance coverages such as auto, homeowners and Medicare all carry deductible provisions.   Medi-gap is generally carried by seniors to aide in covering the deductible expenses imposed by Medicare.   However, the auto and homeowner’s policy has no such option for waiving the deductible.   It is also notable to effect that most life insurance, disability and workers’ compensation plans will not impose a deductible upon the insured.

In an disaster to control the health claim costs, insurance companies have devised arresting methods for passing the cost of some health expenses support to the consumer.   For the lay consumer, deductible language can be confusing.    To define, let’s query the definition of each deductible we typically sight in a health care coverage conception.

Per Person vs. Family Deductible
Most insurance policies, with deductible provisions, will area the deductible level as a flat calendar year figure or as a percentage of your policy limit.  In healthcare plans, the calendar year deductible will apply.   Calendar year, of course, refers to the period from January 1st through January 31st of each year.  The calendar year deductible is applied on a “per person” basis meaning each individual must satisfy his or her deductible before the insurer will open paying benefits toward future losses.  

To further complicate the policy language, and to the serve of the insured, insurance carriers added an additional deductible element called the “family deductible”.    The family deductible was designed to address the needs of an entire family unit rather than focus on each individual person.   Under this provision, the family deductible is referenced as an aggregate figure.   The family deductible is considered exhausted when the family’s individual member deductibles, in total, reach this aggregate level.   The family deductible can generally be exhausted in any combination of claims but, in some cases, the policy may require that at least one individual expend his or her personal deductible.   

Carry Over Deductible
In new years, insurance carriers have begun to offer a policy provision called the “Carry Over Deductible” provision. This policy provision does not design a unique deductible.  Instead, it is intended to offset costs incurred by the insured.  Under this provision, any covered expenses, incurred and applied toward the calendar year deductible in the last quarter (October thru December) of the calendar year, will be carried over and also applied toward the deductible of the next calendar year.  In other words, if you incur $500, in covered medical expenses, in the month of November and those charges are applied toward your point to calendar year deductible, the insurance carrier will purchase that same $500 and carry it over to the next year’s calendar deductible.    This is a tremendous provision for the insured but many insurance carriers do not readily section the details of a carry over deductible provision.  It is up to the insurance saavy consumer to locate the provisions.  

With health care costs continue to increase it is notable that we, as consumers, become educated in the provisions of our insurance plans.   Cost cutting and cost saving measures are the key and, with the proper information, the educated consumer can get adequate coverage in the event of a loss.    To ensure cost savings, familiarize yourself with the relationship between deductible levels and premiums, the provisions and existance of a family deductible and the availablity of a carry over deductible provision.    In an ideal setting, a indecent premium/high deductible policy could be purchased, with all family members deferring treatment until the kill of the calendar year and then carry over the deductible into the next calendar year.   By doing this, you will lower your health premiums, meet your family deductible in one year and then potentially come that same family deductible for the next calendar year by “carrying over” the same expenses.  

It’s about educating yourself as the consumer.   For more information on your health notion, review your Summary of Benefits provisions or contact your health insurance company.

I have been insured and I have been uninsured. I have lived both worlds, and I know what it is like to have to concern about getting sick. Too many Americans live their daily lives disquieted about getting sick because they do not know how they will financially be able to handle such an event. We must provide an option for those who are not able to glean health insurance privately or through their employer. There are nearly 50 million uninsured Americans according to the US Census Bureau, and likely millions more who are not being counted.

My family never had distinguished money. My mother and stepfather raised me, and we never had health insurance throughout my life. My mother worked as a self employed housekeeper, and my stepfather worked in construction. Normally the jam was that they made “too great money” to qualify for Medicare, and not enough money to be able to afford health insurance through a private company. Neither of those occupations offered health insurance, and we could never afford to catch insurance privately. I did manage to pick up on SCHIP (Situation Children’s Health Insurance Program), which in Georgia is called Peachcare, as a teenager when my parents lost some of their income. This is one of the few times in my life that I had the abet of being insured, and that was thanks to the government. Unfortunately at the age of 19 I was booted from SCHIP.

It was shortly after I was booted from SCHIP that I suffered a major car accident. I was driving to work from college in the rain and hydroplaned. My truck spun out of control on the highway and I went into the oncoming lane of traffic. A semi-truck side swiped me and demolished my vehicle. I was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. Luckily everything turned out OK (except for the fact that I had no vehicle as I could only afford liability automotive insurance, and had no health insurance either). The medical bills accumulated in my mailbox daily. I never knew until that time how noteworthy the costs of medical services truly were. When I discovered that my short ambulance prance was going to cost me nearly $800, I was astonished. I racked up over $5,000 in medical bills, and there was no intention I could pay them. Health care reform opponents might state you that I did in fact receive “free health care” as I never paid those medical bills. However, as most rational people know – those services were not free – not to me and not to you. My credit was ruined at the age of 19. I was working hard and paying my plot through college, and I could not even salvage a slight loan for a former car to replace the one that was totaled.

I was lucky enough later on in college to land a noble management station in California and come by health insurance through my employer. Unfortunately due to the economic recession my company sold and I was laid off four years later, and found myself uninsured again. I did not qualify for COBRA extension insurance because I moved out-of-state support to where my family was which was considered “out-of-network” (this was well-known for me to be able to discontinue afloat). I’m now working again, and have access to health insurance, but the point is that many Americans gain themselves in my same region, for mighty longer. What does a 19 year stale with outrageous income parents (who works and puts him/herself through college) do when they fetch sick? They do what I did; they go to our emergency rooms and rack up debt that will haunt them for years to advance. Debt that also contributes to the skyrocketing costs of our health care system. Debt that will be passed along to those who are lucky enough to have insurance, raising their premiums and lowering their standard of care.

Sometimes even the “insured” accumulate themselves without many options. High deductible health insurance plans leave many individuals paying thousands of dollars out of pocket before their insurance kicks in. Often the insured score that distinct procedures aren’t covered under their insurance policies because they had definite “pre-existing” conditions making them ineligible. The health insurance companies have one thing in mind – and that is profits. I do understand the reservations some have in allowing the government to race another program. However, we all know greed is what has gotten us to where we are today – and the only option we have at this point is to force competition upon the health insurance industry.

The “public option” is famous to achieving genuine health care reform. Imagine 50,000,000 people with the opportunity to engage health insurance at affordable rates. Objective imagine those 50,000,000 people not crowding our emergency rooms with minor ailments because many doctor’s offices will not grasp uninsured patients. Imagine the billions of dollars in savings yearly from the reduction of unpaid medical bills. We may not have to imagine considerable longer. If having a government-run “public” insurance option has ever been a possibility, it is now. President Barack Obama has vowed his help for a public option, as have many Democrats in Congress. Of course, the health care industry is spreading misinformation and trying to slay the public option. Of course some Democrats are leaning toward settling for watered down reform, and most Republicans will not vote for health care reform no matter what is in the package. It is now up to the people. The people must interrogate steady health care reform, and that means demanding the public option.

I have been insured and I have been uninsured. I have lived both worlds, and I know what it is like to have to misfortune about getting sick. Too many Americans live their daily lives panicked about getting sick because they do not know how they will financially be able to handle such an event. We must provide an option for those who are not able to accept health insurance privately or through their employer. There are nearly 50 million uninsured Americans according to the US Census Bureau, and likely millions more who are not being counted.

My family never had remarkable money. My mother and stepfather raised me, and we never had health insurance throughout my life. My mother worked as a self employed housekeeper, and my stepfather worked in construction. Normally the quandary was that they made “too great money” to qualify for Medicare, and not enough money to be able to afford health insurance through a private company. Neither of those occupations offered health insurance, and we could never afford to choose insurance privately. I did manage to gain on SCHIP (Set Children’s Health Insurance Program), which in Georgia is called Peachcare, as a teenager when my parents lost some of their income. This is one of the few times in my life that I had the befriend of being insured, and that was thanks to the government. Unfortunately at the age of 19 I was booted from SCHIP.

It was shortly after I was booted from SCHIP that I suffered a major car accident. I was driving to work from college in the rain and hydroplaned. My truck spun out of control on the highway and I went into the oncoming lane of traffic. A semi-truck side swiped me and demolished my vehicle. I was taken to the emergency room by ambulance. Luckily everything turned out OK (except for the fact that I had no vehicle as I could only afford liability automotive insurance, and had no health insurance either). The medical bills accumulated in my mailbox daily. I never knew until that time how remarkable the costs of medical services truly were. When I discovered that my short ambulance scamper was going to cost me nearly $800, I was astonished. I racked up over $5,000 in medical bills, and there was no procedure I could pay them. Health care reform opponents might dispute you that I did in fact receive “free health care” as I never paid those medical bills. However, as most rational people know – those services were not free – not to me and not to you. My credit was ruined at the age of 19. I was working hard and paying my draw through college, and I could not even come by a itsy-bitsy loan for a old car to replace the one that was totaled.

I was lucky enough later on in college to land a generous management situation in California and accumulate health insurance through my employer. Unfortunately due to the economic recession my company sold and I was laid off four years later, and found myself uninsured again. I did not qualify for COBRA extension insurance because I moved out-of-state befriend to where my family was which was considered “out-of-network” (this was famous for me to be able to discontinue afloat). I’m now working again, and have access to health insurance, but the point is that many Americans gather themselves in my same set, for grand longer. What does a 19 year traditional with gross income parents (who works and puts him/herself through college) do when they regain sick? They do what I did; they go to our emergency rooms and rack up debt that will haunt them for years to near. Debt that also contributes to the skyrocketing costs of our health care system. Debt that will be passed along to those who are lucky enough to have insurance, raising their premiums and lowering their standard of care.

Sometimes even the “insured” gather themselves without many options. High deductible health insurance plans leave many individuals paying thousands of dollars out of pocket before their insurance kicks in. Often the insured procure that sure procedures aren’t covered under their insurance policies because they had obvious “pre-existing” conditions making them ineligible. The health insurance companies have one thing in mind – and that is profits. I do understand the reservations some have in allowing the government to bustle another program. However, we all know greed is what has gotten us to where we are today – and the only option we have at this point is to force competition upon the health insurance industry.

The “public option” is distinguished to achieving trusty health care reform. Imagine 50,000,000 people with the opportunity to bewitch health insurance at affordable rates. Honest imagine those 50,000,000 people not crowding our emergency rooms with minor ailments because many doctor’s offices will not recall uninsured patients. Imagine the billions of dollars in savings yearly from the reduction of unpaid medical bills. We may not have to imagine mighty longer. If having a government-run “public” insurance option has ever been a possibility, it is now. President Barack Obama has vowed his back for a public option, as have many Democrats in Congress. Of course, the health care industry is spreading misinformation and trying to end the public option. Of course some Democrats are leaning toward settling for watered down reform, and most Republicans will not vote for health care reform no matter what is in the package. It is now up to the people. The people must seek information from accurate health care reform, and that means demanding the public option.