There are many pros an cons to having private health insurance, with
the most apparent benefit being that health insurance helps cover
the costs associate with healthcare (Protective 2022). Things like
doctors visits, ED visits, or specialty treatments can be covered in
part or in whole by having insurance. Larger bills such as hospital bills
from surgical procedures or other types of major treatments may also
be covered at least in part depending on the plan. With health
insurance you can chose your own doctor and picking a doctor
considered out of network may just mean a higher cost compared to
doctors in network. By enrolling in private health insurance people
can expect more choices compared to public plans, such as Medicare,
this allows people to more easily customize their health plan based
on their needs. With private healthcare coverage the experience may
include shorter wait times, more one on one attention, and better
facilities where public facilities can be overcrowded and have lower
quality care.
Additional pros include the ability for having health insurance to give
people a sense of safety and less worries when it comes to children
(Andreas 2022). Better capabilities to plan a future and those with
health insurance have a life expectancy average higher than those
without health insurance. Regular medical checkups can help detect
issues early on and lead to less complications.
One of the biggest disadvantages however is the cost of private
health insurance. This expense can be especially difficult for those
who suffer from poor health and do not have the access to a form of
group coverage and individual policies can cost hundreds a month
and even more for families (Protective 2022). There is also the
likelihood that the policy will come with high deductibles and copays
that need to be paid before coverage kicks in. There is the issue of
preexisting conditions and the fact that some policies have diseases
and conditions that they do not cover. If someone has one of these
diseases or conditions when it comes to paying for care and services
they will need to cover it. The costs of healthcare continue to rise at
a rate faster than the general inflation rate with no signs of
decelerating.
Cons can also be considered that even with insurance it can be
expensive and not all insurance companies may accept someone
especially with pre-existing conditions or it may be even more
expensive for these individuals (Andreas 2022). Premiums can
increase with age and some insurance companies limit certain
medical treatments. Having health insurance may tempt people to go
to the Doctor more often and people generally still have to pay a
fraction of the overall costs.
Andreas. (2022). Advantages & Disadvantages of Health Insurance.
Global Awareness UG. Retrieved from: https://environmental-
conscience.com/health-insurance-pros-cons/
Protective. (Retrieved Jan 31, 2022). Facts about the advantages and
disadvantages of health insurance. Protective. Retrieved
from: https://www.protective.com/learn/advantages-and-
disadvantages-of-health-insurance
