In the past I have briefly told all of you about my chronic health problems and how expensive those health problems are. As someone who has had over 200+ hospitalizations and over 45+ surgeries, trust me…I know about the high costs of medical care.
Through all of this medical drama, we have always maintained decent health insurance. Sometimes we have had a direct health insurance policy, an HMO health insurance policy or a PPO health insurance policy. Each different type of policy has their benefits and their downfalls.
Our HMO health insurance policy came up for renewal recently and we made the decision to switch to a PPO health insurance policy as I wanted the freedom to see different doctors and go to the hospital of my choice for care. In my personal opinion, I have more freedom of choice on a PPO health insurance plan as compared to an HMO health insurance plan.
With the upgrade and change in policy comes higher premiums that my husband and I must pay to have this type of health insurance. Our co-pays and deductibles will be higher but I feel the freedom of choice is worth it for me and my family. Overall, I hope this change in health insurance policy will help to decrease the amount that I am stuck paying after each hospitalization or surgery that I have.
I have also been educating myself on the benefits of giving health insurance to the poor to see if I can get some help for my great aunt who is having a lot of health issues right now but can’t afford decent health coverage. From what I have learned, she might be eligible for medicaid but will have to check on that for her.
Anyway, I really wish that our health insurance and medical system would be set up easier for people to use and to obtain. We pay a slew of money for our health insurance coverage but yet…we are left with over $40,000 in medical bills to pay. It just doesn’t seem fair to me that they drain us to pay for all of this coverage but yet stick me with the bills in the end. ugh!