Getting sick is something no one wants to think about, but when it becomes a reality it can be that much harder to deal with. The cost of health care continues to rise, making it difficult to face financially. Consider being faced with a life threatening or lifelong disease and trying to pay for it yourself. This becomes an impossible situation without health insurance. Medicare as it is now cannot be the only option when your family and additional health concerns may arise when you fall ill.

When a person’s health begins to deteriorate it can put them at risk of lost employment and as well as financial hardship due to travel expenses, cost of medical procedures, and medication. This is a risk that should not be taken. Just try and imaging losing your means of transportation, your home, or even worse. Debt is difficult enough to manage without being sick, and without that sickness becoming an added cause of debt and financial difficulty.

Not being able to afford medicine or necessary treatment just adds to the strain of getting sick in the first place. This will only affect your mental health in addition to your physical health. Illness begins to infect all areas of an individual’s life due to financial hardship. This makes it hard to give your family a healthy diet and provide your children with a good education.

Medicare does provide some basic assistance if and when a person qualifies for it. However, even if these requirements are met, the wait can be years before Medicare assistance comes into effect for some individuals. Medicare is also divided into sections and you have to qualify for all parts in order to see the full benefits. Medication, for example, is not at the top of the list.

You have to hope that Medicare covers the drugs that you need, and you must be able to afford the premiums and deductibles that are out of pocket costs. This adds to any financial strain you are faced with when you cannot work. The disadvantages of not having health coverage make the value of purchasing insurance drastically high.

In an aging population, it may become even harder to acquire full assistance through the current Medicare program. It is based on necessity and that will not always include long term pain sufferers if they are surviving (regardless of their quality of life). People should not put their futures on the line by relying on a system that may or may not benefit them.

Insurance providers make up a large list. Finding an affordable plan amongst them will mean that you can avoid outrageous medical expenses and what could become an impossible situation. Coverage can potentially save your life, especially with the economy as it is. For all of these reasons, it needs to be taken very seriously.

Determining which plan is needed and what options are affordable are the first steps in deciding on health cover. Consider whether you need inclusive coverage or if limited coverage is enough. Pay attention to any out of pocket costs you might incur in addition to the upfront costs needed for coverage. When your finances are at risk it is hard enough, but your family, your future and your life are on the line. For these reasons, health insurance is certainly invaluable. Do not wait until it is too late.