Do you really need health insurance if you rarely go to the doctor?

RICK

A no answer seems logical but consider this. You have an accident in your house (fall down the stairs, slip in the bathtub,etc) and suffer a head injury plus a broken arm. That ER visit is an easy $20,000 with x-rays, CAT scans to rule out intra cranial bleeding, Drs evaluation, etc. You need to decide if that possibility is worth it to you or not.

AlCapone

My son didn't think he needed it, but I bought it for him because he couldn't afford it. Then a year later he had a stroke -- big bills, paid by insurance. Then he had a second stoke a year after that -- bigger bills, paid by insurance. Then, he had a third stroke and died -- huge bills, paid by insurance. The lesson to be learned here is that you may be in perfect heath but that doesn't mean you won't have sudden unforeseen problems or be injured in an automobile accident. In this happens, are you able to pay the bills?

DEBS

Insurance is always a tough one to pay when you rarely use it, but as soon as you have an accident then it saves you from very large bills. You can be 'healthy' and still have unexpected needs such as a broken arm or a hidden disease like cancer even at a young age. Some insurance, like roadside assistant programs, are rarely worth it. If you break down once every 3 years it is cheaper than paying for AAA or other similar service. Health insurance, however, could leave you hundreds of thousands in debt while not being able to work. That's a different kind of risk. For someone like you, there are options where you pay less monthly in exchange for paying more, but not hundreds of thousands, if you do need a doctor. Look into a high deductible health plan.

Speed

Say you're a cautious, safe driver, but someone hits your car and you're injured and need multiple surgeries. Without insurance, you are personally on the hook for what could easily pass twenty thousand dollars in less than a month in the hospital. Can you afford that? Then you need insurance.

Powerpuff

You never know when you will end up with a broken bone or a heart attack.

Insurance Pickle.com

Do you really need life insurance if you've never died?

Anonymous

You can die anytime. You can get ill anytime. Having good health for years means nothing when healthy people get cancer.

AdamTheAtheist

It depends on your income.

Casey Y

Can always work out a payment plan...what if the intended treatment costs half a million...? Heck, a heart attack could cost you that much in the wrong place... Forget about things like cancer, where the hospital would be under no obligation to actually treat you...just stabilize you.

nt

I went without for a very long time and never needed it. I've had it for the last 7-8 years and it really has not done anything for me except a flu shot and small script savings. I have a really high deductible, like $6400. The benefit is one day I will probably rack up tens of thousands in medical bills or more. My downside will be capped at $6400 per year. Lots of people go without. But you wont get optimum care without it.

Anonymous

Of course you need insurance. Just like you don't know when you could get into a car accident, or the house catches on fire. Anything can happen with your health, many people who think they're healthy find out months later they have cancer. Or they get into a car accident or another type of accident & they need medical care.

Robert S

No,until you do.

pearlmar

You sure do.

Judy

Yes. Anyone can get seriously ill, or in an accident.

Anna E

All I can tell you that it is called insurance for a reason. It is insuring that an illness or hospitalization will not cause you to declare bankruptcy. I know people who do not go to the doctor often. My brother was one of those, but on his union job it was required that he have insurance in case of an accident. Well, he didn't have an accident, but he had a stroke at the age of 40. You may think it's ridiculous because you are young and healthy, but 30 years of paying for health insurance makes it worthwhile when you do happen to get ill, maybe go into the hospital for a routine procedure and develop sepsis or MRSA and end up with a several hundred thousand dollar hospital bill.

Barbie

At least have an HSA account.. it’s a savings account for medical needs just Incase something does happen.

Anonymous

At the moment, I cannot afford it. Frankly, I think too many retired oldsters spend ALL their time and energy going to doctor visits, which in my opinion, just speeds them to the cemetery a heck of a lot faster. This is what I have seen within my family. It's your call.