No one wants to think about spending a festive holiday sick. Does it happen? Absolutely.
During these festive times where we rub shoulders with more people, the chances of coming into contact with someone contaminated are increased.
However, you need not be caught unprotected. The time for open enrollment has arrived!
Don’t say “ba-humbug” to the idea that you need health insurance. The benefits of health insurance greatly outweigh the costs. Yes, the holidays are for fun, but consider why you need health insurance during these bustling times.
Money goes more toward stocking stuffers rather than health bills.
Health insurance is designed to help you pay for any medical care that you may need and is especially useful for sudden and unexpected serious illnesses or injuries.
The average emergency room visit can cost from $220 to $600. However, with adequate health insurance that out-of-pocket expense can be minimized 20-50%.
Whether you elect a Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) or Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) – can make significant differences in billing. Review the capacity of the health coverage and also what your in-network (and out-of-network) benefits would be.
Health insurance helps your health stay in the green.
Health insurance is a prime necessity to receive routine checkups and preventative care. Preventative care is as important as reactive care to promote overall well being.
“For example, seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are from chronic diseases (such as cancer and heart disease), and almost one out of every two adults has at least one chronic illness, many of which are preventable,” reports the CDC. Having health insurance has a huge impact on how you can stay up and running during your holidays.
You can avoid the insurance penalty Grinch.
There are also serious consequences for not having health insurance. If you can afford to have health insurance and you elect to not pay for it, you will incur the “individual shared responsibility payment.”
The Health Insurance Marketplace outlines the penalty this way:
- “You owe the fee for any month you, your spouse, or your tax dependents don’t have health insurance that qualifies as minimum essential coverage. See all insurance types that qualify.
- You pay the fee when you file your federal tax return for the year you don’t have coverage.
- In some cases, you may qualify for a health coverage exemption from the requirement to have insurance. If you qualify, you won’t have to pay the fee. Learn about health coverage exemptions.”
On average, the penalty could be of $95 per adult or 1 percent of annual income. This penalty will increase to $695 or 2.5 percent of annual income in 2016.
Avoid unnecessary risk by having active health insurance for you and your family.
Take some of the stress away from the holiday season by getting covered to help keep your family safe. Reach out to us here at Pettineo Insurance and we will get you on the right track to get this needed protection!
Pettineo Insurance Agency Inc. provides health insurance in Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, North Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Hollywood, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Sunrise, Tamarac, Plantation, Lighthouse Point and all of Florida.
