I waived all my health insurance benefits from my work company, was that smart?

[Idonthaveausername]

Probably not a wise decision. Health insurance can really help if you need emergency surgery for you appendix or if you break an arm. It pays for basic checkups that you should get whether you're healthy or not. Not to mention your out of pocket costs will be greatly reduced in the even you get sick or sprain something to where you have to go to the hospital

I'm fairly healthy, but I still have health insurance in case of emergencies. I don't smoke or have any preexisting conditions, so my rates are less than $50 a check pre-tax. It might sound like a waste of money, but it will pay off when you need it

My uncle has no health insurance when he had a stroke at 56. Ended up needing heart surgery. They sent him a bill for half a million. He wasn't expecting the stroke because he was pretty healthy, even lost a bunch of weight. He would've known about the heart issues if he had health insurance and had been seeing the doctor regularly

Probably the biggest problem is the fine you'll pay for not having health insurance when you file taxes

[Anonymous]

As someone who has had some freakish accidents including getting injured in the privates by a grocery cart that flipped forward on some uneven cement and then required an ambulance ride to the hospital for xrays and stitches I'd say always get insurance.

And my car was hit by a 17 year old with no license and he'd been given permission by his mom to drive the car down to the Sonic drive in. He might have made an error because of all the construction we've been having and the lanes kept changing every day. He sort of hit my sideways head on.

And then there was the unexpected ruptured appendix.

[N192K001]

That depends.

There are MANY other options out there that are better than health-insurance (depending on your personal situation). Have you checked the Self-Pay Patient blog's listing of options?
selfpaypatient.com/selfpayhealthcaremarket/

The listing is updated as new, better options are reported to the administrator, who researches and verifies them before posting.

Personally, I stopped using health-insurance for a more reasonable healthcare-sharing ministry ('Liberty HealthShare' in my case). The old, pre-Obamacare health-insurance still exists, but they've been legally relegated to 'short-term insurance' and kept away from the masses, thanks to the so-called 'Affordable Care' Act.

There are also medical-bill negotiators, the 'Healthcare Blue Book' website/app (which finds the lowest prices, while rating the quality, too), healthcare-centers that run on subscription-models, etc.

[Massageman]

You're 33, so a much lower risk on big-ticket health stuff, accidents excepted.

It would depend on how much your are saving, and would assume you are putting the money you DO save into some sort of ongoing investment. Personally. I'm risk-adverse and would maintain the plan (s), but if you feel the investments you make with the payments that you save can keep up with any possible medical treatment, then it save money in the long-run. I'm just ready to make that assumption. Even though I am in fairly good health, I am pushing 70.

[shimmeryns]

Not so smart I have to say. Just like not wanting to have car insurance believing you'll never get into car accident. What if you got into one? Do you have plan B?

[Anonymous]

It's not a terrible idea if you have zero assets, I suppose, as you can declare bankruptcy and simply have no ability to borrow for 8 years if you get a serious bill.

Otherwise it's a very bad idea.

If you try to sign up later, my suspicion is they will put limitations on what you're covered for, but i'm not in the states : that's how it works here on benefits though, if you don't sign up right away, then they basically assume you're only going to sign up when you need it, and refuse to cover anything initially.

[JackSmy]

What happens when some idiot, on their phone crashes into you and causes severe injuries? (Gods forbid that happens!!) Medical bills are the most common reason people declare bankruptcy!
How much do health benefits cost you?
No offense, but the cost of medical insurance, at your age is what, $30 a month? What IDIOT wouldn't take that, just in case of some accident, alone?

[Paris13]

Dumb, Hun... Is the Kind of Advice a Master on Herre Dear, Would Give another Gagger?
Anything can Happen , From Soup to Nuts. Please, Do the insurance to Insure you Have it In case you would ever Need it. Car Insurance, For Example, Even though Mandatory Here, Dear, Still There in Case you Need It, Even if never an accident. xx

[bolverk]

Not a smart move, you having general good health is one thing but what about accidents? Broken leg /arm that's you out 6 week minimum without the rehab on top, or really serious infection, appendicitis, that's what your medical insurance is there to cover.

[tartaarsaus]

If you are in the US, it can be a massive risk. Bills apparently can be up to tens of thousands of dollars. Honestly, this is way too risky for me and risk-averse people. The prospect of potentially losing a lot of money by stuff you need not have any hand in (such as a random guy losing control of his car and driving into you) is way too large.

[BlacklightShade]

More power to you. People can buy a car for what they pay in health insurance. Your young. Stay healthy!

[bente2]

Lmaoooo “i don’t believe in health insurance”, sure, until you need glasses, or new teeth, or you get cancer or an auto immune disease. This is dumb as hell.

[bulletbob555]

Well its something if you need it you will be glad you had it. with me it was my back going out from lifting at work this was around the age of 30. My wife got cancer a little after turning 30.
That guy that gives financial advice on tv his name is Cramer I believe. Said it happened to him when he was young that everyone should have it or you would lose everything.

[Jjpayne]

That's not smart. It's doable but it's gambling. If I were you I'd look into other alternatives if something comes up. What happens if you get sick or what happens if you cut your hand and you need stitches?

[NickiB]

Probably not a good idea. What happens if you get injured or an unexpected illness.

People are in good health until they aren't.

That's the point of health insurance.

[Anonymous]

Stupid.

You may be healthy now but in 6 months you maybe on your knees begging to have those benefits back. One can never predict what'll happen or how their health will turn. A car accident as example. Cancer as example.

[blondfrog]

Depends if you actually need healthcare then no it wasn't. However if your in good health then yes. Now you can make even more money at your job.

[Icybacon]

Na not really, unexpected stuff happens, and it's a pretty penny. At least put the money you would have spent into an emergency fund if it does hit the fan

[Blueeyes81]

Thats horrible logic. A car accident could bankrupt you for example. Call health insurance what it is in case shit, in case shit happens.

[Anonymous]

Stupid. Don't come back here a year later bitching about the fact that you're $30,000+ in medical debt...

[ALewis30]

Not really. Health insurance can really help you when needed.