Comments on: Insurance: Mrs. Micah has a slow learning curve but she gets there http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:34:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Andrew Stevens http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2669 Andrew Stevens Fri, 14 Dec 2007 03:20:45 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2669 Oh, I do agree with you, Mapgirl. An ethical case can be made for it as well. (Not sure I buy it, but it's plausible.) But my point was that bankruptcy is not a catastrophe when you have no assets and you're in your early 20's. Plenty of time to start over while you wait for the bankruptcy to be purged from your credit report. It's a highly unlikely event, anyway, and the <i>financial</i> consequences would probably just be a delay in buying a home. This doesn't have to be terrible. Oh, I do agree with you, Mapgirl. An ethical case can be made for it as well. (Not sure I buy it, but it’s plausible.) But my point was that bankruptcy is not a catastrophe when you have no assets and you’re in your early 20’s. Plenty of time to start over while you wait for the bankruptcy to be purged from your credit report. It’s a highly unlikely event, anyway, and the financial consequences would probably just be a delay in buying a home. This doesn’t have to be terrible.

]]> By: Christine http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2665 Christine Thu, 13 Dec 2007 23:56:32 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2665 Aw, sheesh. Your healthcare system continues to boggle and outrage me. (Not that ours is perfect -- but it's better). Still, glad you've got insurance :) Aw, sheesh. Your healthcare system continues to boggle and outrage me. (Not that ours is perfect — but it’s better).

Still, glad you’ve got insurance :)

]]> By: frugal zeitgeist http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2660 frugal zeitgeist Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:54:09 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2660 A big 'ol cancer scare as a grad student in my early 20's was more than enough to make me a believer in insurance. It turned out to be unfounded (it's a condition that is strongly linked with a particular cancer and turns up <i>extremely rarely</i> in benign form), but it took a heck of a lot of what I'm sure were very costly tests and talk of exploratory surgery to find out. A big ‘ol cancer scare as a grad student in my early 20’s was more than enough to make me a believer in insurance. It turned out to be unfounded (it’s a condition that is strongly linked with a particular cancer and turns up extremely rarely in benign form), but it took a heck of a lot of what I’m sure were very costly tests and talk of exploratory surgery to find out.

]]> By: mapgirl http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2633 mapgirl Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:09:57 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2633 I'm going to mildly jump all over Andrew because it is important to have catastropic care so you don't have $900 ambulance rides to the hospital and another X thousands of dollars in treatment you can't pay off. One of the biggest reasons people go into bankruptcy is because of medical bills. So it's better to have some that covers emergency trauma care than nothing. I can see how with your young age and reasonably good health (You don't look to be suffering when we've met) that you don't need other coverage, but it's a balancing act. FWIW, one of my good friends in retail management has no health insurance except for some catastrophic stuff that covers ER visits. It's worked out well for her since she's under 35 and has no serious issues. It has definitely saved her a lot of money. I’m going to mildly jump all over Andrew because it is important to have catastropic care so you don’t have $900 ambulance rides to the hospital and another X thousands of dollars in treatment you can’t pay off.

One of the biggest reasons people go into bankruptcy is because of medical bills. So it’s better to have some that covers emergency trauma care than nothing. I can see how with your young age and reasonably good health (You don’t look to be suffering when we’ve met) that you don’t need other coverage, but it’s a balancing act.

FWIW, one of my good friends in retail management has no health insurance except for some catastrophic stuff that covers ER visits. It’s worked out well for her since she’s under 35 and has no serious issues. It has definitely saved her a lot of money.

]]> By: Money Blue Book http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2603 Money Blue Book Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:07:43 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2603 Yes, you should definitely have catastrophe insurance at the very least. High deductibles will work for you guys because you are both relatively young and healthy! -Raymond Yes, you should definitely have catastrophe insurance at the very least. High deductibles will work for you guys because you are both relatively young and healthy!
-Raymond

]]> By: remodelingthislife http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2602 remodelingthislife Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:56:57 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2602 I'm glad you did it! Health care is so hard to choose and it's a whole nother post for how ridiculous and expensive and non-comprehensive the system is here but something is better than nothing! I’m glad you did it! Health care is so hard to choose and it’s a whole nother post for how ridiculous and expensive and non-comprehensive the system is here but something is better than nothing!

]]> By: mrsmicah http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2600 mrsmicah Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:06:27 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2600 Indeed, Andrew. I've had several people tell me that they made it through a few years without health insurance. At the same time, piece of mind is precious... Indeed, Andrew. I’ve had several people tell me that they made it through a few years without health insurance. At the same time, piece of mind is precious…

]]> By: Andrew Stevens http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2599 Andrew Stevens Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:01:53 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2599 I'm going to say this very softly because otherwise people will jump all over me. At your age and with your level of assets (i.e. not very many), not having health insurance isn't likely to be a catastrophe since you have so little to protect. Worse comes to worst, you declare bankruptcy and you have plenty of time to start over. Emergency rooms and the like are not legally allowed to deny care. Note: I am not recommending that anyone do this. I'm just sayin'. Bankruptcy is awful, but it's not the end of the world if you're young and can live without credit cards and car loans. My wife never once had anyone look at her (non-existent) credit report until she was over 30. I’m going to say this very softly because otherwise people will jump all over me. At your age and with your level of assets (i.e. not very many), not having health insurance isn’t likely to be a catastrophe since you have so little to protect. Worse comes to worst, you declare bankruptcy and you have plenty of time to start over. Emergency rooms and the like are not legally allowed to deny care. Note: I am not recommending that anyone do this. I’m just sayin’. Bankruptcy is awful, but it’s not the end of the world if you’re young and can live without credit cards and car loans. My wife never once had anyone look at her (non-existent) credit report until she was over 30.

]]> By: wealthy_1 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2594 wealthy_1 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:10:31 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2594 I, too, am so glad you finally got health insurance. Now, you'll have peace of mind. That's the best insurance. I, too, am so glad you finally got health insurance. Now, you’ll have peace of mind. That’s the best insurance.

]]> By: fluorophore http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2589 fluorophore Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:14:16 +0000 http://financefreelancelife.com/2007/12/13/insurance-mrs-micah-has-a-slow-learning-curve-but-she-gets-there/#comment-2589 So glad you did this! I can totally understand the balking though - there's a reason why thisis universal in some countries - I think it IS hard to choose how to cover yourself, it feels like you're forced to make uncomfortable compromises with your loved ones potential health. But having been without coverage sometimes myself, I also know that's not a comfortable way to live, either. So glad you did this! I can totally understand the balking though – there’s a reason why thisis universal in some countries – I think it IS hard to choose how to cover yourself, it feels like you’re forced to make uncomfortable compromises with your loved ones potential health. But having been without coverage sometimes myself, I also know that’s not a comfortable way to live, either.

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