So why do people turn their noses up at us? I really don't have a clue.
The last two weeks I've been told that "I don't need health care discounts, I need real insurance" or "I can go to the local dental college to save money" or I've been given what I call 'the wall.' The minute I talk about what my company offers I swear I can feel the temperature drop in the room. There seems to be such a stigma when it comes to health care discount companies. Most people think if 'I can't get it through my job or pay for it privately,' then it's just no good and that is so not true!
Let's face it, insurance is a racket. The best product goes to the healthiest not the highest bidder. In other words, the healthier you are, the lower your premiums. But what happens to your coverage when you get older? Or have children? Get sick or injured? Well, my friend, you're no better than racing horses and you know what happen to those poor creatures once they are past their prime. What happens to you? Your rates go up or you get cancelled. You may be able to afford the higher premiums, but your money is no good there. Your options are few, but not dismal (i.e. COBRA.) There is another way, but many people aren't willing to take that risk because they are afraid it won't measure up to the glory of big insurance companies.
A wise man once said pride goes before a fall. Are you willing to let your pride get in the way of an opportunity to save hundreds and possible thousands of dollars because you are comfortable with someone sitting in an ivory tower determining your self worth and who cares nothing about you or the welfare of your family? Or are you just too lazy to do your own research to find better ways to take care of yourself and loved ones?
I'm not trying to sell you anything, I'm just trying to get you to see other possibilities. There are a lot of affordable, legitimate options to traditional insurance out there. You do have a choice. Shop around, talk to someone who uses discount health care services, saturate yourself with knowledge and then make an educated decision.
Chris Rock, one of my favorite comedians, made a joke about insurance once. He said they should call it what it is, Just In Case Something Happens, because that's what it really is. It is there to take care of unforeseeable situations. Unless you live in a bubble, you are going to get sick, it's not a matter of if, but when. When it happens, where will you go? Who will you talk to? Most importantly, how much will it cost you? Will you have to meet a deductible before they see you and after you've met the deductible, how much will you owe the provider after the insurance company decides how much they are going to pay? How many claims will you have to file? How many times will those claims get rejected? Is anyone sick of this yet? That's a lot on your plate to digest and who thinks about food when they're sick? I know I don't.
Do you hear that? I think it's the sound of fingers hitting keys in search of alternatives to insurance.
Bonnie works for Ameriplan as a Benefits Specialist. To find out what AmeriPlan can do for you, visit her website http://www.everyonebenefits.com/bonnieannprice
