INSURANCE – A NECESSARY EVIL

INSURANCE – A NECESSARY EVIL

INSURANCE – A NECESSARY EVIL 150 150 Lauren Ellerman

I am not pro-insurance companies, trust me – but having health insurance in the United States is becoming increasingly important.

My Mom was on a drug for MS for many years. Without insurance, it was over $300 a week! Not only did her insurance pay for it, but the insurance company and drug maker had earlier agreed to a lower price for the shot. The average person paying cash would pay $300 a dose, my Mom’s insurance company was only charged $150. Clearly a huge savings of $7,000 a year!

The same happens in hospitals. Without insurance, the Tylenol you are given may cost $2.00 but if you had insurance, you would only be charged what the insurance company previously agreed to pay, $.50.

Why else is insurance so helpful at any age? If you are in a car accident, have no insurance, your ED bill could be $20,000. If you can’t pay it, you are almost forced into a lawsuit which costs time and money. If you had health insurance and didn’t miss any work, you could essentially walk away from the accident without a loss of thousands in dollars.

What about young people – is insurance needed?
Birth Control without insurance is about $50-$70 a month. With, it is around $10-$15.
Just try to get an appointment for a dermatologist without insurance. If the dermatologist removes a mole, you will be charged the rate of a small surgery – do you have a few hundred dollars extra for a mole biopsy or two a year?

I know it is expensive, but beyond food and shelter, it should be a necessity to most Americans.

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About the author

Lauren Ellerman

In 2011, Lauren Ellerman was named "Young Lawyer of the Year" by the Roanoke Bar Association for her work in the community. To speak with Lauren about your personal injury case, contact her at lellerman@frithlawfirm.com.

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