Stephen Geri, health care professional, explains why everyone 26 years old and up should have health insurance. From preventative care, to emergency treatment, health insurance will not only save you money, it will save your life.

1. H E A LT H I N S U R A N C E :
W H Y Y O U N E E D I TC R E A T E D B Y S T E P H E N G E R I

2. • Health insurance is
imperative for any
individual 26 years old
and over, despite if he
or she is currently
healthy.
• The Affordable Care
Act, which began in
2014, mandates that
most Americans must
purchase health
insurance, even if they
are questioning why
they need coverage at
all.

3. • Similar to auto insurance, you just never know when an
accident, or in this case unexpected news about your
health, will arise.

4. • According to an article published by US News, “Most consumers want
and value health insurance, but they can’t afford the coverage or have
been shut out from the marketplace because they have pre-existing
medical conditions,” (Olivero, Why Do You Need Health Insurance?).

5. • However, many people do not realize just how affordable health insurance is.
• The Affordable Care Act has implemented new affordable options so that
you cannot be denied coverage for health insurance because of a pre-
existing condition.

6. • If you do not have
health insurance,
there are many risks
you could be taking,
such as paying a
penalty, financial
ruin, denied access
to preventive care
and primary care,
denied follow-up
care.

7. • There is a $95 tax for
each adult, or 1
percent of annual
income, if you do not
have coverage.
• In 2016, this price will
increase tremendously
to $625 per adult, or
2.5 percent of annual
income (whichever is
greater).

8. • In the event that an onset or serious illness, such as cancer or diabetes, occurs,
or if you happen to get into an accident like a car crash or snowboarding
accident, the bills you will be required to pay will be extremely expensive
without insurance.
• If you cannot pay the medical bills, you may need to file for personal bankruptcy.

9. • Without access to preventive or primary care, another reason
you should buy health insurance, you will be unable to detect
health problems or diseases at an early state.

10. • Without access to
mammograms,
vaccinations, or
prostate cancer
screenings, you run
the risk of not
knowing whether or
not you are
developing a disease,
which could otherwise
be easily detected.

11. • According to US News:
• “Policies also must provide a minimum standard of care
known as essential health benefits in 10 categories:
preventive and wellness services, ambulatory care
services, emergency care, hospitalization, maternity and
newborn care, pediatric care, mental health and
substance use disorder services, prescriptions drugs
and rehabilitative and habilitative services,” (Olivero,
Why Do You Need Health Insurance?).

12. • Without health insurance, you will not have access to any
of these health benefits - so you must ask yourself, is it
worth not being covered?

13. • The answer is no.
• Even healthy,
younger adults
need preventive
care, annual
checkups, and
chronic disease
management.

14. • There is no guessing when you will need certain health care, or when
your body will develop an illness or get into a skiing accident.
• These services offer a wide variety of treatment options for
reasonable, affordable prices.

15. • Having good health is one of the most important things in your life.
• So don’t run the risk.
• Get covered.