Health Insurance: A Lifesaver for Someone Like Me

The following is an special guest blog from Becky Smith, One Iowa's Program Intern.

Health care coverage can be best thought of as a spouse. It knows all your secrets, and can get on your nerves sometimes, but it is there when you need it most. 

I had always wondered what the big deal was. I never really thought about health care coverage, because I have been in good health most of my life. As a college student under 26, I qualify to stay under my parents’ health care plan, so conversations about health care coverage didn’t seem to apply to me. It wasn’t until I had to undergo unexpected surgery that I realized how important health care coverage is, and why it is so important to get covered under the Affordable Care Act before March 31.

I rarely go to the doctor. So, when I came down with a sour stomach, I thought nothing of it. When the sour feeling shifted to severe abdominal pain, I became more concerned. Eventually, I decided to go to the emergency room. This was the first time I really noticed how important it is to have health care coverage. After presenting my insurance card, I was asked to cover my insurance co-pay, which was $200 for ER visits. While this may seem like a lot of money on paper, the average cost of an ER visit can be anywhere from $500-$2,000, just for someone to bring you back into the exam room and speak to a doctor.

On top of the initial visit, I was given the following services in the ER: EKG, full blood panel, full urinalysis, required pregnancy test (twice), chest x-rays, and oxygen. The dollar signs added up. After being sent home with no answers, I went in for an ultrasound of my abdomen—a procedure that could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

At the end of the week, I was back at the hospital where I underwent gallbladder removal surgery. This procedure costs approximately $15,000, which I would not be able to pay for without the help of my health insurance.

So health care coverage was never something I cared about until I really needed it. I realized how important it is to not only live healthy, but be covered by health insurance. My total cost for my hospital stay will be enormous, but I will only be responsible for a small fraction of that cost. Health insurance is going to be a lifesaver for me.

Getting covered under the Affordable Care Act is vitally important, regardless of whether or not you think you need it. Picking the right health care plan for you can seem daunting, but since the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, it has never been easier to find the perfect match for you and your lifestyle.

I am glad to be covered, and I encourage you to find a health insurance plan that will work for you.

Open enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace ends March 31. Time is ticking—don’t delay in signing up for affordable health insurance through the Marketplace. You can enroll online at HealthCare.gov, or visit OneIowa.org/Health for more info. You can also call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596. It’s time to get covered under the Affordable Care Act. Sign up today.

This blog was supported by a grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services. The contents are solely the responsibility of One Iowa Education Fund and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department.