The top 10 reasons why you should sign up for health insurance

12/3/2014

No one is invincible and accidents can happen to anyone. Even if you’re young, it’s important to be prepared and have health insurance. Siloam Springs Regional Hospital has a list of the top 10 reasons why you should enroll for health insurance.

10. If you or a family member needs medical care, you may not be able to afford it without health insurance.

9. People with health insurance are more likely to see their doctor before their condition worsens and becomes more expensive to treat. Individuals who have diabetes and do not have health insurance have a higher mortality (death) rate than those who have diabetes and health insurance.

8. If you don’t have health insurance and experience a serious illness or medical emergency – you will be responsible for all of your medical costs. Health insurance helps protect you and your family from financial hardships that may result from health care expenses.

7. Some colleges, universities, and international programs require proof of health insurance to enroll.

6. You cannot be denied coverage even if you have a pre-existing condition such as diabetes or a previous cancer diagnosis.

5. All Health Insurance Marketplace plans must cover the following essential health benefits. These benefits are minimum requirements for all plans in the Marketplace:

• Emergency services
• Hospitalization (such as surgery)
• Ambulatory patient services (outpatient care you get without being admitted to a hospital)
• Pregnancy, maternity, and newborn care
• Mental health and substance use disorders
• Prescription drugs
• Lab services
• Pediatric services
• Rehabilitative and habilitation services and devices (help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions gain or recover mental and physical skills)
• Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management.

4. Marketplace health plans must cover a set of preventive services like screenings, tests and vaccinations to keep children and adults healthy. Depending on your age, gender and other risk factors, your doctor may tell you it’s time for a mammogram, colonoscopy or other screening that can detect disease in its earliest, most treatable stages. Or, it may be time to screen for high blood pressure or high cholesterol to give your doctor information that can help prevent a stroke or heart attack. Best of all, these preventive services are free of charge – no copays or deductibles.

• Preventive care for all adults: 15 preventive services
• Preventive care for women: 22 preventive services
• Preventive care for children: 25 preventive services
• Medicare preventive care: 23 preventive services

3. You may qualify for lower costs on a health plan. Depending on household income and family size, you may qualify for financial assistance from the government – or subsidies – towards the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like co-pays or deductibles.

2. Some individuals and families may qualify for low-cost coverage through Medicaid. In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. And in some states, the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level.
Arkansas has chosen to expand Medicaid coverage. This expansion increases the eligibility limits for adults to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (equivalent to an annual income of $16,105/year for one person; $32,913 for a family of four in 2015). However, citizens must enroll in the program; it’s not automatic.
Even though Oklahoma has chosen not to expand Medicaid, there are still many individuals in our community who qualify for Medicaid coverage.

1. If you can afford health insurance coverage in 2015, but don’t sign up, you may have to pay a penalty ($325 per adult, $162.50 per child – up to $975/family or 2 percent of family income, whichever is higher). Penalty example: Family of four with household income of $40,500, 2 percent of income = $810, penalty = $975; Family of four with household income of $65,000, 2 percent of income = $1,300; penalty = $1,300.
Peace of mind comes from knowing you and your family has the medical services needed to keep you healthy, as well as health coverage in the event of an unexpected illness or injury.
If you need help reviewing the health insurance options on the Health Insurance Marketplace, the application coordinators at Siloam Springs Regional Hospital can help. Through Feb. 15 (the enrollment deadline for 2015), call (479) 215-3137 to make an appointment. Change isn’t always easy, but in this case it can bring a wealth of health benefits.

About Siloam Springs Regional Hospital
Siloam Springs Regional Hospital is a 73 licensed bed facility with 42 private patient rooms. It is accredited by the State of Arkansas Department of Health Services and The Joint Commission. Some services include inpatient and outpatient surgery, emergency medicine, medical, surgical and intensive care units, obstetrics, outpatient diagnostic services and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation. With more than 30 physicians on the medical staff, Siloam Springs Regional Hospital provides compassionate, customer-focused care. The new facility, which opened April 2012, is located at 603 N. Progress Ave. in Siloam Springs, Ark.

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