Health Insurance Articles

3 Health Insurance Myths Exposed

2011-10-20

In the last decade, the health care system has been a hot debate in the United States. A lot of controversy surrounding the rise of health insurance costs and the lowering of actual insurance coverage is just one of many discussions being held on the topic. Additionally, talks about having a public health insurance option in addition to the private option continue to be a topic of conversation. In 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, thus ushering in a new era of health care that will allegedly be more affordable, provide people with more options and keep citizens healthy. Along with all of these insurance discussions are health insurance myths that people believe are a reality often without questioning them or doing some research. It's vital for people to know three of the health insurance myths circulating so that they can continue to get insurance coverage without worrying.

Myth 1: Pre-existing Conditions

Although years ago, having a pre-existing condition sometimes meant that an insurance company could deny a person a policy. That is no longer true, as the government has passed laws that prohibit private insurance companies from denying a person because they have a pre-existing condition. However, even though a person with a pre-existing condition can still obtain an insurance policy, that doesn't mean that the insurance company cannot do other things to compensate. In fact, many insurance companies give people with pre-existing conditions a waiting period before coverage for that particular condition can kick in and premiums are sometimes also higher for them.

Myth 2: Affordable Care Act Public Option

Although President Obama had hoped that Congress would help him push a public option as part of the new health care bill - it didn't happen. So, while the new health care bill is going to make it easier for individuals and families to obtain an insurance policy while keeping costs reasonable, insurance will remain in the hands of private companies. Medicare and Medicaid will still exist under the new bill, but they will remain the only public options available for people wanting to obtain health insurance.

Myth 3: The More the Better

Some people are under the impression that more means better when it comes to health insurance. This is a myth that insurance companies often try to push onto their customers. The more coverage and add-ons placed on a policy, the higher the premiums are going to be, which is not a myth. But more coverage isn't always needed, especially for individuals or families that are in fairly good condition. The only time extra coverage should be added is if there is a family history of disease or illness.