Health insurance.
Are you guilty of taking these two words for granted? People who work 9 to 5 have the privilege of getting corporate-approved benefits of health insurance plans. These job perks usually cover medical bills for everything from mild infections to surgeries. So you don’t have to worry about that aspect of life while you’re under their care.
However, once you start earning a living as a blogger, this security blanket is pulled away from you. We know that this seems like a costly choice when you’ve just started blogging. Yet, we assure you that it’s the smartest decision to make if you want financial and health security. Plus, if you can’t afford the traditional route then you can always reap in the benefits of health insurance alternatives.
Disclaimer: We don’t sell health insurance and aren’t healthcare professionals. Please consult a professional for deeper information that you might need for your specific situation.
Your head’s probably buzzing with questions about health insurance now.
Don’t fret! While we might not be health insurance experts, we still have enough information to point you in the right direction.
Here’s everything you need to know:
The Purpose: Why Do You Need Health Insurance?
This is the million-dollar question, isn’t it?
Most bloggers think that getting food on the table is their number one priority. But your health matters, too. That is certainly the case but there are other issues that you’ve got to address sooner than later. Picking out a health insurance plan happens to be one of them.
Why?
Here are the benefits of health insurance that you might not have considered:
1. Getting the Best out of Healthcare
First of all, medical insurance is a luxury you don’t want to lose. You save yourself from spending thousands on routine procedures when you’re insured. This includes everything from hospitalization fees, ambulance charges to long-term treatments.
In short, it allows you to receive the best possible healthcare without burning a hole in your wallet.
Many self-employed people don’t realize that the lack of health insurance will eventually eat away their income. That’s because if you’re truly properly care of yourself, medical bills tend to pile whether you’re single or not. Even a routine visit to the doctor could eventually lead to medical debt.
This brings us to the next advantage of having health insurance.
2. The Safety Net
‘Prevention is better than cure.’
We’ve all heard this one, yet we are happy to lead our life living on the edge. This is especially true for bloggers who don’t want to cough up to pay for health insurance.
It might seem all fine and dandy for the time being. You’re an extremely healthy person with a strong immune system. You may be one of those whose preventive care measures have helped them steer clear of common illnesses even when everyone around them is under the weather.
Nevertheless, you can’t evade accidents. A minor mishap, sprained ankle, or appendectomy―these things can happen to anyone at any time. Subsequently, the trips you make to the hospital, and overnight stays will set you back.
That’s because medical bills tend to eat away your savings and unwittingly can transform into a financial crisis. Not to forget the fact that a long-term illness might keep you away from your blogging duties. That means you won’t get the resources required to pay off the debt.
Want to save yourself from falling down the rabbit hole of medical bills?
Get insured. It can save your family and yourself from a whole lot of trouble even if it doesn’t seem necessary right now.
3. Cost-Effective Solution
When you’re on a blogger’s budget paying for traditional health insurance can be a setback. They do ask for premium fees, monthly installments, and what-not. You should not let this aspect of insurance stop you from getting insured.
That’s because paying medical bills without health insurance is a challenging feat. It’s not cost-effective. Neither is it financially safe. You will save a lot of money when you’ve got an insurance plan covering most of your medical expenses.
Plus, think of it this way. The benefits of health insurance include making it easier for you to get regular treatments for minor infections. This, in turn, prevents your health condition from escalating. So you end up saving yourself from costly bills and health deterioration when you’re insured.
The Plan: Alternative Health Insurance Options
What if opting for health insurance is too expensive for you?
Luckily, the health insurance industry isn’t restricted to one type of insurance plan. You can opt for customized insurance plans to meet your needs. Plus, there are lots of other options out there that offer reasonable medical coverage.
We did a little digging in this area and the benefits of health insurance alternatives like Medi-Share will come through for you. You’ll find that they are affordable, secure, and simpler to follow then the complicated health insurance policies.
The only catch is that you should know what you’re signing up for before you begin.
To help you out, we rounded up the best alternative health insurance options for bloggers and freelancers.
Let’s have a look:
1. Affordable Care Act
Affordable Care Act (ACA) is an appropriate choice to receive legitimate health insurance. The law allows every legal resident of the U.S to get access to proper healthcare. It does this by expanding the Medicaid program it manages to cover most of your healthcare needs at a lower cost.
It also ensures that your health insurance applications don’t get declined because of your low-income or immigrant status. If that doesn’t work out, you can use the marketplace at Healthcare.gov to avail from a diverse range of insurance plans.
All in all, it’s a feasible way to avail government-approved health insurance.
2. Freelancers Union
Many health insurance programs aren’t made for bloggers. They charge high premiums, don’t cover enough medical expenses, or are downright impossible to apply for. That’s why we suggest that you head over to Freelancer’s Union to receive a blogger-friendly healthcare plan.
The union has enlisted the help of different medical insurance providers to cater to freelancers. Some of the plans are given at discounted prices for FU’s members. Others accommodate your specific needs by tailoring their services for you. The great part is that their list covers nationwide health insurance agencies.
With that being said, we wish to point out that the costs may vary. So try to compare the health insurance marketplace before registering yourself.
3. Medi-Share
Meet the Christian alternative to Obamacare.
Established in 1993, Medi-Share is a healthcare sharing ministry for Christians. It’s a way for members of faith can register there to share each other’s healthcare costs without asking for external help.
How does it work?
- You sign up for membership.
- You pay monthly fees for the medical fund.
- You receive the funds whenever there is a medical emergency.
It’s important to know that the money you go is set aside for a communal trust fun. That means that other members of the community will have access to the fund too.
The good news is that this monthly fee isn’t as expensive as regular health insurance plans. You can expect to lower 50% of your health insurance costs when you become a member. In some circumstances, your bill is sent directly to Medi-Share.
The only downside to this interesting plan is that the program covers limited health problems. It also has the right to deny funds when the medical emergency is tied to an nonreligious act (e.g. accident caused by drunk driving). That’s why this option is doable for bloggers who share the same ideology as the institute and can adhere to the rules.
4. Spouse Plans
Is your partner a 9 to 5 worker?
There is a high chance that their healthcare perks will include a spousal health insurance plan. That means bloggers with working partners can avail health insurance without paying a dime.
How? You can request for spousal insurance plans, fill the forms, and wait for your application to get the required approvals. After this, your partner’s company will handle your medical bills too.
Some organizations ask their employee’s spouse to pay their premiums. However, it’s often a small price to pay when you’re receiving a multi-faceted health insurance plan.
The Big Decision
How to choose the right health insurance plan?
It’s important to understand that what works for other bloggers won’t necessarily work for you. So you’ve got to do your research and weigh in your options before you take the plunge.
You can create a checklist to streamline your choices. This, in turn, will help you choose a plan that works in your favor.
Here are a few things to consider:
- How frequently do you visit your doctor?
- Do you suffer from a chronic illness?
- How much medical coverage do you need?
- What are you looking for from your healthcare plan?
- What’s your budget?
Once you get these answers, you’ll have a clearer idea of what you want from your health insurance plan. The information can help you make the most out of these alternative health insurance options. (Speaking of checklists, this checklist at Nav.It is also helpful.)
In a Nutshell
Ultimately, it all boils down to the fact that it’s hard to pay off medical bills without health insurance. It’s even more difficult to do this when you’re self-employed. So our advice is to think about health insurance sooner than later. It’s the most practical thing to do when you no longer work in a corporate setting.
Plus, the benefits of health insurance alternatives will ensure that you don’t have to go overexert yourself to cover the insurance costs. Being a blogger is fun, but it’s a unique experience.
Finding yourself a community of other bloggers is a good way to get familiar with the everyday life practices that ensure an appropriate living for such a unique vocation. If you’re looking for one, no need to look any further because we have a solid Facebook group of bloggers and creatives.
So what are you waiting for? Go hop on the health insurance bandwagon before it’s too late!
This post was proofread by Grammarly Premium.
