iQuanti: When shopping for any type of insurance, you will come across two primary numbers: a premium and a deductible. Your premium is the amount you will pay every month to keep your insurance plan active. This number can depend on the type of insurance, your insurance provider, and the plan you've purchased, as well as your own financial standing. The deductible is the cost that you will need to pay out-of-pocket before your health insurance provider puts money toward your medical expenses.
Deductible vs. Premium
There is no universal cost for any type of insurance, but there are averages. Many numbers go into factoring in your premium cost and can be based on an individual's unique background, needs, and circumstances. Generally speaking, the higher your premium is (the amount you pay annually or every month), the lower your deductible will be. In contrast, the lower your premium is, the higher your deductible will be.
Take these two scenarios, for example:
Person A purchased a $300 a month health insurance plan with a $5,000 deductible on their state marketplace. They fall at the store and are taken to the hospital. There, they are treated for a broken arm and concussion. The total cost for a visit is $12,000. Before the insurance covers any of the patient's medical bills for their stay and treatment, Person A must first cover the $5,000 deductible. Once they've paid the $5,000 deductible, the hospital will pay for the $7,000 remaining balance.
Person B purchased a $900 a month health insurance plan with a $1,000 deductible on their state marketplace. They fall at the same store and are taken to the same hospital as Person A. They are also treated for a broken arm and concussion. The total cost for a visit is $12,000. Before the insurance covers any of the patient's medical bills for their stay and treatment, Person B must first cover the $1,000 deductible. Once they've paid the $1,000 deductible, the hospital will pay for the $11,000 remaining balance.
So, Is It Better to Pay More for Insurance?
If you can afford to, paying for a higher premium means a higher monthly or annual premium but greater coverage and a smaller deductible. So in some instances, when someone can afford it, it may be worth it to pay more for the insurance in order to save in the end. In any sense, insurance coverage protects you from high-cost medical emergencies being paid out of pocket.
What About Other Insurances?
In the case of other types of insurance, such as life insurance, the higher the coverage, the higher the monthly payments. So if you would like a $1,000,000 20-year term policy, the cost may be $50 a month for the 20 years. If you opt for a $2,000,000 20-year term policy, then the cost may be $100 for 20 years but provide a larger payout. In these cases, the more coverage, the better, as long as it fits into your budget. However, you should also shop around for term life insurance quotes, as some issuers may offer more coverage for a better price.
With these forms of insurance, it's a matter of balancing what you can afford monthly with what you need the payout to be in order to support your family in a worst-case scenario.
Press Release Service by Newswire.com
Original Source: When It's Worth It to Pay More for Insurance
