Health Insurance Permanent Plan - Health Insurance Plan

Guest of the week

Arlington, Va.: I am 20 years old and studying at Wisconsin University. What type of health insurance would you recommend for me? I haven’t had any since I was dropped from my parents’ policy last year.

J. Scott: Whether you decide to take on permanent health insurance or a short-term plan, the important thing to consider is that you are taking responsibility for your own actions. As adults, we must all work towards fiduciary responsibility and it is good you are ready to take the first step. I suggest you read Playing without a Net by Lisa Barrett Mann of the Washington Post for further guidance. In your circumstances (young, healthy and risky – I assume), I would advise choosing a more permanent health care solution. The main reason being that it won’t be easy to convert from a temporary solution to a permanent one later because it will need to be underwritten which isn’t a simple process at all.

Washington, D.C.: Hi, what kind of health insurance would you recommend for me and my wife? I am 25 years old, she is 22 years old and expecting a baby. Is it true we are uninsurable for all of those agents because of Mandy’s pregnancy?

J. Scott: It is true, I’m afraid. You should always make sure you have health insurance before the pregnancy because most carriers will rarely pay pregnancy related claims during the term. Your options are to either acquire Medi-Cal (I think that is the name of the service in California) or you could purchase health insurance as soon as the baby is born. It is difficult for doctors like me to take care of pregnant patients who don’t have health insurance. The system we have is not ideal but we try to deal with each different situation as best as we possibly can.

Loma Linda, Calif.: I can’t decide whether to choose short term or permanent health insurance. Which type would you recommend?

J. Scott: As I’ve written in previous responses, I always prefer permanent health insurance. You’ll hardly notice the difference in the premium and it could even end up being cheaper. The only deterrent is the underwriting process (pulling up the M.I.B, claims investigation, medical history checks). In all honesty, there is no perfect solution – either solution has pros and cons.

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