| While Congress negotiates and debates the merits, | | | | more than this amount of care anyway. Indemnity |
| pitfalls, costs, and benefits of health insurance reform in | | | | plans also offer catastrophic coverage, which reduces |
| America, not much has changed on Main Street. Health | | | | the risk of personal bankruptcy due to large medical |
| care costs still make up one of the largest categories | | | | bills. While this plan isn't the best option for everyone, it |
| of personal spending, and the costs seem to increase | | | | is certainly better than not having any coverage, and is |
| year after year. | | | | also better than shelling out thousands of dollars per |
| In the face of such a burden, more and more | | | | year for little-used traditional insurance plans. |
| Americans are choosing to forgo coverage altogether. | | | | Another option is to use what's known as a co-op |
| Most of these individuals tend to be young, healthy | | | | plan. These plans work off the idea of a community of |
| individuals who simply don't understand the enormous | | | | people who come together and pool their resources in |
| risk of such a decision. While many get away with it, | | | | order to provide coverage for all. Some plans are |
| every year, thousands of American families are | | | | based around certain religious affiliations. Members |
| bankrupted by medical costs that insurance coverage | | | | contribute a certain amount each month to the |
| could have prevented. The scenario, while difficult, isn't | | | | community pool of resources, and then are authorized |
| entirely bleak. It is possible to have affordable health | | | | to file claims when necessary. These plans cost a |
| coverage; it simply requires some out-of-the-box | | | | fraction of a traditional health insurance plan and offer |
| thought. | | | | better coverage than an indemnity plan, as long as |
| One little known, and little understood option, is using a | | | | members are satisfied with the claim-paying ability of |
| health indemnity plan instead of a typical major medical | | | | the group they are interested in joining. A check of the |
| plan. These plans offer more limited coverage, but | | | | organization's track record is a good idea before |
| they typically offer coverage for at least a few visits | | | | signing up for such a plan. |
| each year. Young, healthy people usually don't require | | | | |