| Why Have Health Insurance? |
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| Why Have Health Insurance? |
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People buy health insurance so that if they get really sick or suffer a major accident they can afford treatment. Health insurance can help keep you alive and well and helps protect you financially from the cost of health care.
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| How Do We Pay For It? |
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Everyone with insurance pays a monthly amount called a "premium." Since everyone pays premiums but not everyone has medical bills, there is money to pay the claims of those who suffer a major illness or have a severe accident. That's why it's not a good idea to wait until you are sick or hurt to try to get health insurance. If everyone did this, there wouldn't be enough money to pay claims. This is also why health insurance plans deny applications for people who have medical problems or make you wait a certain amount of time before they cover those health problems that were diagnosed or treated before you started the insurance.
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| Types Of Health Insurance |
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Plans differ in what they cover, cost, and how much freedom you have to see the doctors and other providers of your choice. To learn more about the mechanics of different plans, such as managed care or fee-for-service, visit types of health insurance.
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| Where To Get Insurance |
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Most people get insurance at work and their employer helps pay the premium. See employer insurance for information. However, employers are not required to offer insurance.
If your employer doesn't offer insurance or you are not eligible for the insurance at work, you may buy an individual or family plan directly from the insurance company. These plans can be for one person or your entire family.
A health insurance agent can help you shop for a plan. It's a good idea to compare plans. We explain how to get agent help.
If you or a family member is turned down for an individual insurance plan because of a pre-existing health condition, Oregon has a program that will help. Learn more about coverage through the Oregon Medical Insurance Pool.
Finally, many people get health insurance through government programs. These might be health insurance programs like Medicare or Medicaid. Oregon also has a program that helps uninsured, lower-income Oregonians pay the monthly premium for private health plans. Visit government programs.
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