Health insurance? (see Life insurance)

Medical insurance, a brief history.

In 1694, while in Scotland, Hugh Chamberlen proposed the introduction a medical insurance for the rich as well as the poor.
In those days the insurance was referred to as, disability insurance, because only injuries/diseases that let to disability were covered.

Very soon the industry realized that it was cheaper to pay as soon as the symptoms were found rather than waiting for actual disability.
Preventive as well as emergency care is now covered by most good medical insurance companies.

Health insurance, Medical insurance

When you have a health insurance you are insured against medical expenses due to accident or illness.
Before you jump into any health insurance or medical plan you need to do your homework. As with any insurance you need to read the fine prints of what is covered and what is not. For example it is not uncommon for an health insurance to only cover future expenses.

Health Insurance in the United State

The health insurance programs in the united state vary greatly from state to state, but most will offer some form of health insurance or medical cover.
Most reimburse some of the basic charges due to illness.
In most state it is often advised to have some form of private medical health insurance.

Medicare/Medicaid
In the United States, health insurance is sometime controlled by federal Medicare/Medicaid programs.
The programs set the price of medical services and legally obliges physicians to accept Medicare/Medicaid payment, (they will be banned from accepting any such payments for a number of years, regardless of the reason for rejecting the payment or the amount offered).
This kind of restrictions limit the need for private health insurance.

Over the years the Medicare Board of Trustees stated that the program's hospital insurance trust fund could run out of money before the end of the next decade
CMS official web site.

Health Insurance around the world

Every nation has it's own policies when it comes to health insurance. In Europe, for example, most member nation has some form of national health insurance. But that kind of health insurance is usually very limited and only offers basic services. The cost of a nation health insurance is usually offset by an extra form of tax.
Not all countries offer health insurance, even basic health insurance. This is often true in most developing countries.

What you should look out for in you health insurance?

• What are the health insurance premiums?
• Will premiums increase if, (when!), you get sick? If they do, when will you start paying the new premium?
• Are you been overcharged for your lifestyle? Check that certain offers apply to you.
• What is the procedure when it comes to making a claim? Is the paperwork expected realistic? What if you lost everything, (due to a disaster), will the insurance company still insure you?
• Are the payments prompt and on time? Some health insurance can take up to a year to settle an account.
• is your health insurance tax deductable? If yes, does your chosen health insurance company qualify for such tax deduction?