An estimated 49 million Americans don't have any health insurance. Frightening. But even more startling are the discoveries of a Consumer Reports investigation, which found that many people who've purchased their own insurance are not as protected as they think.
It's not until people get sick that they discover the problem. That's what happened to Gina Eaton. Her policy has such a high deductible that she says she opted not to get medical treatment after a miscarriage. "I just kind of went to bed for about three or four days and tried not to walk around or do anything. I just stood real still and hoped that it would heal itself."
Consumer Reports says that the policies are like Swiss cheese. And the way they're written, it's really hard to spot the gaps. Even the insurance expert Consumer Reports hired to help check out the policies had a hard time deciphering some of them.
Consumer Reports' Nancy Metcalf says that many big-name insurance companies are offering those so-called junk policies. They look like a good deal because the premiums are low—but they're low for a reason. They are so riddled with loopholes, limits, and exclusions that they will not come close to covering your expenses if you ever fall seriously ill.
Consumer Reports says here's how to avoid junk health-insurance policies:
--Never buy a policy labeled "limited benefit" or "not major medical insurance."
--Don't leave out a category of care because you say to yourself that you never use it. You might not use it now, but you could desperately need it in six months.
--Don't take a salesperson's word for anything. Always read the fine print, which will help you avoid low-cost coverage that comes with a high price tag.
Consumer Reports' complete article on Hazardous Health Plans.
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