What is Health Insurance?

Health insurance is a specific type of insurance coverage that provides individuals with coverage for a variety of healthcare-related expenses, primarily: medical, surgical, and prescription-drug coverage. With some plans, dental coverage is included as well. Health insurance can help reimburse individuals for the cost of care for illness and injury or in many cases, pay the healthcare provider directly.

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There are a few reasons why you should get insurance:

• Save money​​​

When you opt to have insurance, you will pay significantly less for office visits than you would without insurance, assuming the health care providers you see are within your network (meaning that this provider takes your insurance). 

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• Stay healthy​​

Having insurance means you have access to preventative care like annual check-ups and immunizations. Chronic disease management is also covered, and other health screenings are free, such as those for blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and depression. Having health insurance makes it easier to catch and treat a health issue before it causes longer-term damage. And even if you eat right, exercise and are currently healthy, the risk of accident or illness is always present. 

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• You may qualify for financial aid

Financial help can reduce costs of health insurance for more people than ever before. To see if you qualify, check out Covered California’s interactive calculator.

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