This is the fifth post in the monthly series titled Simple Budgeting. Check the left sidebar for the links to the posts in this series!
Food
Shelter
Transportation
Clothing
Those are the basics right. Then we tack on the “extras” such as school supplies, phones, Internet, modern day conveniences (water, sewer, gas), TV, … health. WAIT. Is health an “extra”?? When did health become an “extra” in our lives?
Part of money management and budgeting your life is planning for your life and for me and my family, health insurance is a priority. I will note that I am blessed to have a job that provides health insurance as a benefit. I will also note that we pay a pretty penny for this “benefit” each month. Would I love to see that money in my bank account instead of ta
ken out each month? Heck yeah! Who wouldn’t? But I also know that I have to invest in my family and our health because for us that is a necessity not an extra.
When Buggie shut Little Dude’s finger in the door last Friday and I made my first ever trip to the ER, I didn’t even think about cost. I knew we had a high co-pay for the ER (which was not in the monthly budget but we will manage by cutting back in other areas this month and next month too). Those two stitches and a band-aid were costly to me because of that co-pay. I also know I really don’t want to see what that full bill amount says on it because I know it will be crazy high. I do know for a FACT that the full bill amount is not in our budget nor can I juggle things around to make it in there. That isn’t the sole reason why I suck it up every pay check to have that “benefit” but it high up there I tell ya!
Insurance is just that … something you have if you need it. Be it health insurance, life insurance, car insurance … you hope to never need it but man the day you do need it, you are ever grateful for all of those times you did pay into it. Your insurance company gambles you don’t need it but pay for it. You assume that you or someone in your family will fall down, shut a finger in a door, get an accident turning out of the street you turn out of every day, or the dear Lord calls your number and you die … that is why you have insurance.
My overall advice this month is make health an necessity in your life. YOU decide what that means for you and your family. Maybe for you it is health insurance? Maybe is finally buckling down and fitting that gym membership in your budget? Maybe it is making fresh produce from the farmer’s market or your own garden a priority in your diet? The point is YOU decide what this means to you.
After reading this, you might need to go back and take a look at your bill list … or go here and learn how to make one. This may be your first step in deciding “Is Health a Necessity?”.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Leave me a comment and let me know. I love feedback.
My disclaimer: I hesitate to write all of this in the political environment we are in today but I feel that we all need a reminder that WE are responsible for ourselves and providing for ourselves. So when you look at your budget, be sure take a hard look at your “necessities” and your “extras” and decide if they fit not only your budget but your principles in life.
If comments are left that are not encouraging to others who read this post or are just plain mean, I will delete them. Simply put, huh? Yup. Be nice as you think about this topic and your own personal health! If you must, send me an email to share you opinion.
God Bless!
For our family, health insurance is a necessity. And because we are self-employed on a farm/ranch, we pay a huge premium. We do it because to us it is very important to be responsible for our own health care and we have decided to make sacrifices in other areas to pay for it. I hope your post gets people thinking about their own health and making it a priority.
I truly feel for those people who don't have health insurance and find themselves facing huge medical expenses and the run-around the uninsured get from some doctors and hospitals–very sad.
I totally agree that WE are responsible for ourselves and providing for ourselves. Also, I think exercise should be a priority!
We don't have health insurance right now and I hate not having it, but right now we just cannot afford the premiums. Hoping soon we will be able to!
I agree too i excersise but i dont see a primary health dr simply because if im not sick and my yearly check up i sgood no sence in it really
When I was working I had just about every type of coverage you could imagine and, you're right, it was really expensive. I felt like I was banking on getting sick. I did have to use it however, and it really got me through what would have otherwise been impossible financially. However, now I am unable to work because of my health and I thank God for some programs that are helping me like prescription assistance… In these days and times too many people do not have access to insurance and it can be a nightmare; especially for families.
Health Insurance is a necessity. We budget for it but also do it wisely. We increased our deductible to lower it a little. We take that money and sock it away for a rainy day.