With many employers cutting back on providing health benefits and many insurance companies becoming increasingly reluctant to pay their policyholders claims, can you ever afford to get sick? Here are some things you should do to make sure you can afford to get sick.

Do not switch health insurance plans.
If your present coverage is adequate for your needs, if you have a serious medical condition or have a current health problem, switching health insurance plans will not work out to your benefit. A new insurer is likely to exclude coverage for any pre-existing medical condition and may decide that you are uninsurable if you have a serious medical problem. Even when you are in good health many insurers impose a waiting period on new policyholders for certain procedures. The exception to not switching health insurance plan is if your employer changes insurers. State law usually requires that the new insurer provide the same coverage without any penalty to you.

Never temporarily dropping out of a health plan
There are many companies that will offer you an annual list of benefits that you can choose from. This list of benefits include but is not limited to health insurance, paid vacations, life insurance, child care and retirement contributions. If you are a healthy employee you may choose to temporarily forego the medical plan in favor of other choices. The problem with that is the insurance company is in no way obliged to take you back as an individual after you waive group benefits.

Keep family coverage
Many companies will offer you financial incentives if as an employee you waive family coverage. Though it may not make sense to pay for double coverage when you and your spouse work, it is a gamble to drop coverage. Should the insured spouse die or lose their job, the family could find itself uninsured.

Medicare dilemma
Be careful of any health insurance policy that excludes coverage if you become eligible for Medicare. If you are disabled by a devastating illness or injury you are eligible for Medicare. Many insurers would like to pass on the cost of catastrophic care to you the taxpayer even though you are paying premiums to ensure better protection than Medicare can provide in case of crisis. You should find a policy that pays costs over and above what Medicare will pay.

Choose well-known insurers
Beware of insurance companies you have never heard of. Go or call your state’s department of insurance and check the financial status of an insurer.