How Important Is It To Have Health Insurance? 
When you are healthy you have a natural tendency to feel that insurance is a waste of money . But if you are involved in an accident or have to go to the hospital for surgery and receive a hospital bill of $ 30,000 or more , which is not an exaggeration , you will quickly find out the need for health insurance . Without health insurance the hospital must treat you , but unless you have the financial ability to private pay , they will only get you stabilized and send you home . Unless you qualify for Medicaid you need health insurance . Under the Affordable Care Act you will be required to have health insurance or be penalized . 