Dear Dave,
Is it ever okay to stop paying or drop health insurance altogether in order to pay off debt?
Shauna
Dear Shauna,
No! The No. 1 cause of bankruptcy in America today is medical bills, and credit card debt is a close second. That doesn’t mean medical bills only of the uninsured. It also includes money from co-payments, deductibles and the fact that people didn’t have any savings. One accident or unexpected event can leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills, and that’s even with a good health insurance policy.
I don’t want anyone walking around without health insurance. But I’m not talking about the Affordable Care Act and all the other mandated crap the government is trying to shove down our throats. I’m talking about a solid health insurance plan along with having some money saved. Do this first then you can have all the philosophical discussions you want about whether or not you’re supposed to pay for someone else’s healthcare and upkeep.
At the end of the day, it’s absolutely vital that you have your own health insurance. I hope I haven’t been unclear on this topic!
—Dave
* Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He’s authored four New York Times best-selling books: Financial Peace, More Than Enough, The Total Money Makeoverand EntreLeadership. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 6 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com.