{"id":12991,"date":"2024-12-12T13:31:47","date_gmt":"2024-12-12T13:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/?p=12991"},"modified":"2025-05-29T08:55:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T08:55:59","slug":"the-importance-of-health-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/a-importancia-de-um-seguro-de-saude\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of health insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Health: what really matters?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

These days, talking about health has become essential. Throughout our lives, there are times when we worry more or less about this issue, but it is undeniable that the sooner we start looking after our health, the better prepared we will be to face the challenges of ageing. The truth is that no one can escape the reality that, at some point, health will be a decisive factor, and the way we prepare for this can make all the difference.<\/p>\n

For me, the answer to this question undoubtedly involves considering health insurance. And before you think this is just another biased opinion, let me explain why.<\/p>\n

First of all, taking out health insurance early on makes all the difference. When we are young, we don\u2019t think about serious illnesses or unexpected health problems. However, we only need to look around us to realise that surprises do happen \u2013 and not just to other people. What\u2019s more, the cost of insurance rises with age, which makes it even more advantageous to take out a policy early on in life.<\/p>\n

There is yet another issue we cannot ignore: the limitations imposed by age. As we get older, some insurers begin to restrict or even refuse new policies. It is not fair, but it is the reality. If we do not act in time, we may find ourselves without a solution when we need it most.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s the practical side. What happens if, suddenly, we\u2019re faced with a serious diagnosis or an accident requiring intensive medical care? Consultations, tests, hospital admissions, operations \u2013 we all know that the costs of private healthcare are astronomical. Our public healthcare system, however necessary and commendable it may be, cannot always provide an effective response to everyone\u2019s needs. And, let\u2019s face it, waiting for hours on end in A&E or dealing with endless waiting lists is not something anyone wants, let alone in a critical situation.<\/p>\n

The state of public health:<\/h4>\n

It is impossible to discuss this issue without mentioning the current state of our public health system. The lack of resources, staff and funding is evident, and we have all felt its effects, either directly or indirectly. The pandemic, in particular, has laid bare the fragility of this system and its difficulty in responding to large-scale crises. I am not criticising the healthcare professionals \u2013 they work miracles with what they have. But the truth is that, at times, we are left unprotected.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I believe that health insurance isn\u2019t a luxury, but a necessity. It may seem like an extra expense in the monthly budget, but I prefer to think of it as a safety net, a support system for when life throws us a curveball. After all, having insurance means being prepared for the unexpected, and that\u2019s something that\u2019s priceless.<\/p>\n

Health as a priority, not an option<\/h4>\n

When I speak to friends, family or clients, I often say: \u201cI don\u2019t mind paying for my health insurance and not using it. It means I\u2019m well.\u201d But the truth is that, on the occasions when I\u2019ve needed it, the insurance has been a godsend. It has saved me hours of waiting at public healthcare centres and given me quick access to care that would otherwise have been almost impossible to get.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, having insurance allows me to choose where I want to be treated, who I want to look after me, and gives me the peace of mind of knowing that, even when I\u2019m abroad, I\u2019m covered. Isn\u2019t this what we all want for ourselves and our loved ones?<\/p>\n

Health is the foundation of everything we do \u2013 our plans, dreams and ambitions. However, in our day-to-day lives, we tend to push it into the background, as if it were something we could take for granted. But it isn\u2019t. And when something goes wrong, realising that we don\u2019t have a \u201cplan B\u201d can be devastating.<\/p>\n

Choosing health insurance is more than just a financial decision. It is a commitment to ourselves and to our loved ones. And I\u2019m not just talking about complex cover or expensive products. Everyone has different needs, and today\u2019s market offers solutions tailored to all profiles. The important thing is to get started \u2013 to take that first step.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sa\u00fade: o que realmente importa? Nos dias que correm, falar de sa\u00fade tornou-se um imperativo. Ao longo da vida, h\u00e1 alturas em que nos preocupamos mais ou menos com este tema, mas \u00e9 ineg\u00e1vel que, quanto mais cedo come\u00e7armos a cuidar dela, mais preparados estaremos para enfrentar os desafios do envelhecimento. A verdade \u00e9 que […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":12992,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diversos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12991"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12993,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12991\/revisions\/12993"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exatoseguros.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}