In an attempt to obtain low health insurance costs, many prospective insured select low health insurance coverage limits, which will lower the overall cost of the health insurance premiums. The disadvantage, however, of low health insurance coverage limits is that the lower cost translates into inaccessibility to necessary or recommended medical care when the need arises. Initially, the health insurance coverage limits seem adequate, but unfortunately over the life of the policy, the face amount can substantially decrease. This is a disadvantage, as health care choices are compromised due to increasing medical care costs, which consequently leech away the stated health insurance coverage limits.

In the early years of the policy, for example, the $125 office visits, the $250 cost for a full panel blood test, or $1,500 MRI seems insignificant in consideration of a $150,000 or $250,000 health coverage limit. However, over time these expenses add up to a substantial deduction against the face amount of the policy. The disadvantage is that the policyholder, in an effort to curtail health care expenses will make a decision to forgo necessary or recommended tests, procedures, or exams, which may be critical to their health and continued well-being. For instance, after an accident, the physician may recommend a MRI, but rather than risk having that amount deducted from the lifetime coverage limits, the insured will decide that an X-ray is sufficient. However, the x-ray will not reveal internal bleeding or deep tissue injuries that could be life threatening.

The disadvantage of low health insurance coverage limits is especially evident in the event of a catastrophic illness or injury. Plainly stated, if the patient has a myocardial infarction and requires cardiac bypass surgery, which will typically cost in excess of $250,000 because of the ICU postoperative care and inpatient recovery. Even if the insured has never used any of the benefits on the policy, there will not be sufficient coverage to accommodate the surgery or hospitalization. In this case, the disadvantage of low health insurance coverage limits becomes a matter of life and death.

This is a consequential issue in the case of a diagnosis of cancer, which affects a large percentage of the population. Aggressive treatment can reach or exceed $1,000,000 over the life of the patient. Low health insurance coverage limits, in this case, is a distinct disadvantage because, again, there is not sufficient indemnification. Because of the disadvantage of low health insurance coverage limits the patient and their family must decide and determine care and the aggressiveness that they will fight to stay alive based on dollars and cents, rather than the inherent value and irreplaceable resource that is assigned to living and life.