With financial worries at the heart of most American families these days, health insurance may be low on your list of financial priorities, if you're not insured already. However, that could be a dangerous and costly decision in the long run. The importance of health insurance cannot be stressed enough, because if you're caught sick or in an accident without it, it could lead to even more financial stress, and even bankruptcy.

The United States Census Bureau says many Americans, (about 85 percent) have some kind of health insurance. It continues that about 60 percent have insurance through their workplace, or through their own personal health insurance plans. About 25 percent get their insurance through federal or local agencies, like Medical, for their insurance. However, in the face of the rough economy, many employers are cutting health insurance benefits, and those who rely solely on government programs may be seeing cuts in the coming years as well. That means that if you lose your health insurance, you could be in serious danger if you get sick and can't work, or are in an accident and need serious medical care.

Health insurance is an expense, to be sure, but the importance of health insurance really helps defray that expense. To save money, work with a health insurance agent who can help you compare plans and costs to find the best one for you and your family's needs. Remember, medical expenses are higher than ever, so if you have to be hospitalized for any reason, your costs are going to be a lot higher than you might have anticipated. They could be so high that you simply can't pay them, and bankruptcy is your only recourse. It doesn't make sense to go bankrupt, and ruin your financial future, just because you didn't buy affordable health insurance.

Think about another importance of health insurance. Your family. your children need health care throughout their young lives, and it seems like kids are always getting into scrapes that require a trip to the emergency room. If you take care of a family, you owe it to them to get health insurance. Without it, your entire family is vulnerable, and if anything happened, would you want to live with the guilt that having no health insurance could create?

The importance of health insurance cannot be overrated. Certainly, it can be difficult to come up with the money for individual health insurance. But can you afford to be without it, really?