Posted by Blueink_CA on 8/3/07 8:01pm
Msg #203907

OT - Health Insurance for the self-employed

I now this subject has been brought up many times before on this board, but since it didn't concern me I just skipped on over the posts. The 'search' button didn't bring up anything recent so pardon me while I bring up these questions again.

I've been covered under my husband's employers' insurance - until now. They are no longer covering spouses (or dependents). What a wonderful memo that was.

Any advice is welcome as to individual health coverage for the self employed. I am able to stay on my current plan, but the premium will come out of my husband check. In researching ind. plans on the web, I noticed several with low premiums, but high annual deductables. Kind of a gamble I suppose, as even though I just had a complete physical and am healthy, my hobby of riding and training horses could put me in the ER at any time. (I've been lucky up to now, only a couple of broken toes and helmets!)

Don't suggest my hubby find another job that will cover me - I already did that and it didn't go over very well

So..please, how do you handle health insurance? Do you know of any good company that caters to independent contractors? TIA.

Reply by ZeeCA on 8/3/07 8:16pm
Msg #203908

years ago it was suggested i find a group to join... thru yr horses? is there an organization you can check out to see if there is one available ? Not sure how old you are but a friend joined AARP for theirs. I found a group i qualified to join.. an organized coop ... and have had my insurance thru them for years...........

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/3/07 8:32pm
Msg #203913

ZeeCA, is your organized coop ins through an HMO? If not, and if it's something that might apply to others, I'd be interested in hearing about it. (Please PM me...) I currently pay a bloody fortune for minimal coverage because of a pre-existing condition, even though I am now reasonably healthy, thank goodness.

BlueinkCA, the key is to keep "continuous coverage". If you ever have a health condition, then have to go through the individual underwriting procedures, they can exclude any pre-existing conditions, which are usually the things for which you most want to be covered. It's not a position you want to be in. (They call it "hang-nail" underwriting, because they exclude... well, I'm sure you get the idea! ) It stinks, but the only thing worse is having a health issue and NOT having any insurance. If, heaven forbid, you or a family member gets sick, you want to be able to have choices and make decisions about your health care based on factors other than cost....

Reply by Becca_FL on 8/3/07 8:16pm
Msg #203909

Hi Blueink,

I have a policy underwritten by a higher power, it's called the wing & a prayer policy. It doesn't cost much, actually it's free, and it doesn't cover a darn thing. Sad thing is you and I are in the same boat as millions of Americans.

On a serious note, I have an emergency plan through some company I'd have to look up for you. It is just that, an emergency plan to help pay hospital bills. It only pays like $150 per day and $100 per ER occurrence. You might want to check into health care savings plans. My Mother is using this coverage and it sounds like a fair deal.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 8/3/07 8:24pm
Msg #203910

First, you may want to find out if you can convert/port/continue your coverage. COBRA is oftentimes an option. It can be expensive but if you're in the middle of treatments and vists it may be worthwhile. It can also be a cushion for 30-60 days until you've come up with other options.

Second, see if your husband's employer offers coverage provided by AFLAC, Colonial or something like that. They are Accident insurance plans. Different from insurance but they do pay something if you're hospitalized, break bones and/or get a terminal illness.

Third, check out some associations/memberships, etc. They occasionally offer insurance to their members.

Finally, earlier this year a friend of mine asked me to check into medical coverage for her entire family. Neither parent had insurance. A quote from BC/BS ran around $300/ month. Not cheap - but not as much as she expected.

Good luck.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/3/07 8:40pm
Msg #203914

What about Chamber of Commerce insurance?

Insurance through Sam's Club? They have some kind of member assistance. Maybe even business health insurance for the self-employed...or they used to. For one sure thing, drugs purchased at Wal-mart are much cheaper for Sam's business club members.

Reply by ZeeCA on 8/3/07 8:42pm
Msg #203915

that is right, ad costco has one also n/m

Reply by ZeeCA on 8/3/07 8:42pm
Msg #203916

sheesh, sb and n/m

Reply by JanetLA on 8/3/07 9:19pm
Msg #203925

Try United Healthcare. Fair prices. Good coverage n/m

Reply by Vince/KS on 8/3/07 9:51pm
Msg #203926

Re: Try United Healthcare. Fair prices. Good coverage

United Healthcare has purchased Golden Rule. They have the same network discounts now as United Healthcare and offer some very competitively priced plans (including the Consumer Driven Health Plans gaining in popularity due to tax advantages) to individulas in different states around the country (I don't know if California is included - or for that matter where in California Blue-Ink is). You might send Joe Ewing a PM as he is a licensed agent in the San Diego area and should be knowledgeable on this subject for most of California.

Unlike most companies - Golden Rule makes claim to covering a larger percentage of applicants than most (over 6 in 10 accepted).

Reply by SE/Florida on 8/3/07 10:48pm
Msg #203927

http://www.GREATINSURANCERATES.US/

In the same boat as you, we recently had a rep. come out and go over plans offered. It may be worth your while. The premium for COBRA coverage (family) is killer!

Reply by cntrlcalntry on 8/3/07 11:43pm
Msg #203934

Try Kaiser, I have a reasonable plan with them. n/m

Reply by sue_pa on 8/4/07 8:56am
Msg #203951

I stick w/the tried and true - Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Look into the PPOs

Reply by SReis on 8/4/07 9:16am
Msg #203954

I'm w/Blue Cross too. I looked into costs through assoc but the plan I have is actually cheaper. I pay approx $300 just for myself but the deducts are pretty low & no perscrip. coverage. I def. would NOT gamble w/o ins. The leading reason most people claim bankruptcy is due to medical costs, they can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Reply by kcg on 8/4/07 10:35am
Msg #203968

I feel for you - I found myself in the same position when the company my husband worked for went bankrupt. I have a benign electrical heart condition - it is so benign that the only thing MORE benign is a wart. However, that doesn't matter - it's a heart condition so I'm lumped in with the segment of people who could possibly NEED treatment.

I was finally accepted by BC/BS and pay the princely sum of $685 per month for just me with a $2500 yearly deductible. I don't take many meds but I do have the prescription coverage.

This is precisely why we should ALL be concerned with this issue. You may enjoy the benefits of group insurance now but there is no guarantee that it will continue. I cannot speak for the rest of the nation but I do know for a fact that more than 50% of all bankruptcies in NW Indiana are due to medical crises.

Please, if you haven't already, see the film SICKO by Michael Moore and take a few minutes to write or fax your senators and congressmen about your concern with this issue. Submit questions, when offered, to the candidates. Let them know that we have a broken health care industry in this country that we DEMAND be fixed.

Off my soapbox......

Reply by ananotary on 8/4/07 1:31pm
Msg #203984

Do NOT purchase Mega Life and health! They claim to be

A huge help to the self employed, but I tell you from personal experience that you will get the short end of the stick. I believe that a few families featured in "Sicko" had Mega Life and Health. I read an article that gave me that belief.

Anyhow, I now have a private family policy with Healthnet PPO. I have had it for over five years. Works for us. Our deductibles are higher than we would like as are the co-payments, but when push comes to shove we are covered. It also includes prescription with a annual deductible of $200. I would rather have to come up with $2,000 than have a bill for $200K.

Good Luck!

Reply by John_NorCal on 8/4/07 2:49pm
Msg #203989

If you are able to get coverage through your husband's work and all you need to do is pay the premium out of his check, that is probably the best thing to do. Assuming his is a decent plan and not some off the wall plan, it probably would be better than what you can get on your own. As others have pointed out, there are many different types of plans around, some of them aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Just keep track of the premium that you are paying for your coverage and give that to your tax person at the end of the year.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/5/07 7:00pm
Msg #204060

Hi, I responded to you via PM, give me a call, my info is n my profile.