What do you do for health insurance?

[Longhorn]

My husband is self-employed and I'm an adjunct faculty instructor with no benefits. I had great insurance while I was a TA in grad school but when I left that job, I was overweight so Unicare and Fortis wouldn't insure me or wanted to charge too much. I lost weight and got on with Mega Life through the National Association of Small Businesses. Except for a slight discount on a couple of prescriptions and one or two doctor visits, we've never used it, but we're paying about $350 a month. I'm so tempted to cancel it -- we're both 49, nonsmokers, and have always had good health, but I know as soon as I did, something bad (and expensive) would happen.

I don't know if what I have is a rip-off but I sure hate shopping for health insurance. Any ideas?

[Polly Glot]

1. Small businesses are basically screwed health insurance wise

but you knew that already.

My hubby and I have an HSA with relatively low monthly payments but nothing kicks in until we've spent a minimum of $5K per year. And we can't even afford to contribute a dime to the HSA.

Our children are *gulp* on Medicaid. That's why I was so effing sick and tired of **'s rant about how Kerry's health plan would mean the government would run health insurance. I was screaming back at King George's sorry face on TV, "MY HEALTH INSURANCE IS ALREADY GOVERNMENT RUN, YOU PIECE OF *@)#$*($)!!!!"

I hope I don't get flamed or banned for this, but, um, one possible mitigating factor in ** having a second term, um, is that he said he wanted small businesses to be able to band together to purchase lower cost health insurance. I'm sorry. I know Kerry's plan was far better, but at least ** talked a better game than what we as small biz owners have now.

[LTR]

2. Well, if Dumbya thought it was such a good idea...

...why the hell hasn't he done it in the past four years? Or at least mentioned it?

Let's face it, Bush talks a big game, but unless it's a fundie-inspired wedge issue or a war to settle personal grudges, he doesn't hold on to his promises. In short, Bush ain't gonna do a thing for small businesses. A small business to him is a subsidiary of Halliburton.

Bush doesn't care about the little people. At least Kerry had a plan to reform this mess that we call our health care system.

[Polly Glot]

3. Exactly. I had thought his plan was alright, then I had a DUH

moment. WHY HASN'T HE DONE ANYTHING YET?!? I'm certainly not going to hold my breath. Guess we're back to the old plan: Pray you don't get sick.

[daisygirl]

13. the bill about AHPs keeps passing the house but

then dies in the Senate. I can't figure why Bush doesn't appear to have ever pushed for its passage except in campaign speeches. Is it cynical of me to say I wouldn't be surprised if its passage was stopped so he could say he had a plan?

Still, a 30% savings in premiums (what I've seen quoted as the savings that AHPs could bring) is still prohibitively expensive for me.

[sandnsea]

12. There already is a pool

It's the health insurance Federal Employees buy. That's the one Kerry wanted to let everybody buy into, which already has inexpensive options. Plus get generous tax credits for the self-employed and their employees. I don't know how HSA's that you can't afford to contribute to and deductibles that you never meet are better than that.

[medeak]

15. heard from Florida on DU

they had the same package available re small business to "band together" but there was no lower cost in the outcome.

Glad to hear medicaid is alive and well in your state...our funds ran out here and no doctor will accept medicaid pt.

[2Design]

4. I don't have any and haven't since 1997 and I am 56

but my income has wavered around 15,000 or less for the past 3 years and before that it was half as much
I figured if I got insurance and something happened - I couldn't pay for the insurance and would be dropped anyway - if I get sick - I will have no place to live or anything - so any plan would have been better than the one I am on now

I pay for dental on my own
have not had a physical since 1997

if something happens I would be a charity case or die

without a spouse to back you up - who would pay the bills - the system is not a good one

the richest country in the world has a lot poverty

[Willy Lee]

5. I am really struggling with this also.

We have a business but I also still work full time at a local university, so both my husband and myself are covered on my plan. I believe with Cobra we can carry my insurance for 1 year afetr I leave this job but even that will be much more expensive than what I pay now for the 2 of us. Hubby got cancer at age 30 (2 years ago) so we have the chance of recurrence looming. We just cannot live without health insurance at this stage of the game! I know it will take a huge chunk out of our profits.

It is a very political situation IMO. I agree- we are the richest nation in the world but so many uninsured- WTF????

[Longhorn]

6. When I left my university health plan

the premiums under COBRA were going to go from about $300 a month to over $900! We just couldn't afford that. I don't think your husband could even get private insurance with his history of cancer. I was denied because I was about 60 pounds overweight with no complications!

The insurance situation is a mess and I don't see it getting fixed any time soon. :(

[2Design]

11. I don't think you can leave your job - those benefits are needed

with pre existing condition - it would be outrageous -

one of you can not have health benefits but your full time university job is very necessary

[democratreformed]

7. After we started our business, one of the reasons I went back to work

for someone else was for the health insurance. All the insurance companies refused to insure me as well. The said "the ratio of my height to my weight" was too large - meaning, of course - I'm FAT.

My hubby and I were without insurance until I went back to work here -no one can be turned down on a group plan.

[The empressof all]

8. Health Insurance is outrageous.

I write a check out for almost $800.00 per month for the 3 of us and this is for a group plan through a Union I belong to.(THIS IS A HUGE CHUNK OF CHANGE FOR US) I have been on this plan for 20 years from when I was working outside of our business. It took a lot of planning for me to be able to leave my other job just so that we could afford not only not having my salary but also my far cheaper insurance payments. My leaving my job was a dis-incentive to grow our business for several years.

We both have significant medical issues and I live in fear of something happening and not being able to afford insurance.

I don't have a lot of faith in Bush's plan for group rates. I already have a group rate and I certainly don't consider $800 per month for 3 people reasonable.

[The Spirit of JFK]

9. Try the Chamber of Commerce

or similar business organization.

Often if you join you can get access to plans as they get them at a decent group rate.

[Ravenseye]

10. We get it through the SMC a small business goup here in PA

We have Highmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield...mostly because I figure if we're going to have insurnace that we're going to actually be covered.

My wife just had a baby. 100% maternity coverage was important for us, which was one of the reasons we got the coverage we did. Good thing too cause otherwise it would have cost over 15k.

We have no lifetime cap, no annual cap, but fairly sizeable copays and it's a PPO.

For my wife, myself, and our new baby we pay over $900 a month. More than our rent. It's a serious problem, but something we can't afford not to have.

[byronm]

18. Have you looked into PACE?

If your self employed you join the PACE association and have your own chapter basically and you get healthcare, 401k, billing and tons of other resources at your fingertips.

If you meet basic reenue levels they charge 5% and you get back much more then that.

May save you a few bucks.. unfortunately it is hard to beat the service of Blue Cross/Blue Shield if your in PA and have child. (i'm not sure who they underwrite with in pa honestly.. i used them back in Houston and i too know live in PA)

[medeak]

14. good question

Fatherinlaw was our insurance agent until his death and even he admitted it was a greedy horrible business and wished he had done something else.

We have employees with million dollar baby and one with Chrone's so impossible to shop around at moment. At whim of insurance company.

Have had some great quotes from fellow in Idaho however...pm me

[TexasLady]

16. No Insurance

and if teeth hurt, its out of pocket. I have high BP, so walk to keep it as low as I can.

Gee I can hardly WAIT to pay income tax this year...even after child credit for one child(ex gets to claim other two) we MAY come out even.

Between us, we made close to 25000 this year. Hey I love working for myself, and so does my husband. But sometimes it BITES.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

17. I bought insurance through a company called Health Partners here

in Minnesota, but it's no bargain. I have a $1000 deductible and 20% copay after that. No dental coverage. Still, it was the best I could do after the age of 50. :-(

I went uncovered for several months after moving here, but it was scary. I keep thinking that if I get something serious, I will be happy to have to pay only 20%. :-(

[lady lib]

19. Blue Cross/Blue Shield

is very reasonably priced for individual insurance. We found an insurance agent who helped us get through the paperwork and qualifying process. On her advice we just switched to the BC/BS Health Savings Account, but we could have just as easily stayed with their regular individual insurance. I think this company is the way to go if you are self-employed.

[latebloomer]

20. Not reasonably priced in my state!!

Huge premiums and/or huge deductibles. Although the HMO plan WAS a LOT more reasonable-- but I want the choice to go out-of-network.

My health insurance, for my family of four, is about to go up well over $1300-- includes dental, no deductible in network, $1000 out-of-network. Got it down a little by increasing co-pays.

It's absolutely outrageous-- the insurance industry appears to be totally unregulated and they can raise your rates large percentages yearly.

Least it's all tax-deductible now. Sigh.

[Stinky The Clown]

21. We're in Kaiser's high option HMO

which allows us to go out of plan, but at increased cost. I have two partners and we have one employee. Only two of the four of us participate, but we keep being allowed as a company group plan (which saves thousands per year). Right now, for my wife and me, it is about $9,000 per year. $15 meds, $5 co pay for doc visits. Since we're both on the typical later middle age maintenance meds, its worth it. (I'm late middle age ... she's .... uh .... much younger ... right Sparkly? :) )

There's some new law out now that allows small business and sole proprietors that are somehow link to band together for group insurance. My professional association is looking into this, but so far they have not found an ideal plan. Maybe there's a group for others to join. Not a "discount" plan but an honest to goodness health plan.

BTW, for what its worth, Kaiser has been okay. Not perfect, but acceptable. We've been with them through six years, two hospitalizations, one surgery, several physicals, lots of small "ills" and they've been there for us. Also, we like our primary care doc.

[ThoughtCriminal]

22. Healthcare Group of Arizona

Needless to say, this only helps for residents here.

Arizona has a program for self-employed and small business. It's not as good as the group plan my former employer had, but it was certainly better than going with any individual insurance plans we looked at.