Ok, I've looked through the archives and checked around online and via phone till my eyes and ears bled......aaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrggggghhhhhh!
What does anyone here do (currently) about health insurance for themselves and other family members?
Anyone here have the insurance through the ISA? Whats the cost on their plans? Whats the coverage like?
What about coverage through the National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE)?
Anyone, anyone, Bueller?
Thanks! Mark
P.S. Thanks Barb! It's working now!
[ November 29, 2003, 04:56 AM: Message edited by: Mark Sheflo ]
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
I FEEL YOUR PAIN MARK!!!
We are currently through Priority Health, and when we renewed, had to take lesser coverage to keep the premiums close to last years cost. Still crazy! At this point, my wife is not covered, but employees are. Looking to change that when our new shop gets going. Good luck!
Regards
[ November 29, 2003, 11:09 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
Posted by Camille Norvaisas (Member # 501) on :
Mark, Not exactly how much insurance you're trying to get but US Healthcare and Blue Cross both have plans for individuals - you can get minimal coverage - basically hospitalization if that's enough or more. US Healthcare was much more expensive. About 5 years ago I had NASE and it sucked - you had to pay first then you were lucky to get any money back - and the man who sold it to us never returned our calls - it may have changed by now - maybe another Letterhead can clarify that. I only have a local # for Independence Blue Cross 215-241-2273 if you want to try them. I'm sure you already know none of this stuff is cheap - good luck!
Posted by Sharon Bigler (Member # 2203) on :
I almost throw-up every month when I have to write the check. We have Blue Shield (Highmark) or whatever. They should have named it Higher Markup..........arrrrgggghhhhh!
We have to have the higher option due to my husband being a cancer survivor and we never know......it costs us over $900 a month. Basically every dollar I make goes to pay our health insurance. I wish the government could do something but I don't have many answers.
I think I'll sell everything we own, give it to the kids and go on welfare. Snort.
Posted by Amy Brown (Member # 1963) on :
We have Humana One for myself, husband and daughter. We pay $215/month. We pay $25 for a Dr. visit $70 I think for specialists and I can't remember the hospital. We can go four times per year per person for the $25 co-pay then we have to fulfill a $2500 deductible. We rarely go to the doctor as we are healthy for the most part. But you never know!!
We also get Rx for $15-25-40 I believe, depending on what the product is and if a generic is available. We can add dental if we want.
Seems to work for us but not for all, just depends on your medical history. The interview you over the phone.
We did the online quote at Humana.com and that is exactly what they charged us. Worth a look.
Good luck!
Sharon, you are right, our government needs to get a grip on this mess.
Posted by Roy Frisby (Member # 736) on :
I was notified in Saturday's mail of a new rate for my health insurance starting January 1. It increased from 1007.00 per month to 1500.00 per month. It pays to be a cancer survivor and over 55, pays the insurance company, that is. I don't know where this is going to end, but something has got to give! After insurance and taxes, there just ain't a hell-of-alot left. Could be worse though.
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
My premiums were raised over 28% this year. Part of the reason is because my husband and I turned 50. Our family deductible is $5100 per year and we pay over $500 per month. It ends up costing us between $800 and $900 per month when you figure all our doctor expenses come out of our pocket until we reach the deductible. I tried shopping around but once you talk to an underwriter and they find out that someone in your family has sneezed within the last 2 years, you know you're history. I hate to think about what the future holds for insurance premiums.
Posted by Jillbeans (Member # 1912) on :
Hi. I have only had good health insurance twice...both times thru a husband's job. I looked into it several times after my divorce, but I just could not afford the payments. If anyone has read John Martin Robson's $100,000 post you can see how broke I always am. I applied for a program thru the state of PA called CHIP four years ago. At most, this insurance is $40/month and includes eye and dental as well as no co-pay on doctor visits or prescriptions. (edit...this is for my kids) But I had no coverage. I just always tuffed it out and I rarely get sick, but I always go to the dentist for cleanings. I had a dentist that took payments for work...that was great but he retired. Finally, CHIP has a program for adults. The price is based on your income and there is an exhaustive application, but I pay $30/month. This does not include eye or dental...but doctor visits are covered and there is a small co-pay on prescriptions. It pays for hospital stays too. Maybe your state has a similar program. I figure since menopause will soon be rearing its ugly head that it is a good idea to have this coverage! And Jean...you don't look a day over 30, girlfriend! Love- JILL
[ December 01, 2003, 07:52 AM: Message edited by: Jillbeans ]
Posted by Ron Carper (Member # 999) on :
Check out an MSA (Medical Savings Account). I got mine through Golden Rule Insurance. This is a special program for business owners. You have a high ($5000) deductible insurance along with a savings account that you put $ into every month. The idea is that over the years, the money you save will go towards paying your deductible. For small bills, dental, eye, prescriptions, dr. office visits, you pay with a check out of that savings account. The whole thing is tax deductible and if you don't use it, you get it back at retirement age. It's like having 100% first dollar coverage for all your medical bills. The only drawback is if you have lots of medical expenses, it may not pay. The max you can put away a month is $280. It does force you to be a savvy consumer when purchasing heathcare because you are paying for it. My total premium with the savings account is $650.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
I had Blue Cross Blue Shield at one time, it was an individual plan.. but the one time I actually needed to go to doctors when I had a major infection and the doctors were talking about amputating my leg, the insurance company decided they didn't need to pay any of the bills.. so as much as I hate lawyers, I had to sick a pack of wolves on Blue Cross and ended up getting them to cover the costs.
It's a shame when you pay your premiums and the amount you paid exceeds the medical care you need, then they try sticking you with the bill!
Posted by Santo (Member # 411) on :
Beware that most health care spending accounts are annual use only. The amount in the account not used by the end of the year will be lost.
Posted by Brian Diver (Member # 1552) on :
Mark,
You're hosed - you live in WA! We are hosed. We got insurance through the local chamber of commerce through their group plan and they raised it another $100 this past year (and $70 the yr before) so we're closing in on the $500 range and I'm kinda scraping by right now so we found a plan through Regence Blue Shield with a 1500 deductable. I haven't used it yet but the premiums are almost tolerable.
I asked the ISA about the ISA plan and they don't cover WA.
We checked into the NASE and my insurance guy wanted to find out more to since he was having problems paying his health insurance. He said in WA they don't have the proper credentials or summat and wouldn't give him the info he wanted. He said it was one of those - if it sounds to good to be true...
Best of luck
Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :
I have an MSA (medical savings account) that sounded real good when I enrolled but there are some definite drawbacks - mainly the high deductible. I had no idea how expensive diagnostic tests are. An MRI cost about $850 or more. The way an MSA is beneficial is if you are able to make additional monthly contributions to your account. This money can be deducted from your gross income for tax purposes. But if you're having to pay costs for doctor bills and tests out of pocket there is no money left to save.
Thanks Jill, for the complement!
Posted by Steve Manning (Member # 3947) on :
Mark, We had the ISA insurance and it was really terrible. We currently have it through Mid-west National Life Insurance of TN. They pay slow so we end up getting harrassed by the doctors until the a lawsuit is threatened. I turn 50 early next year so I don't know what's going to happen. I don't think I've ever had my rates lowered because I got a year older. The plan Amy has sound worth investigating. Thanks Amy!
Posted by Steve Manning (Member # 3947) on :
Mark, We had the ISA insurance and it was really terrible. We currently have it through Mid-west National Life Insurance of TN. They pay slow so we end up getting harrassed by the doctors until the a lawsuit is threatened. I turn 50 early next year so I don't know what's going to happen. I don't think I've ever had my rates lowered because I got a year older. The plan Amy has sound worth investigating. Thanks Amy!
Posted by Mark Sheflo (Member # 3608) on :
Thank You all for the info.
Jillbeans, our state does offer the CHIP, but we are just at the line for coverage. If we drop our current coverage for my wife and kids we go over the line. That, plus a four month waiting period with no coverage makes it a no go.
As Brian said, we in Washington are out of luck in many ways when it comes to health and dental insurance. Due to some of the regulations imposed by the state many companies can't or won't offer coverage here. The best plan I have found is the one Brian mentioned through Regence, with either a $500, $1000 or $1500 deductable. These would save us anywhere from $250 to $450 per month vs. what we pay now.
Just FYI, through my current employer I get covered for $100, adding my wife and the twins brings it up to $750 per month. Thats up 42% over last year. It is good coverage with a co-pay medical, 80/20 dental, co-pay perscriptions and vision once a year, but as healthy as we all are it is just too much of a strain on the budget.
I'll be watching for any other ideas that pop up!
Thanks all! Mark
[ December 01, 2003, 08:16 PM: Message edited by: Mark Sheflo ]
Posted by Mike Duncan (Member # 316) on :
Mark, Are you Jims' brother? I used to work with him a while back.
The cheapest insurance I could find for me and my son about a year ago was Regence Blue Shield. I had a plan that had a $1500 deductible and was just major medical. It was $113 a month and jumped to $138 after two months. I reasoned that since neither of us are at the Drs. that much, that it was cheaper to pay for the office visits, drugs, etc. as they came up. I was just worried mainly about something catastrophic. My old insurance was $4200 a year, I figured I could pay for a lot of office visits, drugs, etc. out of the $4200 and still come out ahead. Its a major crapshoot, but what are you going to do?? Posted by Jim Hansen (Member # 1927) on :
Hi, We have our coverage thru NASE. We pay around $350. a month for my wife & myself. We have had this policy for around 14 years, and fortunatly have only had to use it a couple of times. They have paid all the claims that they are supposed to pay, with no trouble. I'm sure we could switch to a policy with a lower premium, but we have had no complaints when we have had claims.
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We are hosed. We got insurance through the local chamber of commerce through their group plan and they raised it another $100 this past year (and $70 the yr before) so we're closing in on the $500 range and I'm kinda scraping by right now so we found a plan through Regence Blue Shield with a 1500 deductable. I haven't used it yet but the premiums are almost tolerable. ![[Mad]](mad.gif)
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