posted October 19, 2002 11:10 AM
I noticed that the ISA has some type of group insurance for members. If anyone has used it I would like to hear from you either here or via email or phone.
My husbands job of 15 years is gone in January due to plant closure and I just spent a week in the hospital with my daughter which gave us a wakeup call on the need for medical insurance.
Any info. is appreciated.
[ October 19, 2002, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: Amy Brown ]
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted October 19, 2002 11:23 PM
I just started shopping for health insurance, so I'm watching this thread with interest. I had an appointment last week with an agent for a company that is geared for small business owners like myself that may not have access to group rates. I was looking at only catastrophic coverage in case of more serious & expensive health care costs. mostly hospitilization & some amount of non-hospitilazid accident care as well as some follow-up care. Not really geared for saving on the here & there basic doctor visits & scripts. The rate for myself only, choosing the mid to higher deductibles, was about $135/mo. That is in the range of what I was feeling ready to sign up for. My wife will not be able to be on the same plan, so I've got some other plans on my desk to study.
Steve, you mentioned Family plan. For $450/mo how many family members are covered for you at that price?
posted October 20, 2002 09:29 AM
You are always going to pay a lot more for the priveledge of having doctors visits payed for, prescription drugs, and a low or no deductible.
-------------------- Wright Signs Wyandotte, Michigan Posts: 2786 | From: Wyandotte, MI USA | Registered: Jan 1999
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posted October 20, 2002 09:47 AM
A couple years ago we switched from Blue Shied to Blue Cross. The savings of around $200 a month seemed reasonable. We added up the number of doctor visits we averaged and the prescriptioons we got, and figured that if we payed full price for these, instead of benefitting from the Blue Shield discounts, we'd still be ahaed. The problem I'm seeing is that most of these catastrophic policies only cover when you're admitted to the hospital and do not cover out patient stuff. Out patient is the direction the medical business is going. They get you out of the hospital and the insurance drops the claim at that moment. I'm seeing many hospitals enlarging out patient services. I wish I could go back to the policy I had.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted October 20, 2002 07:45 PM
Try looking into an MSA health plan. The premiums are lower and the money you save goes into a savings account. This money accumulates and earns interest. The money you spend out of the MSA account for medical expenses will reduce your income tax. There is a high deductible however. You can choose how much you want for your deductible - the higher the deductible, the lower the monthly premium. Be warned that medical tests are expensive. I didn't know that an MRI costs about $1000.
-------------------- Jean Shimp Shimp Sign & Design Co. Jacksonville Beach, Fl Posts: 1285 | From: Jacksonville Beach, Fl. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sounds like I'm in the same boat...I had a policy from American International that was basically catastrophic care with outpatient care riders. Monthly premiums escalated dramatically, close to $300 3 years ago, so I dropped. But availability of affordable med. insurance in Hawaii is dwindling, so I've heard. What company are you looking into? Sounds good, and similar to coverage I used to have.
Aloha!
-------------------- Warren F. Ad Signs Honolulu Posts: 38 | From: Honolulu, HI, USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted October 24, 2002 11:58 PM
We had the ISA plan for a few years until Colorado Law changed and all but a few pulled out. ISA has a good plan from two different carriers I think. It is certainly worth checking into and since the membership fee has dropped for small shops. When membership fee is factored in, makes it affordable and there are other savings to be had too. We have been members for over 20 years. check www.signs.org for current info.
-------------------- Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio P.O.Box 2385, Estes Park, CO 80517-2385 kent@smithsignstudio.com Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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