Private Insurance Question

[yougetthesmiles]

It's time for us to renew are health insurance and we just dread this. We pay so much a month for health insurance and it's not even that good of a coverage. The coverage is from my hubby's place of employment. Now the company will give us $2700 for the year if we decide to go with a private holder.

Does anyone use a private insurance company for health coverage and are happy with them?

[Gracie2006]

Are you saying the company will pay you to go out and find your own coverage? I would not take that offer. It is nearly impossible for people to find good individual coverage and if they can, the premiums are typically very high. I would shop around before making a decision. Your group plan with hubby will probably be the most cost-effective in the long run.

[AngelWorks]

Here in NY, it would cost us $2,000----a month, add also co-pays, etc.

This is why we are amoung the uninsured.

[my2boyz]

Originally Posted by Gracie2006

I would not take that offer. It is nearly impossible for people to find good individual coverage and if they can, the premiums are typically very high. I would shop around before making a decision. Your group plan with hubby will probably be the most cost-effective in the long run.

My thoughts exactly!

[LuvMySissy]

There are some policies available through organizations, such as the National Association of the Self Employed, where you can get affordable coverage - but the deductibles are high and coverage is generally only a percentage.

I would weigh the pros and cons and what kind of health issues you may have that require regular maintenance versus just illness/injury. Also take into account just how much you are paying now in monthly premiums, co-pays and deductibles. Typically, heath insurance is a benefit that is worth close to $10k a year for family coverage.

[Tiggerwit]

uninsured here. It sucks, it was like $400/month for just me for catastrophe insurance with a $1500 deductible. I make too much to qualify for anything and not enough to pay for it on my own. System is so screwed up.

I had to go to planned parenthood for my pap (they use a sliding pay scale) I qualify for free services until they include my child support and then I'm hosed.

My co-workers husband has his own tree business and their insurance sucks too, it's like a gabazillion dollars a month and she has to pay the first $3400 every year, which of course she never hits.

[AngelWorks]

Originally Posted by Tiggerwit

uninsured here. It sucks, it was like $400/month for just me for catastrophe insurance with a $1500 deductible. I make too much to qualify for anything and not enough to pay for it on my own. System is so screwed up.

I had to go to planned parenthood for my pap (they use a sliding pay scale) I qualify for free services until they include my child support and then I'm hosed.

My co-workers husband has his own tree business and their insurance sucks too, it's like a gabazillion dollars a month and she has to pay the first $3400 every year, which of course she never hits.

Planned PHood has been my only healthcare for over 5 years now.

You will be pleasently surprised by your fee even after the support hits.

[yougetthesmiles]

so maybe we would be smart to just stay with what we have now. It's $500/month with a $3000 deductable and no copay. This is for health, dental, eye, perscript and life insurance.

[Yorkie3]

Personally, I'd stay right where you are!

[Tiggerwit]

Originally Posted by AngelWorks

Planned PHood has been my only healthcare for over 5 years now.

You will be pleasently surprised by your fee even after the support hits.

It was $160 something for my exam and another $18 a month for my pills.

[Oscar's Mom]

Wow! And they called that a reduced price? My goodness! I am not insured either and just am called "self-pay". I just went for my yearly exam and pap smear at the regular OB/GYN and it was $70...since it was breast cancer awareness month in October the hospital offered $40 mammogam to those with no insurance...so I got that too. I would say that your Planned Parenthood is taking you to the cleaners!

We can't afford insurance either. I am working a salaried job now and need to check into our group coverage that is available. My hubby suffers kidney stones and is a diabetic...so he is basically un-insurable...we stay in debt to one hospital or another when he has stones...

Missy, I would stay with the plan you have now at work...sounds like a good deal to me.

[Gracie2006]

I had the NASE (Nat. Assoc. Self Employed) Healthcare coverage for a while. All I could afford was the catastrophic plan, which covered for the big stuff like cancer, but nothing for the strep throat, broken leg, appendicitis, etc. As I recall the dental with them was not great coverage either. Mega Life and Health was and still is, I believe, the carrier, so you could google that.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by yougetthesmiles

so maybe we would be smart to just stay with what we have now. It's $500/month with a $3000 deductable and no copay. This is for health, dental, eye, perscript and life insurance.

Stay with the plan you have. We have private insurance and we pay alot for it and it doesnt cover alot and has high deductables

[stedmansmommy]

So funny you posted this today girl! My hubby called me earlier from work and said that everyone up there thinks that their insurance is going up AGAIN We have been talking about getting our own private insurance (for ME) for a while now, and we have finally decided to go ahead and do it. We pay over $300 a month for him to have me on his insurance at work, and he found some place today that will only be $150 (I think, or close to it) for me a month. The deductable will be a little higher doing it on our own this way, but the copay is only $30 and we know several people that use this company, and are happy with it, so needless to say we will be switching immediately!

[AVERYxo]

good luck with your search!!
i am self-employed and was without health insurance for almost a year(after i was not eligable to be covered under my moms anymore) i searched for good health insurance.. and had seen ALOT of different plans, talked with alot of different people/providers, etc. and let me tell you they are all confusing(and you never, really know what you are gonna get..unless you, yourself are thorough-cuz they will try and sell you on alot of things)..so be very careful. i know how expensive it is.. and how much back and forth goes on with the providers, so i hope it all works out well for you guys.
Luckily, i was able to be covered under my fiances work(i am so thankful it worked out this way and that the insurance plan and coverage is very good) i lucked out-but i cant stress enough..to make sure, whatever you decide, that it is thorough and will be good for your whole family. (i am going through major back problems, right now.. and having this insurance(which is supposed to be very very good)has STILL been an issue with all the major procedures i am having done(mri, xrays, etc. etc.)-so much back and forth!! (i have also known people.. who thought they were covered for something and werent and also others who are having to pay so much money because the providers screwed them over.. but just know whatever your case-not to settle for the first answer-cuz i have known 2 people who disputed the denials they initally recieved and after MUCH hassle and headache they were awarded coverage for most of their expenses, etc. BUT it doesnt always work out that way!!)so be careful.
i just recently watched an episode of oprah that had been on my tivo for a while(about our health insurance in the U.S. and about the documentary sicko-michael moore was on and some other health insurance big wigs, etc.) it was a really good episode.. and i think its so important to focus on such beneficial issues as this. i really want to see this documentary, it seems to be very informative and eye opening. i think its a very important issue.