Do any of you Sombies pay for your own non employer provided health insurance? If you do what company are you with and are you happy with them? Do you have a wide selection of doctors to choose from?
Danke
Full Version: Health Insurance recommendations
OK the time has come for me to suck it up and get my own health insurance because my employer is a flake and not providing any. I've been doing some research but now I'm feeling overwhelmed. There are soo many companies and so many different plans how does one make sense of it all?
Do any of you Sombies pay for your own non employer provided health insurance? If you do what company are you with and are you happy with them? Do you have a wide selection of doctors to choose from?
Danke
Do any of you Sombies pay for your own non employer provided health insurance? If you do what company are you with and are you happy with them? Do you have a wide selection of doctors to choose from?
Danke
you might want to look into sound ppo. these are high-deductible plans marketed toward younger people in generally good health with no employer-provided health care coverage. the plans are month-to-month and they have 3 different options. since it's a ppo, the selection of doctors is pretty good. and they have options for vision and dental benefits. i don't personally know anyone who's had this coverage, so i don't know much else about it.
selectemp is another popular option. you can pick from a range of deductibles and the network is wider than sound ppo, which is run by unicare. and depending on how you tailor it, the premiums could also be lower than sound ppo. the rub here is that it's only available for six months at a time. but i've used it twice and never had a problem.
selectemp is another popular option. you can pick from a range of deductibles and the network is wider than sound ppo, which is run by unicare. and depending on how you tailor it, the premiums could also be lower than sound ppo. the rub here is that it's only available for six months at a time. but i've used it twice and never had a problem.
move to Canada
QUOTE(ap emerger @ Mar 25 2008, 11:53 AM) [snapback]614502[/snapback]
QUOTE(musicgurl @ Mar 25 2008, 07:42 AM) [snapback]614325[/snapback]
OK the time has come for me to suck it up and get my own health insurance .... There are soo many companies and so many different plans how does one make sense of it all?
Do any of you Sombies pay for your own non employer provided health insurance? If you do what company are you with and are you happy with them?
Danke
Do any of you Sombies pay for your own non employer provided health insurance? If you do what company are you with and are you happy with them?
Danke
If you're a relatively healthy person, you can get a very decent, global coverage plan from Assurant for anywhere between $45 to 145 per month. Just get a higher deductible plan to keep the premiums down. Because if something bad happens (and it eventually will) it's a hellofa lot easier to pony up 3k for your deductible than it is to pay 250,000 if you get diagnosed with MS, cancer, diabetes etc etc...
I have an HSA by Assurant. Age 37 years old. My premium is $89 per month.
contrary to popular belief, health insurance is relatively inexpensive in this country.
FWIW...the average 25 year old American will spend twice as much monthly on their cell/text bill than they will on health insurance...Food for thought.
ps...don't move to Canada. Ever wonder why so many canadians with MS, or other dread deseases want to come to the states for treatment? Do your homework. Flawed? Perhaps. Imperfect? Absolutely. But... 65 to 80% of your income isn't going to VAT & shadow taxes either. Mike Moore is quite wrong on many points...But, that's another topic...
or...go to www.smarthealthquote.com
FYI I had the same thought as TJENZ and we both have the same chronic illness.
QUOTE(ap emerger @ Mar 26 2008, 12:26 AM) [snapback]615010[/snapback]
QUOTE(geoneb @ Mar 25 2008, 09:52 PM) [snapback]614992[/snapback]
FYI I had the same thought as TJENZ and we both have the same chronic illness.
Do you have health insurance currently?
I do.
Thanks for all of the info people. It's much appreciated.
i was gonna email this to you mg ( i owe you an email somethine fierce but i cant bring myself to start/ finish drafts anymore). an improv friend just emailed me this, he loves it... im sort of clueless about it, but can get more info if you need it:
he gave me a referral and everyhting if youre interested. its seems pricey to me, but what do i know.
QUOTE
There's an organization called the National Association of the Self-Employed, and they get insurance for their members at the kind of rates you'd pay for insurance through your job. The membership to the organization is $75 to join and $40 an month; the insurance for most folks under 30 years of age without any major medical issues is around $150. So roughly $200 a month for the whole she-bang. I have a $2500 deductible for hospital stays, about half that for emergency hospital services, long-term disability (kicks in after 14 days and lasts up to 3 years), most of my dental is covered, most doctor's visits are covered up to $500 a year, and pharmaceuticals are covered roughly the same as my old health insurance through Morgan Stanley. So, in other words, it's pretty goddamn good health insurance.
Also, and this is very important... it's COMPLETELY TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Since most companies take out your insurance pre-tax, you don't get to deduct it. But since you're paying for this yourself, you get to take it as a deducitible against your earnings, dollar for dollar (that's what I was told). So if you're paying out at the 25% tax level, and you pay in $2400 a year, then you will end up, after deductions, only really be paying $1800 a year... or $150 a month.
Also, and this is very important... it's COMPLETELY TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Since most companies take out your insurance pre-tax, you don't get to deduct it. But since you're paying for this yourself, you get to take it as a deducitible against your earnings, dollar for dollar (that's what I was told). So if you're paying out at the 25% tax level, and you pay in $2400 a year, then you will end up, after deductions, only really be paying $1800 a year... or $150 a month.
he gave me a referral and everyhting if youre interested. its seems pricey to me, but what do i know.
QUOTE(forgo @ Mar 26 2008, 10:27 AM) [snapback]615310[/snapback]
i was gonna email this to you mg ( i owe you an email somethine fierce but i cant bring myself to start/ finish drafts anymore). an improv friend just emailed me this, he loves it... im sort of clueless about it, but can get more info if you need it:
he gave me a referral and everyhting if youre interested. its seems pricey to me, but what do i know.
QUOTE
There's an organization called the National Association of the Self-Employed, and they get insurance for their members at the kind of rates you'd pay for insurance through your job. The membership to the organization is $75 to join and $40 an month; the insurance for most folks under 30 years of age without any major medical issues is around $150. So roughly $200 a month for the whole she-bang. I have a $2500 deductible for hospital stays, about half that for emergency hospital services, long-term disability (kicks in after 14 days and lasts up to 3 years), most of my dental is covered, most doctor's visits are covered up to $500 a year, and pharmaceuticals are covered roughly the same as my old health insurance through Morgan Stanley. So, in other words, it's pretty goddamn good health insurance.
Also, and this is very important... it's COMPLETELY TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Since most companies take out your insurance pre-tax, you don't get to deduct it. But since you're paying for this yourself, you get to take it as a deducitible against your earnings, dollar for dollar (that's what I was told). So if you're paying out at the 25% tax level, and you pay in $2400 a year, then you will end up, after deductions, only really be paying $1800 a year... or $150 a month.
Also, and this is very important... it's COMPLETELY TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Since most companies take out your insurance pre-tax, you don't get to deduct it. But since you're paying for this yourself, you get to take it as a deducitible against your earnings, dollar for dollar (that's what I was told). So if you're paying out at the 25% tax level, and you pay in $2400 a year, then you will end up, after deductions, only really be paying $1800 a year... or $150 a month.
he gave me a referral and everyhting if youre interested. its seems pricey to me, but what do i know.
Pricey and the coverages don't sound all too hot.
QUOTE(forgo @ Mar 26 2008, 11:27 AM) [snapback]615310[/snapback]
i was gonna email this to you mg ( i owe you an email somethine fierce but i cant bring myself to start/ finish drafts anymore). an improv friend just emailed me this, he loves it... im sort of clueless about it, but can get more info if you need it:
he gave me a referral and everyhting if youre interested. its seems pricey to me, but what do i know.
QUOTE
There's an organization called the National Association of the Self-Employed, and they get insurance for their members at the kind of rates you'd pay for insurance through your job. The membership to the organization is $75 to join and $40 an month; the insurance for most folks under 30 years of age without any major medical issues is around $150. So roughly $200 a month for the whole she-bang. I have a $2500 deductible for hospital stays, about half that for emergency hospital services, long-term disability (kicks in after 14 days and lasts up to 3 years), most of my dental is covered, most doctor's visits are covered up to $500 a year, and pharmaceuticals are covered roughly the same as my old health insurance through Morgan Stanley. So, in other words, it's pretty goddamn good health insurance.
Also, and this is very important... it's COMPLETELY TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Since most companies take out your insurance pre-tax, you don't get to deduct it. But since you're paying for this yourself, you get to take it as a deducitible against your earnings, dollar for dollar (that's what I was told). So if you're paying out at the 25% tax level, and you pay in $2400 a year, then you will end up, after deductions, only really be paying $1800 a year... or $150 a month.
Also, and this is very important... it's COMPLETELY TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Since most companies take out your insurance pre-tax, you don't get to deduct it. But since you're paying for this yourself, you get to take it as a deducitible against your earnings, dollar for dollar (that's what I was told). So if you're paying out at the 25% tax level, and you pay in $2400 a year, then you will end up, after deductions, only really be paying $1800 a year... or $150 a month.
he gave me a referral and everyhting if youre interested. its seems pricey to me, but what do i know.
Be careful with that 'completely tax deductable' language. Slightly misleading as you need to itemize to take advantage of it and your itemizations need to be larger than the 'standard deduction' currently at, what $6300? So that $2400 may not be deductable at all.
QUOTE(ap emerger @ Mar 25 2008, 12:53 PM) [snapback]614502[/snapback]
or...go to www.smarthealthquote.com
thx ap emerger
this reminded me i need something during my unemployment, i was covered up til feb 1st and have been w/o healthcare since then
i went to the site and got insurance for $58/month
i've been without insurance since 05,
besides work related coverage last summer.
once i actually make some money i will check one of the good ones out
besides work related coverage last summer.
once i actually make some money i will check one of the good ones out
QUOTE(ap emerger @ Mar 26 2008, 12:19 PM) [snapback]615407[/snapback]
NOOOOO!!!
Please for the love of god. Do not do that NASE (national association of self employed) garbage.
Please for the love of god. Do not do that NASE (national association of self employed) garbage.
oh, well good to know then!
sorry for the whack suggestion....
QUOTE(b*derty @ Mar 26 2008, 12:24 PM) [snapback]615420[/snapback]
i've been without insurance since 05,
besides work related coverage last summer.
once i actually make some money i will check one of the good ones out
besides work related coverage last summer.
once i actually make some money i will check one of the good ones out
check out the site that ap posted
my plan is $58 and that justs more of a "in case shit hits the fan" i dont plan on going to a doctor or anything, but if i'm in a serious accident or hurt myself playing pickup ball at the gym, then i wont be stuck w/ $35-50k in medical expenses
QUOTE(ap emerger @ Mar 25 2008, 11:26 PM) [snapback]615010[/snapback]
QUOTE(geoneb @ Mar 25 2008, 09:52 PM) [snapback]614992[/snapback]
FYI I had the same thought as TJENZ and we both have the same chronic illness.
Do you have health insurance currently?
Yes, thank god.
This thread's a bit old so I'll pose the question freshly.
Looks like the other shoe is about to drop at my work and it's time for me to get out and work for myself.
So now I'm sourcing a place to buy my own health coverage. Anyone have a good recommendation?
Looks like the other shoe is about to drop at my work and it's time for me to get out and work for myself.
So now I'm sourcing a place to buy my own health coverage. Anyone have a good recommendation?
Move to Canada.
or just don't get sick.
or just don't get sick.
QUOTE (Rob Gordon @ Mar 15 2010, 01:24 PM) 
This thread's a bit old so I'll pose the question freshly.
Looks like the other shoe is about to drop at my work and it's time for me to get out and work for myself.
So now I'm sourcing a place to buy my own health coverage. Anyone have a good recommendation?
Looks like the other shoe is about to drop at my work and it's time for me to get out and work for myself.
So now I'm sourcing a place to buy my own health coverage. Anyone have a good recommendation?
I researched my health insurance through ehealthinsurance.com. That's a pretty decent round-up of major insurances available and estimates from them. Start poking around there. I've been self-insured since 2004. I haven't had any major procedures done or anything, but my United Healthcare has covered everything I needed covering so far, although there have been billing snafus that required time on the phone to clear up. I'm tempted to move over to Blue Cross Blue Shield, which seems to actually be a little bit cheaper for me, and more doctors I'd like to visit (doctors of family members) would be in-network. My last GP lost his medical license for over-presribing narcotics. Found that out when I tried to get a cough medicine refill and was told his scrips were no longer being honored. Oops. Time to go GP shopping again.
bcbs is great
ive had united health care thru my employer the past 2.5 years and they suck...they deny everything the first time through...
i also suffer from ulcerative colitis and they will not cover remicade which is a medicine i may need to go on in the future and it may cost upwards of 2k-5k a treatment every 3 months
ive had united health care thru my employer the past 2.5 years and they suck...they deny everything the first time through...
i also suffer from ulcerative colitis and they will not cover remicade which is a medicine i may need to go on in the future and it may cost upwards of 2k-5k a treatment every 3 months
QUOTE (nagode @ Mar 15 2010, 04:16 PM)
bcbs is great
ive had united health care thru my employer the past 2.5 years and they suck...they deny everything the first time through...
i also suffer from ulcerative colitis and they will not cover remicade which is a medicine i may need to go on in the future and it may cost upwards of 2k-5k a treatment every 3 months
ive had united health care thru my employer the past 2.5 years and they suck...they deny everything the first time through...
i also suffer from ulcerative colitis and they will not cover remicade which is a medicine i may need to go on in the future and it may cost upwards of 2k-5k a treatment every 3 months
Yeah, stuff like this should really get me off my ass to change my insurer. I was going to last year, about this time, but got lazy about it. While I personally don't know anyone whose had a bad experience with United Healthcare, I've heard enough stories like yours on the internet to make me reconsider them. My folks always had BCBS, and they've never had a problem.
QUOTE (Binko @ Mar 15 2010, 05:24 PM)
QUOTE (nagode @ Mar 15 2010, 04:16 PM)
bcbs is great
ive had united health care thru my employer the past 2.5 years and they suck...they deny everything the first time through...
i also suffer from ulcerative colitis and they will not cover remicade which is a medicine i may need to go on in the future and it may cost upwards of 2k-5k a treatment every 3 months
ive had united health care thru my employer the past 2.5 years and they suck...they deny everything the first time through...
i also suffer from ulcerative colitis and they will not cover remicade which is a medicine i may need to go on in the future and it may cost upwards of 2k-5k a treatment every 3 months
Yeah, stuff like this should really get me off my ass to change my insurer. I was going to last year, about this time, but got lazy about it. While I personally don't know anyone whose had a bad experience with United Healthcare, I've heard enough stories like yours on the internet to make me reconsider them. My folks always had BCBS, and they've never had a problem.
do it man before something completely unexpected happens....i went from being a completely normal healthy kid one day to someone suffering from ulcerative colitis the next...literally...
Thanks for the info all.
let's give our policy rundowns. me:
32 yr old male, chronic minor depression and thyroid preexisting conditions upon signup 4 years ago. other significant issues have popped up since, though nothing terribly serious
continental general PPO
premium jacked from 183 to 246/mo in 2010. started at 116
1700 deductible, then 50% coverage up to 3400 out of pocket limit
deductible/limits doubled out of network
$25 office copay, drug copay
they've been pretty good about paying their share, though i've already hit my deductible due to MRI this year, so we'll see going forward.... couple times i've called to question a charge and gotten it adjusted (including imaging charges for MRI, which they tried to say was out-of-network)
32 yr old male, chronic minor depression and thyroid preexisting conditions upon signup 4 years ago. other significant issues have popped up since, though nothing terribly serious
continental general PPO
premium jacked from 183 to 246/mo in 2010. started at 116
1700 deductible, then 50% coverage up to 3400 out of pocket limit
deductible/limits doubled out of network
$25 office copay, drug copay
they've been pretty good about paying their share, though i've already hit my deductible due to MRI this year, so we'll see going forward.... couple times i've called to question a charge and gotten it adjusted (including imaging charges for MRI, which they tried to say was out-of-network)
Dice, your premium still seems pretty reasonable to me--the single party premium for my Blue Cross PPO is $508 (my share of that is currently $32/mo), with a $500 in-network deductible and a $3K out-of-pocket annual maximum. $20/visit copays, coverage capped at $2M lifetime. The main reason our premiums are so high (despite being in the network of the nation's second-largest buyer of healthcare) is that they're aggregate rates for active employees + retirees (.e., the younger, healthier people are subsidizing the frequent flyers) 
QUOTE (velocity @ Mar 16 2010, 11:33 AM)
Dice, your premium still seems pretty reasonable to me--the single party premium for my Blue Cross PPO is $508 (my share of that is currently $32/mo), with a $500 in-network deductible and a $3K out-of-pocket annual maximum. $20/visit copays, coverage capped at $2M lifetime. The main reason our premiums are so high (despite being in the network of the nation's second-largest buyer of healthcare) is that they're aggregate rates for active employees + retirees (.e., the younger, healthier people are subsidizing the frequent flyers)
yeah, i mean, i can afford it and it still seems worthwhile, but the fact that the premium has more than doubled in 4 years is questionable. plus, i'm not sure how stable the company is
anyone know how to find market share info for health care companies? i couldn't find anything
QUOTE (dice @ Mar 16 2010, 10:48 AM)
let's give our policy rundowns. me:
32 yr old male, chronic minor depression and thyroid preexisting conditions upon signup 4 years ago. other significant issues have popped up since, though nothing terribly serious
continental general PPO
premium jacked from 183 to 246/mo in 2010. started at 116
1700 deductible, then 50% coverage up to 3400 out of pocket limit
32 yr old male, chronic minor depression and thyroid preexisting conditions upon signup 4 years ago. other significant issues have popped up since, though nothing terribly serious
continental general PPO
premium jacked from 183 to 246/mo in 2010. started at 116
1700 deductible, then 50% coverage up to 3400 out of pocket limit
Mine is similar. 34 yo, no pre-existing conditions. I have a $2500 deductible and then 100% coverage beyond that. No prescription plan, $25 office visit copay. My premium was $181.61 in Jan '09 and now is $213.95. When I first got the insurance in '04 it was around $80-90/month with $5000 deductible and the rest the same as above.
To OP:
1. Don't get sick.
2. Don't go too cheap on insurance or get "catastrophe" insurance. They're typically even worse scams than most insurance.
3. Befriend a lawyer who can write threatening letters for failure to pay for agreed-upon procedures.
1. Don't get sick.
2. Don't go too cheap on insurance or get "catastrophe" insurance. They're typically even worse scams than most insurance.
3. Befriend a lawyer who can write threatening letters for failure to pay for agreed-upon procedures.
QUOTE (dice @ Mar 16 2010, 10:20 AM)
yeah, i mean, i can afford it and it still seems worthwhile, but the fact that the premium has more than doubled in 4 years is questionable. plus, i'm not sure how stable the company is
anyone know how to find market share info for health care companies? i couldn't find anything
anyone know how to find market share info for health care companies? i couldn't find anything
I've asked my broker to provide a source.
Ridiculous rate increases is why we need single-payer health care in this country. Blue Cross of CA will increase its individual plan premiums by 39% this year.
QUOTE (velocity @ Mar 16 2010, 06:44 PM)
QUOTE (dice @ Mar 16 2010, 10:20 AM)
yeah, i mean, i can afford it and it still seems worthwhile, but the fact that the premium has more than doubled in 4 years is questionable. plus, i'm not sure how stable the company is
anyone know how to find market share info for health care companies? i couldn't find anything
anyone know how to find market share info for health care companies? i couldn't find anything
I've asked my broker to provide a source.
Ridiculous rate increases is why we need single-payer health care in this country. Blue Cross of CA will increase its individual plan premiums by 39% this year.
If you are an individual buying insurance in the open market, having your rate doubling in the last 4 years is a reality. I've gone from $89 to $179 in that time (while being dropped twice by companies exiting the state).
Play around with Google and search for market share in your state and you will eventually find official state statistics on market share. That's when I did when Unicare dropped me at the end of last year and punted me to BCBS. In Illinois, if memory serves me, BCBS has around 55% share in IL and four companies have around 85% total. It's an oligopoly in my state. Better than some states, which have 80-90% monopolies.
I'm a free market guy, but I'd rather have a single payer or strong public option than what we currently have, which are government protected oligopolies/monopolies. Sadly, the current bill perpetuates and reinforces the status quo.
QUOTE (Tracy Jacks @ Mar 16 2010, 09:44 PM)
If you are an individual buying insurance in the open market, having your rate doubling in the last 4 years is a reality. I've gone from $89 to $179 in that time (while being dropped twice by companies exiting the state).
makes me feel a little better
QUOTE
Play around with Google and search for market share in your state and you will eventually find official state statistics on market share
i'll try that. thanks. my concern is that with a smaller company my personal influence on the price structure of my group is high
Well, I'm fucked.
My company coverage expired on 3/31.
Due to small size of company I'm ineligible for COBRA.
And 3 insurance companies denied me because of my stenosis.
Ohio has high risk pool coverage but rates are astronomical.
I've never been uninsured, am in fine shape.
No more preventive maintenance for me. I've just become a burden on the state.
And people are upset at health care reform.
Fuck this shit. I feel pretty helpless. Seems there's no one to turn to or a way out.
My company coverage expired on 3/31.
Due to small size of company I'm ineligible for COBRA.
And 3 insurance companies denied me because of my stenosis.
Ohio has high risk pool coverage but rates are astronomical.
I've never been uninsured, am in fine shape.
No more preventive maintenance for me. I've just become a burden on the state.
And people are upset at health care reform.
Fuck this shit. I feel pretty helpless. Seems there's no one to turn to or a way out.
QUOTE (Rob Gordon @ Apr 8 2010, 06:12 AM)
And 3 insurance companies denied me because of my stenosis.
Sorry to hear about the situation, man.
I'd hit a local broker or something of the sort and see if you can't find a provider who will offer a condition specific deductible for the stenosis. It'll be outrageous and, from what I've seen, can lead to other things even remotely related not being covered, but at least you'd have some basic catastrophic coverage in place.
^That's a good idea.
There's the rub with the PCE not going away until 2014. Particularly in light of the fact that your former health plan has all your medical & treatment histories, knows you're fit, and presumably is one of the plans that turned you down. Fuckers.
There's the rub with the PCE not going away until 2014. Particularly in light of the fact that your former health plan has all your medical & treatment histories, knows you're fit, and presumably is one of the plans that turned you down. Fuckers.
QUOTE (dice @ Mar 16 2010, 09:48 AM)
let's give our policy rundowns. me:
32 yr old male, chronic minor depression and thyroid preexisting conditions upon signup 4 years ago. other significant issues have popped up since, though nothing terribly serious
continental general PPO
premium jacked from 183 to 246/mo in 2010. started at 116
1700 deductible, then 50% coverage up to 3400 out of pocket limit
deductible/limits doubled out of network
$25 office copay, drug copay
they've been pretty good about paying their share, though i've already hit my deductible due to MRI this year, so we'll see going forward.... couple times i've called to question a charge and gotten it adjusted (including imaging charges for MRI, which they tried to say was out-of-network)
32 yr old male, chronic minor depression and thyroid preexisting conditions upon signup 4 years ago. other significant issues have popped up since, though nothing terribly serious
continental general PPO
premium jacked from 183 to 246/mo in 2010. started at 116
1700 deductible, then 50% coverage up to 3400 out of pocket limit
deductible/limits doubled out of network
$25 office copay, drug copay
they've been pretty good about paying their share, though i've already hit my deductible due to MRI this year, so we'll see going forward.... couple times i've called to question a charge and gotten it adjusted (including imaging charges for MRI, which they tried to say was out-of-network)
up to $308 for 2011. sweet. that's a 165% increase in 5 years
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.