Health Insurance

[WanderingOak]

I know some of you are young and don't plan on ever geting sick, while others are in College and covered under their University's health plan, but I would like to hear about what other members of the forum do for health insurance. I do plan on taking the plunge from employee to self-employed soon, and one thing that is going to mean is that my employer-provided health insurance policy is going to turn into a pumpkin when I do so. I know that once my business takes off, I will be able to solve any medical problems I may have by throwing enough money at them, but I'm not sure what to do until then.

[marktb]

I bascially have an emergency plan for $35/month with Aflac. I dont trust docs and rarely get sick so I needed a plan in case I do something stupid, break something or need urgent care.

Mark

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by marktb

I bascially have an emergency plan for $35/month with Aflac. I dont trust docs and rarely get sick so I needed a plan in case I do something stupid, break something or need urgent care.

Mark

Their site is very vague as far as coverage goes. What do you get for that price? Is it along the lines of 'we won't let you bleed to death in the ER', or is it more comprehensive? I don't get sick very often either, but I do have bad knees, and would like to have something that would cover surgical procedures.

[icesar]

A good place to start is with your location. Plans tend to vary by state; when I lived in Hawaii individual plans were exorbitant, and here in California they're slightly more affordable. I have a decent plan with Blue Cross that gives emergency and hospital coverage, as well as high-copay doctors visits. Even though I don't get sick much, it's good for peace of mind, and they even have a (suprisingly inexpensive) dental plan.

[WanderingOak]

After I relocate (which I will be doing to start my new business), I will be in Upstate NY.

[Ibanez]

Originally Posted by WanderingOak

Their site is very vague as far as coverage goes. What do you get for that price? Is it along the lines of 'we won't let you bleed to death in the ER', or is it more comprehensive? I don't get sick very often either, but I do have bad knees, and would like to have something that would cover surgical procedures.

Bad Knees? What have you done to them? Torn ligaments? Torn Cartilage?

[gberardi]

Originally Posted by WanderingOak

I know some of you are young and don't plan on ever geting sick, while others are in College and covered under their University's health plan, but I would like to hear about what other members of the forum do for health insurance. I do plan on taking the plunge from employee to self-employed soon, and one thing that is going to mean is that my employer-provided health insurance policy is going to turn into a pumpkin when I do so. I know that once my business takes off, I will be able to solve any medical problems I may have by throwing enough money at them, but I'm not sure what to do until then.

Until I got my insurance paid for by a day job last year, I was using ehealthinsurance.com, probably suggested by Steve Pavlina on his previous forums. I believe I paid about $40-$60 per month for decent coverage.

Some people claimed I was throwing money away, but it is really for those emergencies when I wouldn't want to throw away thousands of dollars for an unforeseen surgery or something. I basically paid a few hundred dollars a year.

[Logodae]

I've been wondering this too. And for some reason, health insurance here in Massachusetts seems to be really pricey... as far as I can tell, I'm looking at paying a few hundred dollars a month.

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by Ibanez

Bad Knees? What have you done to them? Torn ligaments? Torn Cartilage?

I injured my left knee a few years ago pitching a softball of all things. I went to a doctor and was told that I had a bone bruise and a torn ACL. In 2005, I had a ligament transplant from a cadaver, paid for by my current insurance policy. The softball game was not vigorous by any means, so I am wondering if my knee may have already been damaged.

I twisted both of my knees fifteen years ago when I was in college fighting a forest fire. The college doctor said that they were sprained and didn't schedule any follow-up examinations. At the time, I wasn't aware that a sprained knee was a torn ligament. I thought it was something that I could just work through, so that is what I did. I always have had strong leg muscles, so I may have compensated for a compromised ligament afterwards. I did six years in the Navy with no knee problems, running daily in boot camp and pounding my feet on steel deckplates on a daily basis.

About six months before tearing my ligament, I had lyme disease from a tick bite. I had joint pain in my knees and hands for a few weeks until I was diagnosed and given antibiotics. The doctor said that I was pretty much guaranteed to have joint problems in the future. My orthopedist said that the lyme disease did not lead to the ACL damage, which means that I may have two potential sources of joint problems in the future.

I am pretty much recovered from the ACL surgery, except for not being able to put direct pressure on the front of my knee (kneepads help). However, there is no telling what the future may hold. My right knee does ache from time to time (could be lyme or a compromised ligament), so I don't want to be completely uninsured once I cut the corporate umbilical.

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by Logodae

I've been wondering this too. And for some reason, health insurance here in Massachusetts seems to be really pricey... as far as I can tell, I'm looking at paying a few hundred dollars a month.

That is the same type of pricing that I was getting from ehealthinsurance.com for Upstate NY, and that is without doctor's office visits being covered. I guess under that plan, you have to go to the ER to get coverage...

[mkidd]

in NYS self-employed people can apply for Healthy New York. It was not a great plan, but the monthly premiums were not really high, comparatively. Premiums go by county so you'll have to look it up. I think ours was $250 for a husband/wife.

http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hny.htm

[WanderingOak]

Originally Posted by mkidd

in NYS self-employed people can apply for Healthy New York. It was not a great plan, but the monthly premiums were not really high, comparatively. Premiums go by county so you'll have to look it up. I think ours was $250 for a husband/wife.

Healthy NY: Welcome to Healthy NY (Home Page - English)

Thanks. I'll keep them in mind after the move. Unfortunately, I can't do anything until I am a NY resident.

[MamaDuck]

I have emergency service only through Blue Cross/Blue Shield - haven't had to submit a claim yet but it is inexpensive (under $30 a month).