My husband is a successfull contractor....but if he were to raise his rates in order to have even the cheapest of health insurance...he would have to charge his customers a full THREE times what he charges now....and the insurance just would not be that good.
We pay out of pocket for everything....
If you have good insurance....I`d think long and hard before I gave it up.
Thats too bad really. It just seems that if people got together and started a group type to get insurance it would work. But I guess we'd still have to pay out of the ying yang.
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) provides insurance at group rates. If you are in a job that doesn't offer good insurance, you may be able to get supplemental insurance through a professional organization.
I have NASE. If you wanna know the details, let me know...I'll write 'em all out here. I have a vision rider on it, and a dental rider on it.
I won't have it tho, after this September, as I didn't make enough money this year to afford it, and can't project I'll make the money this winter... :(-->
I think it was Shaz who said she has NASE insurance and is okay with it. I got screwed by them bigtime.
The true test of insurance is when you need it for something major. I got stuck with a huge chunk of my hospital bill and large portions of several doctors' bills when I was insured by them when I had surgery. It wasn't anything exotic either...just a gallbladder removal.
Shortly after this incident, I read not one but two expose's saying that despite its claims to be an advocate for the self-employed, NASA exists solely to sell insurance and that it's very poor insurance, at that. I'd beware.
Those of you who have it, thank God you've been healthy. :)-->
I've heard that too, Linda...I've heard both sides.
I haven't yet needed a major thing (knock on wood!!!)...(in the old days I woulda said "praise god".... ;)--> )
Well...last year I paid $4600...that's for an $1800 deductible for hospitalization.
It doesn't cover jack squat for any doctors' visits...I pay that in full...
That $4600 covered my dental tho. What it includes ( @$800) is 2 cleanings, x-rays, 80% for cavities, and 2 half crowns (i.e. one) a year.
That paid for itself for me and more, as my teeth are my biggest problem.
It also saved to overall of $160 on my glasses visit and prescription. (that was about $40 on the rider).
Because I paid the full bill in August, I actually got a month free (well, not free, but, that's what they deduct for paying it all at once, and since I have bundles in August, I opted to do that).
Like I said, business is terrible this year...and I doubt I will be able to afford an extra $400 a month all year...so will have to can it.
I guess it's better than nothing, but, I think I would get "free care" around here much easier without it.
Oh...NASE also pays for 50% off all prescriptions.
It's not the greatest by far, but, hopefully, it will pay if I get cancer or something.
When I came down with Lyme initially (2001), NASE only covered 25% of a prescription for Ceftin, which had no generic at that time. Cost me over $300 out of pocket. After I'd taken it for a month, couldn't afford more. Perhaps I should have borrowed money and continued the treatment. We'll never know.
I'd say NASE is better than nothing, but not great. When they raised their premiums yet again over a year ago, they raised it past what I could afford.
Frankly, since I've been ill again this year, the state of Maine has picked up the prescription tab, and I pay for the Lyme specialist myself.
I have wonderful, I mean the best health insurance ever. But my job sucks...lol
Vickles -- contact your insurance company, and see what the premium would be if you were not employed where you are now. Sure -- it'll be more than what you currently pay, but as a current policy holder, they may cut you a break if you move on to another job.
I left the truck driving/delivery business for the group home work, and found out the insurance (which was very good that I had with the company I was leaving), was offered to me at a cheaper rate than they would charge to a new policy holder, even though it would be higher since I was at a different job locale.
It may or may not work for you, but it is worth a try. :)-->
(ps, soon after starting the group home work, I was offered full time there, and their insurance was even better as well as cheaper, so I dumped the other program altogether.)
Yeah, Shaz...I was thinking of letting Mass. pick up the tab for me. I just can't afford it, with prices soaring everywhere!!!
Problem is, is, I own my house, and have a piddly little IRA, so wonder if they'll have mercy on me.
I couldn't imagine paying the exhorberant rents people pay. A little studio apartment here is $900 and a one bedroom $1100 and more!!! How do people do it?
Because I am established, it is actually cheaper for me to live here (one of the most expensive places in the country) than to move to Vermont- if you can believe that!!!! I can still get dinner for $2.50 a pop, and know all the people around to get the bargains.
...And even with this, I can't rangle up enough money to pay my health insurance premiums.
The company for which my wife works just switched at the beginning of this year from "Connecticare" (which was absolutely aweful) to "UnitedHealthCare".
A couple years ago, I had started the process of trying to get a new foot/leg prosthesis, but "Connecticare" only covered 1,500 of the total estimated cost of $5,000- 7,000.
Getting aid from the state proved fruitless.
So the whole idea of getting a new leg was shelved...
So when I resumed my efforts a month ago, I called up our new insurance company expecting the hear the same minimum coverage (1,000 -1500) as I've grown so accustomed to hearing from these companies over the years.
I nearly fell off my chair - 100 % coverage (!)
So I got a new primary doctor under the new plan, got a new script, and called up my prosthesis-maker, "Pull those damn parts off the shelf and slap that sucker together! I'm coming to pick it up..."
Artificial limb technology has certainly come a long way in 27 years (my old limb is 1978 vintage).
I highly recommend "UnitedHealthCare" if you can get or afford it. Of course, my wife belongs to a union where she works, and I'm sure that makes a huge difference. But coverage even under unions was nothing to get excited about, until this new plan...
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rascal
Vickles, I don`t think there IS such a critter.
My husband is a successfull contractor....but if he were to raise his rates in order to have even the cheapest of health insurance...he would have to charge his customers a full THREE times what he charges now....and the insurance just would not be that good.
We pay out of pocket for everything....
If you have good insurance....I`d think long and hard before I gave it up.
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vickles
I know thats why I haven't budged......
:(-->
Thats too bad really. It just seems that if people got together and started a group type to get insurance it would work. But I guess we'd still have to pay out of the ying yang.
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GeorgeStGeorge
The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) provides insurance at group rates. If you are in a job that doesn't offer good insurance, you may be able to get supplemental insurance through a professional organization.
George
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Wacky Funster
I have NASE. If you wanna know the details, let me know...I'll write 'em all out here. I have a vision rider on it, and a dental rider on it.
I won't have it tho, after this September, as I didn't make enough money this year to afford it, and can't project I'll make the money this winter...
:(-->
Oh well...
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vickles
Wacky, Would love to see how NASE works. I'm sure there are some posters here that would like to see too....thanks!!!
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Linda Z
I think it was Shaz who said she has NASE insurance and is okay with it. I got screwed by them bigtime.
The true test of insurance is when you need it for something major. I got stuck with a huge chunk of my hospital bill and large portions of several doctors' bills when I was insured by them when I had surgery. It wasn't anything exotic either...just a gallbladder removal.
Shortly after this incident, I read not one but two expose's saying that despite its claims to be an advocate for the self-employed, NASA exists solely to sell insurance and that it's very poor insurance, at that. I'd beware.
Those of you who have it, thank God you've been healthy.
:)-->
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Wacky Funster
I've heard that too, Linda...I've heard both sides.
I haven't yet needed a major thing (knock on wood!!!)...(in the old days I woulda said "praise god"....
;)--> )
Well...last year I paid $4600...that's for an $1800 deductible for hospitalization.
It doesn't cover jack squat for any doctors' visits...I pay that in full...
That $4600 covered my dental tho. What it includes ( @$800) is 2 cleanings, x-rays, 80% for cavities, and 2 half crowns (i.e. one) a year.
That paid for itself for me and more, as my teeth are my biggest problem.
It also saved to overall of $160 on my glasses visit and prescription. (that was about $40 on the rider).
Because I paid the full bill in August, I actually got a month free (well, not free, but, that's what they deduct for paying it all at once, and since I have bundles in August, I opted to do that).
Like I said, business is terrible this year...and I doubt I will be able to afford an extra $400 a month all year...so will have to can it.
I guess it's better than nothing, but, I think I would get "free care" around here much easier without it.
Oh...NASE also pays for 50% off all prescriptions.
It's not the greatest by far, but, hopefully, it will pay if I get cancer or something.
I hope this helps.
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Wacky Funster
LindaZ...where's the "best location in the nation"?????
:)-->
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shazdancer
Yuppers, Linda, it was me who had it. Past tense.
When I came down with Lyme initially (2001), NASE only covered 25% of a prescription for Ceftin, which had no generic at that time. Cost me over $300 out of pocket. After I'd taken it for a month, couldn't afford more. Perhaps I should have borrowed money and continued the treatment. We'll never know.
I'd say NASE is better than nothing, but not great. When they raised their premiums yet again over a year ago, they raised it past what I could afford.
Frankly, since I've been ill again this year, the state of Maine has picked up the prescription tab, and I pay for the Lyme specialist myself.
Regards,
Shaz
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dmiller
Vickles -- contact your insurance company, and see what the premium would be if you were not employed where you are now. Sure -- it'll be more than what you currently pay, but as a current policy holder, they may cut you a break if you move on to another job.
I left the truck driving/delivery business for the group home work, and found out the insurance (which was very good that I had with the company I was leaving), was offered to me at a cheaper rate than they would charge to a new policy holder, even though it would be higher since I was at a different job locale.
It may or may not work for you, but it is worth a try.
:)-->
(ps, soon after starting the group home work, I was offered full time there, and their insurance was even better as well as cheaper, so I dumped the other program altogether.)
David
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Linda Z
Wacky...it's Cleveland.
:D-->
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dmiller
I've been there, you must see something about it I don't!
;)-->
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Wacky Funster
Yeah, Shaz...I was thinking of letting Mass. pick up the tab for me. I just can't afford it, with prices soaring everywhere!!!
Problem is, is, I own my house, and have a piddly little IRA, so wonder if they'll have mercy on me.
I couldn't imagine paying the exhorberant rents people pay. A little studio apartment here is $900 and a one bedroom $1100 and more!!! How do people do it?
Because I am established, it is actually cheaper for me to live here (one of the most expensive places in the country) than to move to Vermont- if you can believe that!!!! I can still get dinner for $2.50 a pop, and know all the people around to get the bargains.
...And even with this, I can't rangle up enough money to pay my health insurance premiums.
It's a sad day in this country...
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TheInvisibleDan
The company for which my wife works just switched at the beginning of this year from "Connecticare" (which was absolutely aweful) to "UnitedHealthCare".
A couple years ago, I had started the process of trying to get a new foot/leg prosthesis, but "Connecticare" only covered 1,500 of the total estimated cost of $5,000- 7,000.
Getting aid from the state proved fruitless.
So the whole idea of getting a new leg was shelved...
So when I resumed my efforts a month ago, I called up our new insurance company expecting the hear the same minimum coverage (1,000 -1500) as I've grown so accustomed to hearing from these companies over the years.
I nearly fell off my chair - 100 % coverage (!)
So I got a new primary doctor under the new plan, got a new script, and called up my prosthesis-maker, "Pull those damn parts off the shelf and slap that sucker together! I'm coming to pick it up..."
Artificial limb technology has certainly come a long way in 27 years (my old limb is 1978 vintage).
I highly recommend "UnitedHealthCare" if you can get or afford it. Of course, my wife belongs to a union where she works, and I'm sure that makes a huge difference. But coverage even under unions was nothing to get excited about, until this new plan...
Danny
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