how does anyone afford health insurance??

[whoopsy]

I mean, god damnit... I've been going without it for a year now and think it's time to quit gambling, but even these high-deductible plans are $400 per month for the NJ area through ehealthinsurance.com. The other plans will fuck you if something catastrophic happens. I'm an independent contractor so no employer to help out. Does anyone have any tips... This is what occupies my mind at 4am on a Saturday night.



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[JohnnyCash]

Its crazy. I was paying $400 a month. Now I have a different plan thats about $180 a month through a HMO. But it doesnt cover perscribtions and I hate the only doctor in my neighborhood who accepts my insurance. So Im still paying a shitload of money every month.

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[TheMojoPin]

You can't get it through work?

I use my company's health plan, and I have great coverage, both medical and dental, for about $32 a month.

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1979 << On the streets of your town... >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

[angrymissy]

well, i was just visiting my friend yesterday, her husband has his own business and she is a stay at home mom. her baby has a chronic health problem and they pay $2000/month for family health insurance.


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[JPMNICK]

well, i was just visiting my friend yesterday, her husband has his own business and she is a stay at home mom. her baby has a chronic health problem and they pay $2000/month for family health insurance.



I know a family who is in the same boat. 2300 a month for insurance. its crazy. I guess there is nothing you can do though. We really need to do something with these insurance costs. Besides America, how do other countries handle it? would a national system work?



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[Death Metal Moe]

My company's insurance rates just went up, so we had a choice of which plan within the same company to choose. I ultimately chose something that would cover me more in the hospital and less at the doctor's becasue I'm hardly ever sick to the point where I have to go to the doctor or get medecine.

But that 10 extra bucks a week hurt. It's only 10 bucks you say, but it really adds up.

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[whoopsy]

Its crazy. I was paying $400 a month. Now I have a different plan thats about $180 a month through a HMO.


Johnny - where did you find this offer? Is there a limit to how much you pay for a hospital stay?



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[furie]

i'm paying about $300 a month for full family coverage. that includes a suplimental insurance of $64/month for anything the main doesn't cover.


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[LordJezo]

It's more of NJ pain. Go check those same insurance plans for right across the border in PA and you will be shocked at how low it goes.

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[reeshy]

Another reason why NJ sucks the big one!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[JohnnyCash]

Johnny - where did you find this offer? Is there a limit to how much you pay for a hospital stay?


Its through HealthyNewYork. It had a dozen different plans form different insurance companies that were all different prices- this was the only one I qualified for. Its Cigna Healthcare.

As for the Hospital stays, Im not sure what the limit is. Ill try to find the papers for you.

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[Bulldogcakes]

You can't get it through work?
I use my company's health plan, and I have great coverage, both medical and dental, for about $32 a month.

BAH hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

You cant get PET insurance for that! Your employer is paying about 90% of your premium. Us self employed types know you cant get anything decent for under $400/mo.
One suggestion, you may want to go with Catostrophic Coverage, which is inexpensive, and check out the new MSA's (Medical Savings Accounts) Bush created last year with the Medicare Reform act. Basically, you can put aside $ tax free for medical use, and if you dont use it, you keep it. That plus catrostrophic coverage will have you pretty well covered.


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If you're wondering, Yes.

[whoopsy]

If you're on your own and in good health, you'll have the toughest time finding affordable coverage in New Jersey, New York or Vermont. Those states have guaranteed-issue laws that require insurers to cover anyone who applies, regardless of health or community rating -- which means that insurers have to charge everyone the same premiums. Such a combination adds up to little competition and high prices.




New Jersey is the most expensive state in the U.S. to receive medical care and health insurance premiums reflect this expense. A recent study indicated that hospitals in New Jersey implement hugs mark ups on services, prescriptions and operating room charges. These inflated medical charges result in higher health insurance premiums. The most shocking finding of the study was that New Jersey hospitals were charging over 400% of the cost to provide the service to health insurance companies.


Looks like I'm gonna get fucked right in the ass... I did compare it to Pennsylvania and it made me absolutely sick. The premiums were 4 times as much here!! That's a joke..

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[TheMojoPin]

You can't get it through work?
I use my company's health plan, and I have great coverage, both medical and dental, for about $32 a month.

BAH hahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

You cant get PET insurance for that! Your employer is paying about 90% of your premium. Us self employed types know you cant get anything decent for under $400/mo.
One suggestion, you may want to go with Catostrophic Coverage, which is inexpensive, and check out the new MSA's (Medical Savings Accounts) Bush created last year with the Medicare Reform act. Basically, you can put aside $ tax free for medical use, and if you dont use it, you keep it. That plus catrostrophic coverage will have you pretty well covered.

I don't understand how I'm getting shafted.

I've yet to come across a pharmacy, dental or medical practitioner that isn't covered by my service. I've got better coverage than I did when I was under the federal employee plan. I even pay less on vists and prescriptions than I did under the federal plan. The minimum I have to pay is under $200 for the year...beyond that, everything is covered. And like I said, the total cost out of my paycheck for full medical, dental and even optical care is roughly $32 a month.

How am I getting screwed?

Nah, I'm not. I'm set.

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1979 << On the streets of your town... >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

This message was edited by TheMojoPin on 3-6-05 @ 4:24 PM

[whoopsy]

How am I getting screwed?

Nah, I'm not. I'm set.


no, mojo, you read it wrong. He's bemoaning the condition of the self-employed.

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[TheMojoPin]

Ohhhhhh, NOW I get it.

Damn, I suck.

Sorry, Bulldog.

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1979 << On the streets of your town... >> "You can tell some lies about the good times we've had, but I've kissed your mother twice...and now I'm working on your dad..."

[HBox]

One suggestion, you may want to go with Catostrophic Coverage, which is inexpensive, and check out the new MSA's (Medical Savings Accounts) Bush created last year with the Medicare Reform act. Basically, you can put aside $ tax free for medical use, and if you dont use it, you keep it. That plus catrostrophic coverage will have you pretty well covered.


If he is only paying only $32 for great coverage, why in God's name would he want to switch over to a MSA? He'd might save a bit of the $32 monthly premium, but he probably would never meet the huge deductible those plans have, meaning he'd pay for any doctor's visits or prescriptions completely out of pocket.

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[Bulldogcakes]

H-Box not Mojo, a suggestion for Whoopsy

Moj, no apologies necessary. Just give your Boss a big wet kiss on the cheek for me. He/She pays those premiums each month and everyone thinks its free.

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If you're wondering, Yes.

This message was edited by Bulldogcakes on 3-6-05 @ 5:19 PM

[HBox]

Oh. My bad then.

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[Bulldogcakes]

It's OK. With two misunderstandings in a row I'm probably the one who should have been clearer.

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If you're wondering, Yes.

[smiler grogan]

We now pay $26.00 a month for a family plan. It's through my wife she's a copper for nyc so it helps balance her lowly pay. Before that we were paying approx. $160 each for individual plans. The company pays another $160.

[extracheese]

health care is way too expensive. Even if your paying 32 dollars a month, your company is paying the thousands for you to the Insurance company.
The reason is Insurance Fraud. Fraud is so rampant that the expense gets passed on to us. If all fraud ended tommorow, we would ALL be insured for a fraction of what we pay now.

If you know someone who is defrauding their I.C. report it. Your not tatling on them...your saving YOURSELF higher premiums.

This message was edited by extracheese on 3-6-05 @ 7:12 PM

[HBox]

I tried to play Insurance Inspector once, but it turned out the guy really couldn't walk and needed the chair. Boy, was my face red!

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[curtoid]

One suggestion, you may want to go with Catostrophic Coverage

This is one of the best routes to go - especially if you are young, in pretty good health and don't mind out of pocket for small health medications in order to save on premiums. It is not for routine doctor visits or treatments, but for major hospital and medical expenses such as intensive care, heart attack, cancer, x-rays and other serious illness and hospitalization needs.

This message was edited by curtoid on 3-6-05 @ 9:48 PM

[HBox]

I wouldn't say catastrophic coverage/MSA are good for young people, I think they are just good for people who can't afford anything else. It's better than nothing, but if something catastrophic does happen, you'll simply be in less debt than if you had nothing. The deductibles on those things are huge and they usually don't cover 100% after you cover it. So if something bad happens you'll end up eating through your deductible owing thousands of dollars, and then owe a percentage of anything over that. The good part is the MSA where you can buld up some money.

I just don't see it as a very attractive option if you can afford a PPO or even an HMO plan.

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[Death Metal Moe]

It's OK. With two misunderstandings in a row I'm probably the one who should have been clearer.


What the fuck did you call my mother????

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