Health Insurance?

[nsmar4211]

I searched but kept coming up with gear insurance.

For those of you who don't have day jobs that have insurance, what do you do for health insurance? Mine just drastically changed and I was wondering what other options there are.
Ferget doing an internet search, 5 pages of scams......sheesh....

[billjr]

They're probably not scams if from well known companies like BC/BS, Humana, Assurant, etc. I would start with a company like that directly through the internet or phone, AND contact a local agent and see what companies are represented in your town.

One thing, though, there is no cheap health insurance, so any offer that sounds too good to be true probably is.

Also, legitimate companies use legitimate means to market. That sign on the telephone pole or stuck in the ground might be legitimate, but also might not. That is a huge risk, as most of the scams come from those sources, and I would much rather trust the yellow pages.

Just to let you know, I am a State Farm agent. Not trying to drum up business (unless your in SC, heh, heh), but if you have a local State Farm agent, he/she should be able to give you a quote for Assurant. A very good company, but pricey. Prices vary by state, and BC/BS is much cheaper than Assurant here in SC, but it may be different in your area.

[MalcolmAmos]

Get with a local agent and let them point you to the policy that is best for you. Forget about Internet stuff.

It's going to shock you, and only you can decide the best thing to do.

Good luck.

[Johnny Crab]

Remember that almost everything you are told, purchase in the form of insurance, and like about whatever you wind up with....WILL be CHANGED shortly. Also, there are "rules being developed" to put more details into the "law" that was put on us. Some of these seem to indicate that if any changes happened in your healthcare picture(co-pay, swapped companies, coverage changed) in the past few years....then you get railroaded into the new one-size-fits-all government program.

The above also includes folks who have had coverage at their place of employment for years.

Keep Your Health Plan Under Overhaul? Probably Not, Gov't Analysis Concludes
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnal...Concludes.aspx
Health-care rules may force some to change coverage, leaked document suggests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=moreheadlines

[CapnSev]

I keep an absolute bare-bones plan with a health saving account for about $65 a month. I've used it once.

They've tried to up the rates on me twice, and I'll I've done is threatened to leave, and they backed off.

[Thankful birds]

Originally Posted by Johnny Crab

Remember that almost everything you are told, purchase in the form of insurance, and like about whatever you wind up with....WILL be CHANGED shortly. Also, there are "rules being developed" to put more details into the "law" that was put on us. Some of these seem to indicate that if any changes happened in your healthcare picture(co-pay, swapped companies, coverage changed) in the past few years....then you get railroaded into the new one-size-fits-all government program.

The above also includes folks who have had coverage at their place of employment for years.

Keep Your Health Plan Under Overhaul? Probably Not, Gov't Analysis Concludes
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnal...Concludes.aspx
Health-care rules may force some to change coverage, leaked document suggests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...=moreheadlines

Be very careful how you read "may affect" stories, especially from the Washington Post. The reality is that the changes are largely based upon two areas- coverage exclusions and employer participation. With respect to exclusions, the bill prevents insurers from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions, as well as caps on coverage duration and limitations for covered illnesses.

From the employer side, it drastically increases employer participation; requires employers to cover dependents until age 26 (which is a different dependent age than an IRS defined dependent); and, requires some pretty extensive self-monitoring similar to preparing quarterlies for tax purposes. (In fact, accounting firms are lining up to provide these services to their existing customers). It also includes drastic penalties for failing to monitor, and for failing to provide coverage.

Fiscally, it includes increased taxes on capital gains as a funding mechanism; and, creates tax breaks for self-insureds as well as people who fall below a certain income level (who would ordinarily be eligible for medicare/medicaid programs).

The entirety of the program is built around purchasing from private insurers, except for those who already qualify for government health insurance programs like medicare and medicaid/access. There is no "one-size-fits-all government program." In fact, there never was. But, the provision that would have created government pools similar to PPOS and HMOs was stricken as a concession to obtain republican and moderate democrat votes necessary for passage.

With respect to the OP's issue, you are self insured, so most of the changes will not effect you, except for the expanded coverages you will receive. Malcolm's advice to seek a local agent is good advice. On a side note, I suggest you find an independent broker as opposed to a captive (such as a Humana agent, United Healthcare agent, etc.) Captive agents only carry the products of their insurer, which might not suit your needs. An independent broker has more products available. And, an independent makes their money from their clientele, not from referrals from the carrier for whom they sell. As a result, if you have coverage issues, an independent is more likely to go to bat for you with the carrier and has more leverage (i.e. an independent can threaten to change all their customers to a different carrier, a captive cannot).

[MtnGoat]

My personal view is that health insurance is high-priced medical care paid in advance that you may not use, i.e. a big rip-off.

I would suggest getting a policy with a huge deductible (~$20K) and pay for doctor's visits out of your pocket. If you're healthy, this will keep your monthly costs lower and represent the scenario that health insurance started in the first place: to help people pay for catastrophic medical bills that were unexpected.

Health insurance that costs many hundreds of dollars each month and allows one to pay little or nothing for routine visits seems absurd to me.

[Dirk Diggler]

If you haven't already joined a group like ASCAP, you can get all kinds of insurance through them. Myself I prefer to just roll the dice and keep my cash.
Good luck,
Dirk

[nsmar4211]

I have partial insurance left at work, covers up to 10,000 of bills at 80/20 for $20 a week, but 10k doesn't go very far. However, I kinda am leaning towards just setting aside my old premium amount into a savings account just in case and not bothering with the supplimental....

Capn, who do you have a policy through?

Billjr, define pricey? I mean are we talking $100 a month or $500?

I tend to get one or two illnesses a year that send me to the doctor ( I don't mess around once they move into my ears, and that seems to happen everytime I get a sinus infection). I did find a local new walkin clinic that has flat pricing, from $89-$189 depending on how many complaints you have....I'm thinking it might be cheaper to just go there if the extra insurance is too expensive.

And I totally forgot about the independant agents idea . I am not really happy with State Farm (no offense) as they wouldn't give us homeowners insurance based on a false claim by another companies rep, and wouldn't even listen to the truth. Bleh. Buttttt there's gotta be others......

[TheSuzie]

A lot depends on your age. My premiums shot through the roof when I hit 45. At that point I was on an individual plan. I ended up working a part time job just to have group insurance and giving them my whole check every week to pay the premiums.

If you are young and healthy, the higher deductible sort of plans that others have mentioned may be a decent bet.

Peace,
S

[billjr]

Billjr, define pricey? I mean are we talking $100 a month or $500?

I meant pricey as compared to other companies in our area. The premiums vary so much depending on the type of policy you pick, plus the people your covering, so it is worth getting a quote, but BC/BS beats their price almost every time around here, and by a pretty large margin in some cases.

I am not really happy with State Farm (no offense) as they wouldn't give us homeowners insurance based on a false claim by another companies rep, and wouldn't even listen to the truth. Bleh. Buttttt there's gotta be others......[/quote]

"Listen to the truth"? It seems that you should be mad at the other company that is actualy responsible for the "false" claim info. Do you blame GM because your Ford sucks?

[ric stave]

You can also check with your local Musician's Union and see what they may be able to set you up with. Some friends of mine have Health Care Insurance through the local here.

[nsmar4211]

billjr- thank for clearing up what you meant by pricey .
As to the other comments....the original insurance guy was looking for an excuse to drop us after the hurricane... State Farm was also trying to avoid insuring houses. The claim was of a vicious dog (false story, adjuster came onto property unannounced and she barked at him. Vicious is when they chase/bit). The company we have now listened to what really happened, looked at pics I have of her with baby animals climbing on her, and wrote us a policy. *that's* how you do business .

Oh, and my Ford truck is doing just fine.

Ric-we don't have many unions here outside of some gov't stuff, espically musicians unions. Think I'd rather stay out of the union stuff anyway . Would be an idea if this area had em more.

TheSuzie-thanks for bringing up the age thing.....gonna have to ask about that when I look around!

[JohnMCA72]

If you're in Austin:

http://www.healthallianceforaustinmusicians.org/