Health Insurance

I have individual insurance, and it's horrible. I have no other option, though.

 

I am covered by the group insurance where hubby works, and also Tricare (military).

 

I voted no, but don't make too much of that. Compared with America, a relatively small proportion of the population of the UK have health insurance.

If I did have private health insurance, I would have to choose "Other", as we don't have Medicair, Medicaid, or a federal government, and COBRA here is an acronym for the government's emergency committee, which meets in Cabinet Office Briefing Room A.

 

I am with David above (not literally - just on this poll).

 

Being a pastor, I'm considered self employed when it comes to insurance. Having pre-existing conditions (diabetes) no one will insure me - or at least no one I can afford.

But, I do participate with Christian Healthcare Ministries (www.chministries.org). I would recommend them to anyone in my situation.

 

Being self employed, I have a hospital plan with a $5,000.00 deductible before it pays anything, it isn't a health plan. If I go to the Doctor, I pay. It is why I've talked to doctors and have worked out charges that I can afford or I think I can afford. I guess one could say I do health care as one buys a house or car, I try and work out a price a head of time that I can live with or think I can live with.

 

SBCPreacher, your link doensn't work. Just thought you'd like to know.

love,

Sopranette

 

I have a health plan with my employer that covers the whole family. My portion of the premiums is almost $500 a month. Our plan pays very well with small copays for most services, a slightly larger one for an ER visit, and a much larger one for an inpatient hospital stay. Since Jeanne is on Social Security Disability she also has Medicare.

Because of Jeanne's age and the fact that I am employed Medicare becomes a secondary payer for her. Medicare ends up covering all of Jeanne's copays.

Bill

 

Fixed link for Christian Helathcare Ministries (Sorry)

http://www.chministries.org/

 

No health insurance, don't want any. Even if it's free. Those health care companies are dirty rotten crooks :BangHead:

 

So what will happen when you have a major medical problem like I had last year and end up spending over a week in the hospital and having fairly major surgery? Can you afford a 25-30,000 dollar medical bill?

 

It depends upon the definition of "afford". We would not go into debt upon paying out that amount of money.
We own some land and our home, have a retirement account and some mutual funds. Honestly, I don't know where it would come from because my wife handles the finances.
Glad to hear your insurance company paid for your hospital stay, but I have heard their "cap" is around $25,000.00. If that's true, you better not get hurt for a while. Did they up your rates after the surgery?

 

Thanks for the info. We had medical insurance for years, but it was never used. Or rarely used. Only our son has a policy thru my wife's job. It's pretty inexpensive.

At our age, and with our lifestyle, our risk is mainly broken bones or some kind of an accident. Not diseases or illnesses.

We have a membership to CalStar Lifeflight helicopter-only $25 a year so if any of our family was lifeflighted to the hospital, it would be free. I would have used it last summer when I accidently slid down a dam, my fault because we ignored the no trespassing signs. Luckily, I climbed out with only a fractured pelvis. Total cost for x rays and Doc visits were only $450. I am more careful now because that was kinda scary and I am getting too old for that stuff. Can't see needing it if I play it safe when being active.

Xrays and Doctor vists aren't that expensive, especially when you see a Chiropractor and pay cash. Or even my regular MD who is a board certified surgeon and owns a great x ray machine. You really need to have some serious medical issues before the insurance becomes even close to worth it's weight IMHO.

Hemopathic Doctors, Chiropractors and optomologist aren't usually covered and those are whom I use most. My regular MD, who is also a board certified surgeon, has a great X ray machine and it's cheaper than the hospital.

I prefer to use the extra money to purchase healthier food such as organic, whole foods. Preventative measures to avoid needing it. If one is eating healthy and exercising, the risk is greatly lowered. By age 50 or so, we will probably consider a policy.
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Edited to fix an unfortunate spelling error.

 

Thank you, SBCPreacher. I did contact them, so see if they could help. I'll let you know when I hear back from them.

love,

Sopranette

 

No rates did not go up. And the "cap" is 5 million on most policies. My stay was pretty cheap actually. I don't think it is wise to go without health insurance particularly when it is as cheap as it is. High deductible policies are generally a good way to go.

 

Ever look into the NASE? I just got supermed relatively inexpensive through there compared to other individual plans

http://www.nase.org/

 

Um, Joe? I think you meant "slid down a dam..."