anybody have individual health insurance?

[katwoman]

Oh, back on topic....I have individual insurance through BCBS. $225/mn. with a $2500 deductible but 100% coverage after that. Includes wellness which covers mamograms and pap tests.

After reading a thread on FW about the "death spiral" I called my broker to discuss newer options. He agreed that now would be a good time to sign up for a new policy with BCBS for the new policy discount and especially since I'll be turning 45 in Nov which is when BCBS raises its rates. Doing this will shave off a little money each month over my present rate.

Point is you have to stay on top of this stuff even if you are happy with your provider.

Here's the FW link to the thread:

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/52/650193

[kristinecfp]

Those of you have individual policies - are any of you using health savings accounts?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Well, I have never been sick or been to a doctor (except twice) so if I can hang on 3 more years i should be ok.

Being a physician, you can imagine the stories I can tell on this topic. Just from a personal note, my 42 yo wife was in perfect health until September 12 this year when she suddenly developed severe abdominal pain. It turned out to be her gallbladder which was subsequently removed on September 15. WITH insurance, our bill was $4,300. After some review and negotiating, we got it down to $2,100 and consider ourselves lucky. Without insurance, the bill would have topped $25,000.

I'm wishing you all the best, but I have so many patients who came to the doctor for the first time in many, many years thinking they were fine only for me to discover something serious like high blood pressure, diabetes, or worse. I certainly wouldn't want to see anyone, particularly a more mature individual, going without health insurance.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by katwoman

Every time you post about not having any health insurance my heart jumps!

Me too! I keep thinking what about mammograms, pap tests, cancer screenings, blood pressure screenings, cholesterol checks?

Many of the basic screenings really aren't that expensive, and many doctors will discount the price if you pay cash at the time of service.

You've got a lot to offer, Ima--take care of yourself!

[saver25]

At the very least you will want to have health insurance if, God forbid, something major happens - like a surgery or worse to the tune of 6 figures or more. Sounds doom and gloom but with health care costs the way they are and not getting any better anytime soon it pays to be careful.

Choose a health insurance plan from a reputable nationwide company and be very careful about getting mixed up with an association or other fly by night company (Hint: just google "discount health plan warning" or search ripoffreport.com for NASE [National Association for the Self Employed] or the Mega Life Insurance Company to get an idea of companies to avoid).

If you are self employed then a good article to read is Self Employed Health Insurance - What You Need to Know Before You Make the Jump