Are there any jobs out there that offer health insurance still or are they doing away

[PatMcDuck]

We are worried about this issue, too. DH is retiring at 55 next month (he HAS to, there is almost no work for union carpenters in NJ), and we will lose his insurance after a year.... I might be able to get limited benefits from my PT job, and if DH picks up a PT job, maybe he can too. But DD in college will have nothing. And she has had major health issues for the last 5 years. I guess the college has some sort of coverage, in the past we always declined it.

So for ages 56-62 we will be somewhat in a pickle. I think we can sort of COBRA the coverage we have, but it is expensive, of course. He could start another mini career, and try to get us coverage, but that will be tough in this economy at age 55.

 

[disprincessatheart]

I had great benefits at a fortune 100 company, until I got laid off in 2010. I have interviewed with 6 different companies since then, from 100 to 75,000 employees, and all had decent health care offerings. Right now we have insurance thru my dh's job - a mid sized grocery chain. The insurance is good, but more expensive than what I had. I think it costs us about $500 a month for the three of us, office visits are $20, specialists $40, urgent care $50, er $200. It has gone up quite a bit in the last few years since we got married (dh had it before) and they require us to do annual health assessments. Next year if you are overweight, smoke or have other risk factors, you pay more. A lot more... Oh, and if I had a job with benefits available then I wouldn't even be eligible for their insurance.

 

[ICF]

My wife and I both work for large national companies and both have heath ins. We part something every check for it but they cover the bulk of the cost.

All of my family members have it as well through their jobs.

I think most large companies do offer it, although you might have to foot part of the bill.

 

[PatriciaH]

We moved from FL back to MA for health insurance! We did not want to but the benefits were too good to turn down. A friend told DH about the job and they wanted him. They pay 100% and it is great coverage. Medical (BCBS,) dental and vision. They are a small company but always get great write ups for the benefits they offer. 100% paid benefits for full time ($15 office visit/$100 ER/$10 prescription/fitness benefit of $600/year because they match BCBS,) 100% match on 401K, pension, good vacation policy, quarterly bonus, disability insurance, life insurance, etc.

DH and I did not think any place was left that had benefits like this unless you are a CEO of a F. 500 We miss FL but had to move for the benefits. Disney has good benefits too but to get a good paying salaried job there is so hard. We tried for 5+ years but were always contract, temp. Budgets would be cut or moved around. Someone else would take a position/budget for their friend, etc.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Most hospitals offer insurance. I pay about 22.00 a week for mine.

 

[tar heel]

We are worried about this issue, too. DH is retiring at 55 next month (he HAS to, there is almost no work for union carpenters in NJ), and we will lose his insurance after a year.... I might be able to get limited benefits from my PT job, and if DH picks up a PT job, maybe he can too. But DD in college will have nothing. And she has had major health issues for the last 5 years. I guess the college has some sort of coverage, in the past we always declined it.

So for ages 56-62 we will be somewhat in a pickle. I think we can sort of COBRA the coverage we have, but it is expensive, of course. He could start another mini career, and try to get us coverage, but that will be tough in this economy at age 55.

I hope you're not thinking of Medicare at age 62 b/c it doesn't start until age 65.

 

[YvetteW]

Hi,
I have been on the internet looking for work for a couple of months and I have run across a few good sites that offer full time jobs with full benefits. I was just recently on Apollo Groups website. They have jobs in several locations around the US. As I continue my search I will keep others posted on my findings and hopefully we will all benefit.

 

[eyes4eeyore]

Hi,
I have been on the internet looking for work for a couple of months and I have run across a few good sites that offer full time jobs with full benefits. I was just recently on Apollo Groups website. They have jobs in several locations around the US. As I continue my search I will keep others posted on my findings and hopefully we will all benefit.

Apollo Group? Full time jobs WITH full time benefits? Several locations around the U.S.??? They have a website too??? Yes, please keep us posted and thanks for sharing this info on your first post. Very sweet!

 

[BubMunkeyBles]

Even military are suffering. We don't get our kids covered through college, that costs extra. And once you retired if you have a child with a disability they no longer qualify for disability services. Copays for medications are going up, and if you chose to get meds at the base the wait is long and painful.

If your kid is still in school they are still covered. Almost all insurance costs money so I don't think its a bad deal to at least have the option of covering your 24 or 25 year old. Meds are FREE on base, worth the wait for most people. It's a good enough deal for us that DH won't be getting out anytime soon.

 

[klacey1]

I work for a large media company and zero is taken out of my paycheck for health insurance. This is for dental/medical (can elect for vision, too-- covered 100% as well-- but I don't need it). My regular dr visits have a $15 copay and any specialists are $25. Prescription coverage is excellent. I am very, very fortunate.
My other benefits (401K matching, vacation time, disbility, etc.) are great as well.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I hope you're not thinking of Medicare at age 62 b/c it doesn't start until age 65.

Oh geez, good point. Glad you pointed that out! We will be paying $700/month for health insurance for 8-9 years then. That will be the same plan as we have now (excellent PPO Horizon plan). Obama rules do not apply to retirees, but DD can stay on until age 23 if a FT student, we were told. It seems like so much to pay, but I think that is a fair rate compared to what we could buy in the open market ourselves.

 

[disneykittin]

Some of the major airlines have fully paid health insurance for their employees still. (Of course you do still have reasonable co-pays and the like..)

 

[Tink2Day]

Like another poster said, the great health benefits are in state/fed/municipal jobs that are paid by taxpayers, along with a strong union that protects the workers regardless of whether the workplace has any money. I worked in a place like that (as a benefitless part-timer) and the full-timers used every ounce of that cadalliac insurance to the max (I never met so many people with so many specialist for every body part). I was just let go (along with 5 others) so the workplace could continue to pay the cadalliac benefits to the full-timers.

So that's where the best insurance is - in jobs where the taxpayer pays for it.

Not true AT ALL. My relative is a Fed employee for 25 years, her insurance for herself and her husband is VERY expensive and the ins company they had been with for years was raising it by $200. She had to switch companies and believe she said she still pays around 500-700 per month.
My employer (now in health care after being an educator) pays 100% for all employees and all family members. It's a tradeoff though because it's a constant struggle and we lack other benefits.
Also the teachers in my state just had a second increase in their insurance premiums and another decrease in their retirement benefits as well as a lot of forced retirement.
I'm sorry you lost your job, it's happening everywhere in every industry. I do believe your bitterness over that seems to be coloring your opinion and it is really inaccurate.
I hope you get another position quickly be sure not to allow negativity to show through!
Good luck!

 

[The Iron Giant]

Like another poster said, the great health benefits are in state/fed/municipal jobs that are paid by taxpayers, along with a strong union that protects the workers regardless of whether the workplace has any money. I worked in a place like that (as a benefitless part-timer) and the full-timers used every ounce of that cadalliac insurance to the max (I never met so many people with so many specialist for every body part). I was just let go (along with 5 others) so the workplace could continue to pay the cadalliac benefits to the full-timers.

So that's where the best insurance is - in jobs where the taxpayer pays for it.

You haven't been paying attention if you live in NJ.

I'm a municipal employee and I pay 33% of the premium as required by state law.

That's almost $600 per month. I realize many people pay more for insurance, but please don't spread misinformation and throw words around like "Cadillac benefits" when you don't really know what you are talking about.

 

[jodifla]

Our employer still offers health benefits, although they cost more each year. It's a pretty good package overall.

 

[lucigo]

If your kid is still in school they are still covered. Almost all insurance costs money so I don't think its a bad deal to at least have the option of covering your 24 or 25 year old. Meds are FREE on base, worth the wait for most people. It's a good enough deal for us that DH won't be getting out anytime soon.

Tricare is not an insurance its a benefit. Therefore they are exempt from having to cover the kids until they are out of college. They are offering a "young adult" benefit where the kids can pay around $200 a month PER KID for coverage. Not the same as having them included for no extra charge.

I agree that the meds are worth the wait, but they have made so many changes that now you have to wait in a line for 30 min, then get a number and wait another hour with a bunch of sick people for the meds. Try to do that with a child with autism.

 

[JennyKS]

I work for a medium sized office (have an office in Michigan and an office in Kansas). This year they did something new. If you met certain health requirements and do not smoke single insurance was free. You would pay 29 bucks for the rest of your family. $29 bucks a paycheck, we get paid twice a month. If you do not meet the health requirements its only $59 bucks a paycheck. But our doctor visits are $40. Fortunately its just me and my daughter and we work pretty hard at staying healthy and out of the doctors office.

 

[girli565]

I'm a teacher in Miami-Dade county. We have a no cost healthcare option and a $67 per pay period upgrade. It's just me, no kids, and my husband has his own health ins with his job as an ER Technician at the hospital. So I go with the no cost option. It's not great but I can't complain because I don't pay for it.

Who knows how long the no cost option will last because the district has been fighting it tooth and nail. Our union is pretty good but at some point that will change.

when we have kids they'll go on my husband's policy because mine sucks; high family deductible, high copays. My hubby's ins is very good and not too expensive for adding dependents.

 

[SC Minnie]

Our employer still offers health benefits, although they cost more each year. It's a pretty good package overall.

Mine does too. We used to have a $200 deductible and now its $1000. I could pay a higher premium for a $500 but its not worth it. For family coverage I pay ~$300/month for health, vision, and dental coverage. For an additional $10/month I could add orthodontic.

DH's company offers a HSA but the plan where I work is better so he doesn't use theirs.

 

[bedogged]

We are worried about this issue, too. DH is retiring at 55 next month (he HAS to, there is almost no work for union carpenters in NJ), and we will lose his insurance after a year.... I might be able to get limited benefits from my PT job, and if DH picks up a PT job, maybe he can too. But DD in college will have nothing. And she has had major health issues for the last 5 years. I guess the college has some sort of coverage, in the past we always declined it.

So for ages 56-62 we will be somewhat in a pickle. I think we can sort of COBRA the coverage we have, but it is expensive, of course. He could start another mini career, and try to get us coverage, but that will be tough in this economy at age 55.

I feel your pain! My husband is almost 62 and would like to take early retirement, however, our excellent HMO plan that we have had for over 36 years will not accept me as a member because of a pre-existing condition. The only thing I could get is high risk health insurance at a very high price. The company is dragging their feet about giving us COBRA, also very, very high, saying we can only get COBRA on a different brand of insurance. We are on hold at the moment.

I would like to say a few words about Obama's health care. Thank God that young adults up to the age of 27 can get health insurance through their parent's health plans. How many young adults have been forced to take jobs that do not offer health insurance? Insurance rates were out of control before Obama. They will be out of control after him as well. I am tired of the blame game.

One part of his plan will help people in our situation, unless the law is changed, in 2014 insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Right now, they cannot deny CHILDREN with pre-existing conditions. Have some heart people. How would you like to have had a child with a life threatening illness and been denied insurance for them?