Does anyone NOT have Health Insurance?

[Tiggeroo]

Here in New Jersey there is a state plan that is very, very inexpensive. If your children are uninsured they are guaranteed get on I believe. You and your husband may be eligible also, on a sliding scale basis. You would be amazed at how much money you can make and still qualify for something like this. Call your local hospital and they can give you the name of this plan. It covers everything. Even if your dr's weren't on it, you could pay for visits and still have coverage for big emergencies. This year alone, my one son had two broken bones, and the other had stitches. Broken bones require multiple visits to the orthopedist. I found out I have early stage uterine cancer, requiring many biopsies at at least 1000. each. If I didn't have coverage the symptoms were so slight I know I would have ignored them and stalled. DH and I have been self-employed for years and walked an insurance tight rope. DH got pneumonia from neglecting a bad cold, and it required daily visits for intravenous therapy. Big $$$ which he refused to get. Do not hesitate to look into the state plan. They actually beg people to join so they can justify the funding they are putting into this program.

 

[annemariec]

I found some websites on health insurance that may be helpful. I was trying to find information on health insurance cooperatives. I'm not super familiar with them, I do remember being told they are structured so that people pool their resources to lower their premiums. Seems like most of what I've found was for small business owners. I thought I was told they are also for the unemployed. Don't hold me to it. But it may be something to look into.


http://cooperatives.ucdavis.edu/what/insurance.html
http://www.1plus1benefits.com/
https://www.etdbw.com/fh/stm/servlet/quote;jsessionid=0000YVD50MSJUT22OA3DBI22WZI:tu83a0u1

That's a terrible dilemna! I hope you can find a plan that is affordable and with adequate coverage.

Annemarie

 

[WDW2002]

I do not have health insurance for myself, both my kids are insured, through "Healthy Families". They are suppose to be adding parents to the program and I am keeping my fingers crossed until that time.


Everytime I see the cost of health insurance I look this

 

[clutter]

Then there is the portability problem. I don't remember all the details, but if you have insurance a new carrier (like at a new job) cannot deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions. Years ago, I was told by an insurer that cancer is considered a pre-existing condition during the first year. The presumption being that it was there, growing, whether you knew it or not.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My dd has the potential of open heart surgery (corrected heart defect TOF), DH & I just never know...and that would be well into the 100,000+ maybe more. Younger dd has other issues beginning.
If I was walking in your shoes I would have to work for insurance because that is not a risk we could afford to take.

Also I like my freedom of choice of who the doctor or hospital is.

Some of the suggestions were great. I hope some work out for you.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

Now that I think about it I've been uninsured for 3 years now.

Thankfully I haven't had any major medical issues. Last year I had a sinus infection & had to pay from my pocket to see a doc to get some meds, which cost me $70 for the visit & about $50 for the meds.

 

[Cindy B]

Ok, first look into what your state sponsors...


The state of PA has something for kids called CHIP. Its a no cost/or low cost option for children.

For families it is called Healthy Families or something like that, and it was for working families.

Two-three years ago the income cap was at $31, 32 K. Really, that is pretty generous. The base payment per month was at the most $150 or something like that.

Look into something like that. I helped my boss get it. (We both worked part time)

As for our family, yes we went without once, and did COBRA once.
WE are very very fortunate that our church sponsors/runs/ administers a clinic in North Philly. If anything had happened we could and would have gone there.

We have friends that are pediatricians, and looked at the kids for FREE, before we made this decision.

Yes the debt forgiveness for uninsured people is not as friendly as it could be.. I remember once getting a receipt for my tax return! (the hospital took it!)

 

[fkj2]

Is there any chance your dad could be eligile for coverage with Medicare, since he is diabetic? A lot of people somehow seem to get coverage, I suppose depending on their income but it would be worth checking into.

Glad DD stopped smoking but if your mom is still smoking in the house, your dad is still smoking (indirectly) too.

Best wishes. It's a tough position to be in and be so young.

 

[anniet]

Hi Everybody-

I work for a health insurance company. I would urge anyone who is not covered to get SOME sort of coverage right away. Not to make the insurance companies richer, but because part of my job is to answer phones for Non-group Insurance---people who are not insured by an employer and who are looking to purchase it on their own.

I cannot tell you how many people I have spoken to on the phone who have either been yelling at me in frustration or have been in absolute hysterical tears because they have gone a long time without insurance and now that they need it they must pay for it for 6 months before we cover anything other than emergency services. That doesn't help people with moles or lumps or any other number of problems that develop suddenly and need to be checked out right away, but are not considered "emergency care"(These are the NONGROUP guidelines in Massachusetts and each state is different)

Research your options, but please get covered by something!

p.s. Please don't flame me for my occupation. The health care system isn't perfect, but it's the best we have right now and I choose to work here because I really believe that the organization that employs me does strive to take care of it's members. If I didn't really feel that way, they couldn't pay me enough to work here.

 

[PrincessTori]

Thanks for the info fkj2. I believe they had checked into the temp SSI after his surgery which with that he would have gotten, I believe Medicaid, I could be wrong there. Anyways, they didn't qualify because they owned there home and had money in savings. They have a very small home that isn't worth close to what they owe and I know there savings isn't anything to huge either. Its a shame, especially when I see so many in that area that figure out how to work the system and get all this support just so they don't have to work. Thats a completely different rant though I believe that is what hurts it for everyone else.

Mom and Dad had stopped smoking in the house and their cars several years back, so thankfully thats not a issue for Dad. She goes outside away from him to do it, but I so wish she would stop as well. She tells me that she has cut back, but that just doesn't cut it with me. I keep working on her.

Thanks again!
Princesstori