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March 15, 2005

You Can't Afford to Not Have Health Insurance

I know it's tempting when you are YF&B to not pay for health insurance if you aren't covered by your boss, or are currently looking for work. You figure you're young and fabulous so you'll take your chances on staying healthy.

Come on, that's way too dangerous a game to play, and with the insane cost of medical care, if you even come down with the most basic malady you could be up a financial creek. So please make sure you have health insurance. If you are still in school and on a school plan, check to see what sort of coverage is available after you graduate. Or if you are covered by Mom & Dad see how long you're eligible to stay on that policy. And then head on over to ehealthinsurance.com and do some easy shopping on your own. If you anticipate you will get coverage through a job within the next 6 months to a year, check out the short-term plans that are available.

I think you'll be surprised to see that for just $50 or so a month you can get a solid health insurance plan to cover you in the event of some serious medical bills. One important tip: always ask what the "financial strength rating" is for an insurer. You want to do business with a company that is rated at least A, AA or even best: AAA. That means the company is on solid financial ground and will be in good shape to handle the claims of those it insures.

March 15, 2005 in Career Moves, Love and Money, Save UP |

Comments

Jon

I used to work at ehealthinsurance.com! They really are a great company and easy to use even if you know nothing about health insurance.

Suze is right about always having health insurance coverage! One accident and that broken leg could turn into a $30,000+ medical bill instantly! I can't stress it enough... ALWAYS HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE!

~jon

Posted by: Jon | March 16, 2005 at 09:20 AM

Doris

I agree with Suze... you definitely need to have health insurance! Yet another thing that prompted me to 'step up' my job search.

Posted by: Doris | March 16, 2005 at 09:37 AM

Jennie

I agree about the entire Health Insurance however, I have had some major health insurance issues and cannot get health insurance on my own.

Now, I am not in that boat because I do have health insurance through my work but, what about if you can't get it. I am asking the question because, I know someone out there is in the same boat and not asking.

Thanks
Jen

Posted by: Jennie | March 17, 2005 at 07:29 PM

Seth

I've got health insurance through my company (yay for the prescription plan they just added!), but I can't decide whether it's worth it to shell out the money for dental insurance. I mean, it's what, $100 for a cleaning? Any advice, Suze?

Posted by: Seth | March 22, 2005 at 07:00 PM

Kisha

HI Jon can you or someone else tell me where in ehealthinsurance you can get a premium for less than $200/month. I have searched and I dont see anything less. I am a college educated temp (where did I GO wrong) who can't afford to pay too much money per month in insurance plus eat every day. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Posted by: Kisha | March 24, 2005 at 07:02 PM

Stacy

Curious though, will it cover you in and out of your state of residence? Has anyone here been a customer and had any experience with this company to share?
Stacy
http://ourmoneyourfuture.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Stacy | March 27, 2005 at 09:16 AM

big V

Seth (for cheap health insurance)
check this site out--it's Fortis short-term, now called Assurant. very cheap, and it is my understanding that as long as you don't submit a claim, you can renew (but read the fine print on that one). i've used it multiple times between jobs.

https://www.etdbw.com/fh/stm/servlet/productselection;jsessionid=0000ME3DIJ3F04AAC3CZ1DMXBXQ:tu7k111r

Posted by: big V | April 11, 2005 at 06:11 PM

JVR

Seth, take a look at this one:

http://www.clearblueinsurance.com

I friend of mine suggested them, really easy application process, great site, 3 insurance cos to choose from.

Good luck.

Posted by: JVR | May 06, 2005 at 01:22 PM

Jessica

Heya Jennie - I think it's always worth it to have dental insurance... Sometimes things pop up that you don't anticipate--cavities, root canals, etc. These cost MUCH more than the dental insurance, which would usually help cover part of the costs. Nothing hurts more than having to have a root canal and shell out over a grand out of pocket to have it done.

Posted by: Jessica | May 14, 2005 at 07:03 AM

Tuan

Major medical is very necessary. I'm not sure about insurance for small things like doctor's visit because some doctors and dentists give discounts for people who don't have insurance. So it ends up being about the same out of pocket expense, with premiums factored in, whether or not you have insurance. Although I think if you go to the doctor a lot, then the insurance with copay is the better option.

Posted by: Tuan | June 06, 2005 at 02:59 PM

SuzeFan

I used to have health insurance through my job. My company downsized. I lost my job went on COBRA. My monthly rates shot up to $400.00 a month.

I never really used my insurance while I was employed. However, when I finally did go to the doctor, I would get notices from my doctors billing service, stating my insurer had NOT paid for "covered services" and would I contact them to "REMIND THEM" to send payment. This occurred month after month. I paid my insurance provider on time, why the hell wouldn't they pay my doctor in a timely manner, when they were quick to cash my checks?

The services in question were covered according to their rules. I wondered why I had to call them at LEAST once a month to have them fix this. In some cases it wasn't fixed. Then I would have to call again the following month. I always spoke to a different person. They ALWAYS wanted my complete information. How the hell am I supposed to avoid I.D. theft when this is happening? THIS WAS MAKING ME SICK.

My doctor warned me that some insurers who are going out of business, will keep collecting payments from the insured, while neglecting to pay the doctor. I believe the health/insurance industry is running a HUGE racket. I guess its more profitable for them to wait for their clients to die of stress, rather than follow their own guidelines.

I am presently uninsured. My wonderful doctor gives me a significant discount for paying at the time of service. He said it makes billing a heck of a lot easier. He said it typically takes three months to be reimbursed from the insurers.

I am also holding off on purchasing new insurance because I have a beef about the way medical providers put my S.S. number on EVERYTHING. I had to have an ultrasound at another office (I had never been to).

I gave the woman my sheet and told her to send any information to my P.O. Box, not my street address. The stupid "itch" looked up my records and PURPOSELY sent it to my old address ANYWAY. An old neighbor called to tell me I had mail there. I wished I had gone to the office and smacked this idiot for deliberately exposing me to I.D. theft, after I made it excrusiatingly clear what address it SHOULD have gone to.

Because of this casual treatment of my identity, I will be using a fake name and S.S. number for any future medical services. It doesn't matter what you tell people. They don't listen. If they don't like you, they can play with your life. I'm done having my good name and information be abused by irresponsible, indifferent office staff.

I am also concerned about the rash of identity thefts in every headline of every newspaper. I have no interest in making my S.S. number available to all the insurers that would require this to sign up for a new policy. At some point, I WILL buy a catastrophic policy. But only after Congress passes a law requiring insurers to come up with an alternative to an I.D. OTHER than my S.S. number.

Its a shame I have to risk my life to keep my personal information safeguarded. So be it. I'd rather be dead than reward them for doing NOTHING.

Posted by: SuzeFan | June 26, 2005 at 09:11 AM

J

While I agree that health insurance is important, the rates in New Jersey are ridiculous and none of the cheaper insurance companies make themselves available in some of the states with high rates such as New Jersey. If health insurance was about $50 dollars as Suze said, it would be a different story but in NJ, most individual health insurance, if you want a decent one, is a couple of hundred dollars (and according to ehealthinsurance) and NO short term insurances is available. So that really sucks for people who cannot afford insurance but in some states, it's not a matter of putting up abou5 $50 a month, it's hundreds, and it really is not possible for some of us.

I know this post is a couple of months behind all the other posts, but I just really wanted to put my 2 cents in. Thanks for reading.

Posted by: J | November 12, 2005 at 06:18 PM

Arik

I know someone out there is in the same boat and not asking.

Posted by: Arik | January 22, 2006 at 08:08 AM

Jeni

I know I can't afford not to take a health insuarance but the fact is that I'm not getting a quality health security provider with minimum premium. I'm still young and I hope I can meet an agent in next few years.

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