primitives discuss cheap health insurance

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=222x95668

Oh my.

leftyladyfrommo (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:24 AM
Original message
 
So much for cheaper health insurance.

I'm paying almost $500 a month just for me - with a $1500 deductible. Never had a claim so really feel like I am just paying $6000 a year for absolutely nothing.

I had a chance to apply for cheaper insurance thru another company. I was so excited. Premium would be $228 a month with a $5000 deductible. That' better for me in the long run. 100% coverage after the $5,000.

Then they called for the interview. I'm 62 with no medical conditions at all. But: they went back 5 years and about 4 year's ago I had gone for some treatment for anxiety - something I've fought all my life. I haven't been on any medication for at least 3 years.

Also, about 3 year's ago I had a spell where my blood pressure went up. I was on medication for a while and then stopped. I checked my blood pressure every day and it wasn't high any more. I still check it to be sure it's staying down. But I haven't taken medication for over 2 years.

But I don't have a perfect record of no prescriptions for 5 years. I think I'm going to get denied.

Man, I was so depressed. That $300 a month would have really helped me out. Just until I can get on medicare.

This system is just so bad. Actually, its just unbelievably bad. If someone like me can't get insurance then no one can.

dkf  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:29 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. Health insurance premiums are such a waste. 

Just imagine if all that was freed up to use in the economy.

Donnachaidh  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 10:29 AM
Response to Original message
 
2. wait a minute -- isn't the part of the law about refusing pre-existing conditions in effect?

How the hell could they deny you?

enlightenment  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 10:34 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
6. Only for children, not adults.

The high-risk pool is in effect for adults, but the OP wouldn't qualify for that because she has insurance - she'd have to prove 6 months or more without it after a denial to even begin to qualify.

Of course, there are plenty of strings attached to the high risk pools and the cost is still prohibitive for many. They're really designed for people who can afford to pay outrageous premiums, but can't get coverage at all because of pre-existing conditions.

Mumble (70 posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 10:33 AM
Response to Original message
 
3. I got a $10000 deductible..

..and pay $187/month. But I don't call it health insurance, I call it house insurance, because that's really what it is. I'm 63. I take high blood pressure meds. Otherwise, my premium would be 20% lower or $150/ month.

Uben  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:33 AM
Response to Original message
 
4. I envy you

I pay over $20K/yr in premiums alone for my wife and I. It has a $5K/yr deductible and 50% of the next $10K. That's $30K/yr out of pocket if I get sick. This is the result of my wife having cancer eight ****ing years ago! She has had no problems since her surgery and subsequent reconstruction, but the rates go up every chance they get.

Hell, $1000/mo would be a great savings for me! Can't get in high risk pool unless you are willing to risk bankruptcy by going six months without insurance. What ****ing genius thought that one up?

leftyladyfrommo (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:40 AM
Response to Reply #4
 
7. So hard to know what to do.

I'm perfectly healthy but I am also 62. I could get sick. Hospitalization runs about $1,000 an hour. I would be bankrupt in a day.

I only make about $20,000 a year pet sitting. $6,000 a year for insurance is a real bite. I always have to use some of my IRA to make up for it.

I still may not get denied but I really didn't like the tone of her voice.

It is just so humiliating. I wish I could just tell them all to get ****ed. And I just might. People used to just live until they died. That is really what we are heading back to. Maybe that is better than the humiliation.

Sucks to be average in this society. Help for the poor and the rich do whatever they want. And us in the middle get nothing.

Yeah, that's the natural order of things, the way it's supposed to be.

People live until they die.

bemildred  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 10:45 AM
Response to Reply #7
 
9. All you really have to do is live until you get Medicare.

Not that far away.

leftyladyfrommo (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:47 AM
Response to Reply #9
 
10. I know. But can I make it another 3 years with no health insurance?

I'm afraid to try it. But the insurance is just bleeding my savings dry.

bemildred  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 10:51 AM
Response to Reply #10
 
11. It's a gamble.

FWIW, I went 6 years with no insurance, but then my wife and I use very little medical care.

Medicare will cost you a hundred or two, even so, but the assholery associated with dealing with the whole issue is much reduced.

leftyladyfrommo (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:56 AM
Response to Reply #11
 
12. Right now I don't use hardly any healthcare.

But at my age that could change really fast. Seems like all my friends are having problems of one sort ot another. I'm the only one without problems. And I could remain really healthy for a long time. My mother lived to 94. Her sister is 95 and still going. My aunt on the other side is 90. The women in our family live a long time and have relatively few problems. But that is no guarantee.

bemildred  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 11:07 AM
Response to Reply #12
 
14. No, there is no guarantee.

leftyladyfrommo (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #14
 
15. There's no guarantee that I will live to tomorrow.

But chances are I will.

I just don't think I can risk no insurance at all. If I get denied maybe I could just try for a higher deductible so I could at least have catastrophic coverage.

bemildred  (1000+ posts)      Thu Nov-11-10 11:23 AM
Response to Reply #15
 
16. That could work, I did that for a couple years.

It's not that long until you are 65 anyway. Maybe you will feel better if you have "something".

It's also relevant to consider how uninsured and indigent patients are handled where you live, are there clinics you could use in a pinch? We had to do that a couple times.

And you have to consider what your insurance is protecting, if you have no assets, bankruptcy isn't such a big threat. OTOH if you are protecting your retirement money, then it can be a big deal. Potentially you have a long life ahead, and you want to be able to pay your way.

[Texacon]

Let me fix one of the posts made by a DUmmie;

dkf  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:29 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. Health insurance   Social Security taxes are such a waste. 

Just imagine if all that was freed up to use in the economy.

There DUmmies.  That is how it SHOULD read.

KC

[Celtic Rose]

I only make about $20,000 a year pet sitting. $6,000 a year for insurance is a real bite. I always have to use some of my IRA to make up for it.

Sounds to me like the first step would be to look for a new job.

[Texacon]

Uben  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:33 AM
Response to Original message
 
4. I envy you

I pay over $20K/yr in premiums alone for my wife and I. It has a $5K/yr deductible and 50% of the next $10K. That's $30K/yr out of pocket if I get sick. This is the result of my wife having cancer eight ****ing years ago! She has had no problems since her surgery and subsequent reconstruction, but the rates go up every chance they get.

Hell, $1000/mo would be a great savings for me! Can't get in high risk pool unless you are willing to risk bankruptcy by going six months without insurance. What ****ing genius thought that one up?

This DUmmie must have a pretty good job!  Congratulations DUmmie.

You shouldn't be sad because your taxes health insurance is so high ... you should be proud that you have a job that pays well enough to afford it!

KC

[thundley4]

Sounds to me like the first step would be to look for a new job.

That $20K/Yr is probably under the table and the DUmmie most likely doesn't pay taxes on it.

[true_blood]

dkf  (1000+ posts)        Thu Nov-11-10 10:29 AM
Response to Original message
1. Health insurance premiums are such a waste.  Just imagine if all that was freed up to use in the economy.

OH MY! This one here just solved our economic woes.