Medical insurance

[WheelingIt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wanabee FTer You are lucky you are young enough and in good enough health to qualify for this type of coverage. Due to pre existing health problems we are stuck for now with Cobra. Just last month had a major increase in premiums and also a major decrease in benefits, and we have not had a major claim in over 10 years. Insurance companies 1 (won), consumers 0.

Sorry about that. If you have a pre-existing condition your best bet may be one of the high risk pools. Most States offer them. They may not be as cheap as the high deductible but they sure should beat Cobra.

High risk pools
http://www.naschip.org/states_pools.htm

[Abnmarine]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Romeo Golf works... Fishing could work also. Golf can be found everywhere in abundance. Even the little towns have golf courses.

I've tried it a few years back but it felt very awkward to me. I'm sure lessons would help.

I'll keep busy doing something I'm sure as I'm not one to just do nothing. I will however slow down some. No need to be in a hurry.

[heyaim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WheelingIt Consider getting a high deductible "catastrophic" insurance. We pay $150/mo for both of us combined with a $10,000 deductible. We pay all regular health items/checks/visits ourselves but have the insurance in case something really bad happens. One really serious medical incident could wipe you out financially so it's really worth getting the coverage. You can check rates online at ehealthinsurance.com.

We had this type of insurance thru DH's work. We paid almost $600/mo for it. Yeah, it would be great if we had a serious medical emergency. But it stinks having to pay those high insurance rates the Dr. charges until we meet the deductible.

Last year with the insurance, my boy had an ingrown toe nail. Cost me $800 out of pocket to have it fixed. This year with no insurance, my daughter has the same problem. Just cost me $300 to have it fixed. That's crazy to me...a $500 difference with no insurance.

[WheelingIt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyaim We had this type of insurance thru DH's work. We paid almost $600/mo for it. Yeah, it would be great if we had a serious medical emergency. But it stinks having to pay those high insurance rates the Dr. charges until we meet the deductible. Last year with the insurance, my boy had an ingrown toe nail. Cost me $800 out of pocket to have it fixed. This year with no insurance, my daughter has the same problem. Just cost me $300 to have it fixed. That's crazy to me...a $500 difference with no insurance.

I know what you mean. Back when we had insurance thro work we actually paid several times more than what we pay now. (My personal cost was ~$400/mo thro my old work compared with $150/mo for our current combined insurance!).

Also I've found exactly the same thing on medical costs. If we're handling smaller stuff (i.e. anything below the deductable). I actually tell the doc we're paying out of pocket and discuss price. We've always gotten a cheaper rate, usually significantly so. It's a savings for the hospital when they don't have to deal with the insurance company (and I always remind them of that). Our insurance is purely there to handle a major event.

The system is a pain, but there are ways to work it.

[Billieg]

Had surgery in 2005 with no insurance. The bills came to $22,000. I paid all of them off but one. The hospital called wanting the last payment of $1,800. I told them I didn't have insurance and couldn't afford to pay it at that time. the gal said "well, if you give us $500 we will call it even"! I asked if that could have been done with the rest of the bills I paid full price on and she said "sure". So always ask for a lower amount and stall them until they give you one. I have insurance now $700 a month but the DW can't get any because of a mini stroke a few years back.

[Romeo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnmarine I've tried it a few years back but it felt very awkward to me. I'm sure lessons would help.

For someone that has never played golf, I strongly recommend lessions. Lessions are great to get the basics of the golf swing (to get started correctly), and will introduce one to golf etiquette. My wife and I started out with group lessions,which was much cheaper than private lessions, and gave us a good start. Occasionally, we will take a private lession when we need a tune-up.

Golf will keep you moving and hopefully more limber (so you won't need to use as much insurance). As you may know, it's a game that can be played well into old age.

Give it a try, you may turn out to be obsessed with it like me...

[mrschwarz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WheelingIt Sorry about that. If you have a pre-existing condition your best bet may be one of the high risk pools. Most States offer them. They may not be as cheap as the high deductible but they sure should beat Cobra. High risk pools States That Have Risk Pools

Actually, I am in the same boat. In Texas, the only way to qualify for the risk pool without any pre-existing condition exclusion is to exhaust COBRA benefits. Fortunately for me, COBRA is cheaper than the risk pool. After 18 months of COBRA, I'll only need to be in the risk pool for 6 months before the pre-existing condition exclusions become illegal. After that, it's a year before Medicare.

Since we will be fulltiming next year, we can pick any state we want for a domicile. It looks like the best place to be from is Waco, TX.