Self-employed and Insurance?

[Csara]

Does anyone else not have insurance through an employer? I know small-business owners can have insurance through their business, but is there anyone else out there who pays for individual insurance straight out of pocket? What type of coverage do you have? HMO or PPO? What is your deductible and how much do you pay (per month/year)? What about maternity coverage--do you have that? Dental? Vision?

Just curious b/c we have been paying for individual insurance for the past year and a half. We have a PPO through BCBS and it hasn't been that great. I can't get maternity coverage. It is nearly impossible to get that with individual insurance. If we switch to an HMO, I can probably get maternity, but there is a one year waiting period (or something like that) and the quotes for pricing haven't been that great.

I also have a pre-existing condition ryder (for my thryoid condition) that goes away after 2 years. So, in August my insurance should start paying for my endocrinologist visits. I've had to pay an enormous amount of money in medical bills this year. :rolleyes: Now if I switch to a new insurance policy, I think I'd have to start that 2 year waiting period over again for my thryoid. Ugh....it's so frustrating having to deal with individual insurance....and it's not cheap!!! :argh: Just wondering if anyone else deals with this too???

[yonksgirl]

NASE (www.NASE.org)

I belong to the national Association for the self enployed. I have benifits from them I pay $254.00 @ month for Ashley and I. That does not include if I would get PG if I would I think it is about 100.00 extra a month. My rep said to just call him if I get PG. My co-pay is $15 doc $25 spec. and no co pay if I go to the hospital if I am sick and $1000.00 deduct for surgery. Hope this helpd if you have any other questions give a yell.

[Csara]

very cool! Thanks!! I book marked it and will read it carefully later. :)

[yonksgirl]

Glad I could help!:D

[Tearianna]

Hey C! DH and I just signed up with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. With the maternity rider, it is 328 a month for the 2 of us. Without materniyt, it was only 230. That even covers extended dental and vision. And it isn't a HMO. We can go to any doctor or hospital. The only drawback is, we have to wait 6 months before the maternity rider goes into effect!!

[Mrs. July]

Originally posted by Tearianna
Hey C! DH and I just signed up with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. With the maternity rider, it is 328 a month for the 2 of us. Without materniyt, it was only 230. That even covers extended dental and vision. And it isn't a HMO. We can go to any doctor or hospital. The only drawback is, we have to wait 6 months before the maternity rider goes into effect!!


I had this same policy a couple of years ago and it wasn't worth a dime. I would receive bills for office visits and lab work months after the fact because BC/BS did everything possible to avoid paying up. Their Rx list was also lousy and they never sent out notices about changes to their policies, which they were making all the time.:mad: I finally dropped them after little more than a year because I was so fed up with having to fight them just to get the coverage I was paying for.:fmad:

[Csara]

Originally posted by Mrs. July
I would receive bills for office visits and lab work months after the fact because BC/BS did everything possible to avoid paying up. That is exactly what I'm dealing with!!! BCBS is refusing to pay for my "well-woman exam" although it is clearly stated in the policy that it's covered b/c I have a pre-existing thyroid condition. :confused: I don't see how that is related.

I have gotten so many bills for things that I thought were covered. The co-pays don't even exist. The best BCBS has done for me is taken a tiny percentage of one of my bills. :rolleyes:

[Tearianna]

Hmmm ... I wonder if it's too late to cancel our policy. And here I always thought BC/BS was one of the best agencies out there! Guess it's back to the drawing board for us.

[yonksgirl]

I have not had any problems with my plan they have been great I have a problem with my pap smears all the time and they have done nothing but try to help me.

[empty nester]

I took insurance for granted when my husband had a corporate advertising job and we had a wonderful HMO, with a $5.00 copay.

Now, he has his own business and I haven't even been for my pap or mamagram. I know that's dumb, but with start up costs, I feel like it is more optional. We have the lowest rates with the highest deductible.

[bostonblizz21]

i recently checked out some quotes at http://www.oneshopinsurance.com they have a couple of known companies here. they're like brokers so you get to choose which will best fit your need.