Health insurance question

[Robert_in_NY]

Hi, here is my question, I need health insurance but have no ideas where to start or who to talk to so I was hoping to get some help from you guys. A little background info,

I am 25 and am engaged to a beautiful young woman named Erin who has a son and we have another child on the way. I can not get insurance thru my work so I have to look for it. Does anyone have any ideas or websites for me to consider? Thanks

 

[Mark_in_NH]

Although I don't really know of a good place to start looking, I do know that your going to need really DEEP pockets. The last time I looked into health insurance they wanted around $800 a month.

 

[Von]

Robert, look into some of the state run programs for health insurance. I am selfemployed and get mine thru them. It's called Valu-med thru Bluecross/Blueshield. Cost is only about $60 a month. You have to pay for the doctors visits, but it covers the major stuff! I'm sure if you do a search under health insurance in NY you will find it.

 

[BillyP]

Have you considered changing employers? Buying health insurance on your own is very expensive and 'usually' not near as good as you could get through an employer.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I work with my father in our construction company so changing jobs is not too easy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I will check on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield as well as searching for more info in NY so thanks for that Idea Von.

 

[Docsknotinn]

You might call your family physician first or the local hospital you prefer to verify what insurances they accept before you start to shop. You might be able to keep your costs down by just purchaseing major medical.

 

[thcri]

Robert,

You're still pretty young and you should not be expensive yet until you put your wife and children on it. I guess I don't understand why you can't get it through work unless you work for a small enough company that they get by without providing it. Here in Minnesota business's have to have a provider for you. A lot of business' though if they have it available they are pulling back the amount that they contribute to it. Our company has raised the deductible to help off set the increases we have been hit with in the last two years. Our health insurance has gone up per person over 38%. It is just sky rocketing. The Mayo Clinic even is changing their programs to cut back on the increases.

Call around and look in the State programs that are available to you. I know someone else mentioned changing jobs, and I know a lot of people that did that exactly, they even took cuts in pay to find an employer that provides and helps pay for insurance.

Best of luck to you

murph

 

[MossRoad]

Another way to lower your insurance cost is to take a higher deductible. You'd be amazed at the difference between $250.00 detuctables and $2000.00 deductables. It's worth looking into if you and your family are in reasonably good health. Our first child had chronic ear problems, so it cost us for 3 years, but the last 8 years, even with a second child, we've come out way ahead. As long as you are able to keep $2000.00 on hand for medical emergencies, it isn't too bad.

 

[JJT]

Check out your local chamber of commerce. Last I knew that was an easy way for a bunch of small businesses to pool their head count to qualify for a plan that none of them could have swung on their own.

 

[DocHeb]

Try contacting your Small Business Association for your state.

 

[kevincook]

A lot depends on your income.

Check here: HealthyNY

They have links to the other state programs also.

Your local Chamber of Commerce probably has some pretty good plans also.

Good Luck

 

[DAVELR]

Check with your local Farm Bureau agent. You can get Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield thru them here in Virginia.

 

[Briarwood]

Check with your local general lines insurance agent first. Yes, the one that insures your car and home. Better yet who insures the equipment for your business? Most general agents have a source for health insurance or can point you in the right direction. How does your father obtain his health insurance? Have him look into a small group policy that could include you and eventually your family. There may be some tax advantages expensing the cost of health insurance through the business. Check with your local farm bureau. In some states the farm bureau has its own insurance lines and agents and in other states the bureau is connected with other insurance companies such as Nationwide to provide health insurance. There are many options and alternatives with healh care policies and you need a good agent to help you sort them out. The suggestion to check with your local chamber of commerce is a good one. Lots of luck finding coverage. Don't expect it to be cheap.

 

[cowboydoc]

If you're self-employed I would look into MSA's, medical savings accounts. They are a great tax break and a way to earn tax free income.

 

[cowboydoc]

Buying health insurance on your own is very expensive and 'usually' not near as good as you could get through an employer.

Actually it's more expensive. The only reason it's cheaper than on your own is because the employer pays it. With a group policy you can't be denied for prior medical, usually. And everyone in the company is covered regardless of age. If you are young and healthy you pay the same as the 60 year old.

That's part of the problem with company cutbacks and sending jobs overseas. It's not just the salary packages but more the benefit packages. Between retirement, health insurance, social security, medicare, workers comp, etc. etc. a persons benefits can add up to more than their salary. In alot of the talks on here that hasn't been mentioned as a reason jobs are heading overseas but alot of the company managers I talk to have said it's a big part of the reason. They just simply cannot afford all the benefits.

 

[MossRoad]

Doc,
I agree. Our company has insurance seminars every year or two(depending on how often we change policy administrators /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif ) and they show us how much they pay for our coverage and how much we pay. It is an incredible amount of money per employee. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif