Private Health Insurance

[KooLaid]

Can anyone sugguest an affordable good health insurance company? It's just me and my 18 month old daughter. My coverage ends in about a week because I'm separating from the Air Force after 4 years. We're moving back to california and so I'll be unemployed for a SHORT period of time while I wait for call backs from some corporations I've put resumes into. I can't afford to NOT have my daughter covered during this period of time. I did web searches but I don't know what's legit and what's not. I'll be paying out of pocket and would like that $5-$30 hospitol visits, $3-$5 prescription plan type of thing. Anybody out there paying out of pocket for medical insurance????

 

[cmarsh90]

Check into Assurant health. I've also heard blue cross/blue shield has good individual plans.

Only way to make individual plans affordable is to have a very high deductible.

 

[fkong777]

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

check with your employer. you should be able to continue your current coverage for a period of time.. It is available to you by law.

 

[redat9]

Costco has cheap health insurance. www.costco.com

 

[KooLaid]

http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

check with your employer. you should be able to continue your current coverage for a period of time.. It is available to you by law.

Does this apply to military separating completely? I called them up and they said they offered a continuation but it was to reservists only...... the weekend warrior type...

 

[Hrant]

Given you are in central Cali, presumably close to Fresno?, I would recommend Kaiser becuase they have excellent pediatric services. Like any HMO, you need to know how to play the ropes to get service but in recent years Kaiser has improved its customer service and scheduling dramatically; you can get same day appointments now. Their rates are reasonable.

The reference for continuation of coverage is to COBRA benefits. Check if the AF offers that transition.

 

[KooLaid]

I will be checking on that cobra today. Thank you.

I've heard that sometimes it's free for a certain period of time. Sometimes you gotta pay it all up front. Then sometimes it costs WAY WAY too much.

Yes, I'll be moving near fresno shortly. MY coverage runs out a week before my move and I don't want to be traveling that long of a distance with my 18 month old daughter w/o some sort of coverage.

 

[Hrant]

Unless COBRA rules have changed, it offers the same benefit coverage that you had with your employer for 18 months at the going rate. http://www.medhealthinsurance.com/temporary.htm

Being in the military, your benefit package may have different provisions.

 

[Racerxjling]

I have Blue Cross of CA HMO...great service. Generic meds $10 and office copay $10. They have been excellent re the feedback/appeals process etc. My wife and I pay about $530/month..I'm 37 and she is 30 in Anaheim, CA

Good luck.

Jeff

 

[KooLaid]

Well COBRA wouldn't be the option for me since they've just advised me that it would cost somewhere in the area of $900/month for my daughter and I. I'll be looking into other options.

At $530/month I would assume it would include things like $10+ million lifetime, <$1000 out of pocket, and you'd pick up less than 10% of the bill??? That sounds a bit steep to me, but I've never had to pay out of pocket for health insurance either so I dunno...

 

[steveny]

plan 1. Wait until you get sick, commit a crime and get jailed = free health insurance.

plan 2. don't work, get free coverage through welfare. You could even afford 10-20 more kids this way if you want.


Plan 3, bust your ass, work really hard, pay for your own insurance and the insurance for plans 1 and 2.

 

[KooLaid]

plan 1. Wait until you get sick, commit a crime and get jailed = free health insurance.

plan 2. don't work, get free coverage through welfare. You could even afford 10-20 more kids this way if you want.


Plan 3, bust your ass, work really hard, pay for your own insurance and the insurance for plans 1 and 2.

Wow thanks for that very helpful piece of information....

 

[steveny]

Wow thanks for that very helpful piece of information....

No problem. It is the least I could do. I hope it makes you feel better knowing how many people you are helping when you pay 700 a month.
I could tell you all about my insurance carrier and how great the service is and how cheap the rates are but it would do you no good. They only insure people in NY.

 

[Hrant]

It is hard for me to comprehend how it can cost you $900/mo with COBRA for a child and one adult! Please explore that further with your HR or actual insurance carrier by asking that you would like to exercise the COBRA option.

Federal COBRA is a U.S. law that applies to employers and group health plans that cover 20 or more employees. It lets you keep your group health insurance when your job ends or your hours are cut. You have to pay the premium but you can keep your insurance for at least 18 months.


Premiums are based on acturial analyses though a group purchase is always cheaper because the risk of illness is spread out as more random. However in a small group where there are a few high risk (sick) patients premiums can be higher - using same benefit package. Having said this, BC has among the lowest medical loss ratio at 78.9%, and among the highest profit margins at 10%. That is, per dollar of premium it charges, it pays out only 79 cents. http://www.cmanet.org/publicdoc.cfm/2/1/presssection2/368

For health plans its size, a profit margin of 10% and administrative expenses of 11% is huge!

Health plans can achieve such medical loss ratios by (a) managing more aggresivley best practices; (b) have better gate keepers so members don't shop for specialists; (c) minimize out of network care; and (c) pay less to their providers given their market strength with 4.5M enrollees.

You may want to check with the State Department of Managed Health Care to make sure the plan you are choosing has not had too many complaints. Price is not always the best if the network is limited and your grievances get nowhere. This might be a hlepful resource for you: http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/dmhc_consumer/hp/hp_compare.asp

And for plan specific surveys, use this reference: http://www.dmhc.ca.gov/library/reports/med_survey/med_default.asp

HTH.

Edit: typos.

 

[TyraNSX]

http://www.nhic.com/

I have had them for the past 11 yrs. Paying $122/month with $10 mill lifetime limit. High deductible. See if they do business in your state & if so, have them put you in touch with a local agent.

 

[jimrockford]

my wife had to back to work PT just for insurance when i became disabled. She has heart problems and no insurance company will even talk to her when they hear that. We found that many companies offer full insurance to PT employees(unlike walmart). you can get health insurance at starbucks working only 20 hours a week.

 

[Russ]

No problem. It is the least I could do. I hope it makes you feel better knowing how many people you are helping when you pay 700 a month.
I could tell you all about my insurance carrier and how great the service is and how cheap the rates are but it would do you no good. They only insure people in NY.

Could you tell me?

 

[DocL]

Maybe you should call an insurance agent and have them find a good policy for you. Don't be suckered by the insurance policies that advertise for cheapo rates. It usually ends up costing you more because doctors and hospitals don't accept them, they are a big scam. I can't tell you how many times a month someone shows me an insurance card that says they can go to any dentist and have a cleaning for $15. Well, that's never going to happen in my office.

A few good companies are United Healthcare, Aetna, and BC/BS. Try to get on a PPO if you can afford it. Good luck, this type of shopping can be the most frustrating thing on the planet. :frown:

 

[steveny]

Could you tell me?

SSA $220 a month $25/co-pay