Two Plus Two Newer Archives  

Go Back   Two Plus Two Newer Archives > 2+2 Communities > Other Other Topics

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 11-30-2007, 03:27 AM
avidlearner avidlearner is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 27
Default Require health insurance assistance

Not sure what to do. Been without insurance for a while now, but i know I need to get it eventually. One potential problem is I have chronic pre-existing condition. One thats not immediately dangerous, but will definitely require medical attention at some point. I play poker for a living, and make enough money where getting a real job just for insurance doesn't make much sense. I also don't want a real job, I love what i do.

Anybody in the health insurance field, or been in this situation before? I feel totally lose and am pretty scared. Please help.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-30-2007, 07:51 AM
Mitch Evans Mitch Evans is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,102
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

Not sure what your dilemma is. Just apply for insurance. You didn't state your age or what you pre-existing condition is, but I don't see what the problem is. You don't need a "job" to get insurance, you just need to pay the premiums. Depending on your health and whether the state you live in allows unrestricted medical underwriting will determine how high your premiums will be, if your existing condition will be covered, and how soon you can get covered. Shouldn’t take more than a few weeks…
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:18 PM
mikalina mikalina is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: gin... always gin
Posts: 76
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

The sooner you apply, the better. It depends on the state that you live in, but in general, for cases of pre-existing conditions, if you have had coverage under the company for x years without an issue with the condition, they cannot deny your claim due to pre-existing condition.

Someone chime in and correct me if I am wrong, but I believe in my state it is 3 years. This applies if you do not disclose the condition at the time of application. If you do disclose, they have the right to completely remove claims that relate to your condition from your coverage.

I would do a bit more research on this than what I just said (although I should know this [censored], it's my field). I just can't remember if this is one of the things that is excluded from the statute of limitations.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:21 PM
Nicholasp27 Nicholasp27 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Springfield
Posts: 24,908
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

EVERYONE should have health insurance in the US

even if you SELF-INSURE, you should get cheap insurance with a high deductible...it'll be cheap since insurance company will never pay out each year unless you have a major illness/surgery

so what's your benefit? you will pay what the insurance company allows

say u go to the hospital and have a few tests run on you...the hospital will try to charge say $2500 for this...if u don't have insurance, then you owe $2500

if u have insurance, even with a 10k deductible, then they send the bill to the insurance company...who comes back and says: this is only billable for $500...u then pay that $500 for your deductible and that's it

so u saved 2k because u pay those insurance prices

this has less of an effect on a standard doctor office visit, but will still save you $100 or so on those as well each time
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:24 PM
MissT74 MissT74 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kingman, Arizona
Posts: 887
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

Health Insurance companies can deny anyone for any reason UNLESS it's through an employer. So being self employed, and with pre-existing conditions you may have a hard time finding a company to cover you.

HOWEVER, if you're willing to accept a "rider" on your plan, then you can probably get coverage. It would basically state that any thing done related to your pre-existing condition would be denied, and you would be responsible for those charges.

Another idea that I would strongly suggest is Comprehensive Insurance only. It's much, much cheaper and would cover you in any emergency (broken arm, stepping on a nail, etc etc) and also cover you for anything major (cancer, AIDS, etc etc). For anything "normal" or routine (cough, cold, flu, etc) you simply pay cash at your doctors office.

For the most part people go to the doctor about 2-3 times a year at $120 a visit (average) vs. $200+ per month for health insurance. Unless you are on expensive medication, this is the way for most healthy to semi-healthy people.

(I own a medical billing service, feel free to ask any more questions that I may be able to help you with)

T
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:26 PM
MissT74 MissT74 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Kingman, Arizona
Posts: 887
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

Nicholas is correct, but also realize that there are a lot of doctors offices out there that offer "cash paying" discounts. Some don't, so you would have to call around.

I know my clients offices LOVE cash paying patients, no paperwork, revenue for the office instantly vs. waiting 2 months to get paid, etc etc.

T
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:30 PM
Ghazban Ghazban is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Gibbering incoherently
Posts: 5,805
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

The state you live in is key here. I just moved to Nevada and am also a professional poker player. Due to my pre-existing condition, nobody will underwrite an individual policy for me. In some states, there is a carrier of last resort that cannot turn you away for a preexisting condition (be careful, though, they may charge you through the nose for major medical).

This is not an easy question, particularly if you have a chronic preexisting condition so I'd recommend looking into your state's laws regarding individual policies. If you don't know where to start, just call around (BCBS, etc.) and get some quotes. If a given company will not underwrite a policy for you, they can probably tell you who in your state is the carrier of last resort (if such a thing exists).
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:49 PM
mikalina mikalina is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: gin... always gin
Posts: 76
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

All good responses. I guess I am the only one who likes to find loopholes.

Another suggestion (especially if you are a poker player earning a high taxable income) is to look into (here come 2 different names for the same thing) a high deductible health plan or a consumer directed/driven health plan.

Downside: high deductible (~1200/year for individual coverage)

Upside: all preventive care visits are covered for free (checkups, lab work, etc), you have access to an HSA

HSA is a Health Savings Account... think 401(k) but you are allowed to make withdrawals without penalty for health-related purchases (anything down to Advil qualifies). This is just a really slick tax shelter with a $2,900 annual max for tax-free contributions.

And the plan should generally be one of the cheapest available.

Edit to add: deductible is not ~1200, its >=1200... the higher you go the cheaper it gets. Sorry for the confusion.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:52 PM
neuroman neuroman is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: the stars at night are big and bright
Posts: 3,774
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

[ QUOTE ]
EVERYONE should have health insurance in the US

even if you SELF-INSURE, you should get cheap insurance with a high deductible...it'll be cheap since insurance company will never pay out each year unless you have a major illness/surgery

[/ QUOTE ]
This does not seem to be the case. I tried inquiring into high deductible, catastrophic type coverage and it would be over $1000 a year for a completely healthy mid-20s non-smoking male.

If I am wrong feel free to point me in the right direction but I don't consider that "cheap."
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 11-30-2007, 12:55 PM
z28dreams z28dreams is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Donating at the tables
Posts: 2,791
Default Re: Require health insurance assistance

Mika's right - I'm in the process of changing jobs, and just applied for an HSA account w/ catastrophic coverage.

I'm 27, and it cost around $40 a month with a $5000 deductible. That's $480 a year... where are you guys seeing > $1000 a year ?!?!

HSA's are a GREAT idea if you are young and normally healthy. Even if you have a regular 9-5 job, you still still look into these and see if your boss will let you use it as an option. Think of it as being able to keep your premium at the end of the year if you don't actually use it.

Someone told me to use the Golden Rule plan, but I ended up going with Humana because for $10 less a month, it also allowed $300 of annual checkups and had a higher lifetime maximum.

For OP though, the preexisting condition will probably trump all other decisions - so check into your state laws.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.