Who here has and pays for their own health insurance?

[Junket]

Or has it provided by their employer?

EDIT: See update below.

[misombra]

::raises hand:: i pay for my own. but then again i am my own employer. so both i guess lol.

[ecojeanne]

i read a thread recently about health insurance, it was quite entertaining, at the time mis you didn't have insurance coz you are a native but you got looked after when you needed for free. mish had a lot to say, dunno what the name of the thread was. anyway Fras i'm assuming you are asking US citizens, so i have nothin else to add to topic

[starbuck]

With my ex-job, the company paid for the health insurance, but previously I had always paid. I guess I'll have to go back to it buying my own even though it will be horribly expensive.

[Junket]

Might cost me about 150 dollars a month for moderate deductibles based off of what I looked at so far.

What does this mean to me?

Well, I save about 100-150 every month, sometimes a bit more if it's a good month.

It would come down to either saving money, or insurance.

It sucks.

[vashti]

I think employers should be required to provide some type of health insurance coverage.

[starbuck]

That is my dilema as well, Frasbee. Are there any group plans you can get in on? For example, creatives here can join a freelancers union which has lower group rates.

[Junket]

I think employers should be required to provide some type of health insurance coverage.

I haven't gotten into the technical bullshit with you, but here's the deal with my company. After 90 days of employment a person is qualified to have half of their personal health insurance paid by the company. The thing is, when they gave me the paper work to do it, I only had a 2 day window to get it, but I didn't even have insurance then, so I missed my opportunity, and it turns out I wouldn't be able to jump on it anyway until this upcoming Feb. Don't ask me why, 'cause I don't know either.

Yes, I'm considering joining the Union just for the insurance, but I don't want to take a pay cut in doing so, so I'm trying to get some more work experience under my belt before I apply.

[Lipp]

Got to like having OSHC worldcare coverage as well as reciprocal health rights from the swedish healthcare system.

[bluesummer]

I live in Canada. The miniscule amount I'm supposed to pay is covered by my work. Even so, in my province it's about $54/month for someone making over $28k. Peanuts.

[informed]

This year is the first time in my life I have health insurance (Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield). Employer takes it out of my check. I work full time at a substance abuse nonprofit, my copays/deductables are as follows:

$30 office service
$150 emergency room
$50 urgent care
$10/$35 RX Tier1/RX Tier2
$75/20% RX Tier3/Rx Tier 4
30% Inpatient
30% Other Outpatient Services

Hope that helps, whatever it's worth...

[Indignant]

Or has it provided by their employer?

i prefer insurance without deductibles. my plan is called Active Start by Blue Shield. basically i have to pay 40% out of pocket and the insurance covers the rest of it.

[squirrley]

Look at ALL of your options through your employer Fras. Determine for yourself the necessity of having health insurance (meaning if you're in pretty good health maybe just a catastrophe plan might work for you). Insurance is so damn expensive its crazy. We pay 423.00 every 2 months and I have a 500 deductible with 20% copay. My hubby has the catastrophe plan. Its similar to having dental insurance, if youre in great dental health I strongly encouraged people NOT to pick up a plan because it costs someone more in premiums a year than for 2 cleanings. If someone has a ton of dental work already done, chances are they need to be covered.

I think employers should provide something to their employees for health coverage, shoot our own government should provide it!

[georgehutton]

I live in Japan. Here we have universal health care. I pay about $200 a month, out of pocket.

I used to live in California. I sold insurance. For somebody my age with blue shield, it would have been about $350. I've had friends that had too experiences with Kaiser.

When I worked for a big company, it was about $100, and It was through some HMO, I don't remember who.

[Junket]

I'm getting health insurance!

It's with Blue Cross Blue Shield. It's not Point of Service, where you play a flat rate no matter what, but rather, it's a discounted service so I pay a percentage.

I have an annual deductible of 3,300 dollars. Should I ever reach that amount for any reason, Blue Cross will cover 100% of the expenses thereafter until the end of the year.

It's gonna cost me just under 90 dollars a month.

However, my company will pay for half of that on a monthly basis, so it's only gonna cost me about 45 dollars a month.

Unfortunately I will no longer be able to save like I used to, until I get a raise.

But here's to improving quality of life!