How many of you have health insurance woes?

[sybylla]

My hubby and I have our own business and thus have to buy our own health insurance. We've always been pretty healthy and so have our kids so we have had a high-deductible, high co-pay policy ever since we went into business over 9 years ago.

Though we've put up with increase over the past few years that were bordering on ridiculous, this year the increase is nearly 40%. We hardly use the policy so the increases can't be because we're burdening their system. So we're looking for something new. Our policy is up in mid October. Some of the quotes we've gotten in so far would cut the cost in half of our current, pre-increase rate. But I worry about quality of service with another company.

Have a company you'd like to recommend?

Have a company you'd warn me and others away from?

My current company is American Family. To their credit, we never got any grief on paying claims. But I have no interest in rewarding American Family for their crappy behavior regarding increases. In light of quotes for other policy types from American Family as well as other companies, I suspect the horrendous increases over the past few years are an effort to eliminate the type of policy we currently have. Rather than soaking us, they could have said as much. Bastards! Like I have time to hunt down health insurance quotes every year. Besides, I hate talking to sales people.

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. I'm one of the lucky ones.

My wife works for a Dentist and we are covered by them. The policy covers just about everything and we don't pay a dime into it.
Like I said - Lucky. I wouldn't have been able to start my business without it.
Good luck.

[sybylla]

2. Yeah, I've thought about getting a job with insurance

It would mean I'd be working 60+ hours a week even if I cut back in the business. But any job I take would save me 6,000-10,000 a year on insurance and medical costs.

Problem is finding a job in my field in the area. They are few and far between. I came close to getting one last year with great pay and great health insurance. But they hired someone inhouse instead.

So in the mean time - we keep trudging along with crappy, overpriced insurance.

[latebloomer]

3. I think it's SOP to raise your rates like crazy

though yours sound a little extreme.

We currently pay $1340 monthly for a family of four on a PPO program. Every year the rates go up a LOT, and we have to increase co-pays to make them not go up quite so much.

Our choices are limited in NJ-- what is THAT all about? We're on Health Net, which compared somewhat favorably to Horizon and Oxford.

They're all thieves, and there is little or no governmental regulation of their insane pricing.

One of us is going to HAVE to get a regular job soon, just for the insurance.

[sybylla]

4. We just got quotes from a local company

affiliated with the local medical facility (monopoly anyone?) so they can make a profit all around. Anyway, their quote is $362/mo for a family of four with $1000 individual deductible and $3000 family deductible. It's a little better deductible-wise than we have now and loads cheaper.

I don't know how long that will last and now they are asking us to jump through a few hoops to get accepted, but we're crossing our fingers.