How much are you paying per month for health insurance?

[undeterred]

I'm single, insuring myself only. Nothing that counts as a PEC.
I just sent my check to COBRA for May:
$293 for health and $27 for dental

Pretty good coverage with copays.

Edit: Since Bush took office I've had many months of unemployment and some jobs with no insurance offered. I've been health insured for 14 months out of the last 4 years. This is the first and only time I have used COBRA, and I don't know how long I will be able to do it if I don't find another job. I don't know how they count the 45 million, but I suspect there are a lot of people like me.

[Burma Jones]

1. Family of Four - $608/month, $2000 individual deductable

[walldude]

69. Same as me for family of 5

not to mention the $30 co-pay and $20 for scripts. 4 years ago I was paying $279 for the same coverage... I just got back on insurance last month, was without for almost a year, standard of living just went down again :mad:

[TOhioLiberal]

2. Big Goose egg...

...don't have any insurance coverage.

[followthemoney]

3. I am covered by Seabiscuit Insurance Co. If I break a leg...

they have to shoot me. I am thinking of getting some guns to defend myself from this company.

[mdhunter]

4. $32.28 a week, for wife and myself.

Interestingly, that's less than my $39.43/week for car insurance.

Dental is $3.86/week.

[unhappycamper]

5. retired from phone company (they pay 40%)

single, OK HMO & OK dental: $103/month. That's up about 30% from this time last year.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. $61.74 a month - single and employer kicks in $198.33

[oldlady]

7. Less than $100 month for full family with dental

no deductible, $4-5 co-pays on prescriptions, yearly vision & most non-replacement dental.

God Bless the UNIONS!
AFSCME-wife here.

my grown children-- uninsured.

[wtbymark]

8. approx. $31/mo - single $200 deductable, $10co-pay

[tyedyeto]

9. $32.00 per week for just myself with...

a supposedly $500 deductible. There are just a handful of us at wrk with this coverage. One person who is covered has spent almost $1000 on medical care and tests and what has the insurance co. paid? Less than $100.

They are talking about discontinuing offering insurance to the employees now.

On edit: At this point my employer pays 1/2 the premium.

[newportdadde]

10. Around $90 for the family, 80/20 plan.

It was actually $50 last year. We have a preferred network although I do not require referrals I can go straight to a specialist. The rub is that when I go to the doctor it costs some pretty stiff cash.. no 20 buck copays which means a visit for antibiotics is going to cost me at least 50+ bucks so I actually very rarely go to the doctor.

Deductible is 3000 family. 6/20/40 for drugs.

[Alpharetta]

11. Family of 5. $141/month. $10,000 deductable

Self employed.

Policy is thru BlueCross Blue Shield of Georgia. None of us are sick so we didn't have a lot of preexisting conditions.

Basically we looked at what the copays were on our Kaiser $800/mo policy and realized the copays were almost as much as an out-of-pocket visit. So we dropped Kaiser and now we pay doctors and emergency room out of pocket.

BlueCrossBlue Shield gets us some decent drug discounts for things like antibiotics. Turns out cheaper than Kaiser.

We're banking the $600/mo difference in case we ever get really sick. Once we get up to $10,000 saved (in about 2 years), then we figure we will have more than broke even.

[formernaderite]

32. That's a great deal...

my insurance agent didn't tell me about the $10,000 deductible. I pay about $305 per month with bluecross and a $1000 deductible.

[CrispyQ]

12. My 20% for me & my spouse =

approx $130 per month. Very decent coverage, $25 copay for office visits, $10/35/50 Rx.

[Name removed]

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[elehhhhna]

17. Cuba's even better--just go there.

[Cleita]

31. What makes you think it will be free with a Latino name?

Why didn't you just say a beaner name with that racist remark?

[Atman]

37. Please follow the news before you point racism fingers!

That was uncalled for, Cleita.

Since you obviously are not following the news, I'll fill you in. The United States has just appropriated a billion dollars -- literally, $1 billion -- to provide health care for illegal immigrants. Yet, we still can't get coverage for 47 million of our own citizens.

Nothing racist about my remark. I don't think we have a serious illegal immigrant problem from Denmark or France, so it seemed that my remark was right on target.

And your response was not.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Sapphire Blue]

60. Payments to Help Hospitals Care for Illegal Immigrants

Note in the first paragraph of the article below that it is stated that payment will be provided for emergency care, not all health care.

However, uninsured patients (American citizens & non-citizens alike) are more likely to frequent emergency rooms since they don't have access to this wonderful :sarcasm: health care system in this oh, so wonderful country :sarcasm:. Think of how far $1 billion, combined with rescinding the tax cuts of the haves & have mores, would go in funding a medical insurance program for every human in this country.

Payments to Help Hospitals Care for Illegal Immigrants

Published: May 10, 2005

WASHINGTON, May 9 - The Bush administration announced on Monday that it would start paying hospitals and doctors for providing emergency care to illegal immigrants.

The money, totaling $1 billion, will be available for services provided from Tuesday through September 2008. Congress provided the money as part of the 2003 law that expanded Medicare to cover prescription drugs, but the new payments have nothing to do with the Medicare program.

Members of Congress from border states, like Senator Jon Kyl, Republican of Arizona, had sought the money. They said the treatment of illegal immigrants imposed a huge financial burden on many hospitals, which are required to provide emergency care to patients who need it, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay.

Under the new program, hospitals are supposed to ask patients for certain documents to substantiate claims for payment. But Dr. Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said a hospital should not directly ask a patient "if he or she is an undocumented alien."

Continued @ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/10/politics/10health.html?

[Tigress DEM]

67. Thanks for some actual facts....

As I read the article, this isn't money to help illegals in any way, but to help the hospitals that are required to give emergency care to people who need it whether they can pay or not.

Many illegals in our country, work and pay taxes, never collect any back and are treated as sub human.

Thank you for actually talking about the issue without having to find a "them" to blame for our problems.

[ThreeCatNight]

14. You guys got it good.....

$190.00 per month med + $30 per month dental.

Wife has some medical issues, so I have to take what I can get.

[Atman]

15. Nearly $800 for family of four...and my wife is an APRN!

Why the hell her practice doesn't do some sort of self-insurance is beyond me. We could do all our well visits and basic care at her office, and only purchase catastrophic insurance instead. But I guess that makes too much sense.

[elehhhhna]

16. Family o'4, we pay 160/mo, employer pays 830/mo.--HMO/EPP

So it's 12K per year and Bush wants to tax us on ALL of it now.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

18. Absolutely $0

but it is a super bad plan with a $1000 deductible. I had ob/gyn problems that required a minor surgery. Insurance has not paid a dime. I am in "hiding" from the hospital, pathologists, anesthesiologists, etc. until I can manage to get enough money to pay them... yikes!

[Cleita]

33. This is the problem with the for profit system. They like

to insure those who don't need it. Once you actually need health care, then they don't want to pay. After a couple of more procedures look for your cancellation notice or for your premium to skyrocket.

[Atman]

57. Don't hide...some of them CAN be "good."

Several years ago we were quite broke, and our then-ten year old seriously cut his leg on a rusty swingset, requiring two layers of stitches, fourteen in all. He was not at our house, and an ambulance was called. When we got the bill for everything, the ambulance ride wasn't covered. We "hid" briefly, but one day I just answered the phone and told them outright..."Look, I understand we owe you money. But I didn't call you...I would have driven my child myself, because I am flat broke!" They didn't even give me an argument. They said they understood my situation, and that they would close the account and stop sending me bills. And they did.

Sometimes just telling them what is going on can help a LOT. There are shared risk pools for this sort of thing, but they aren't going to let you share if they don't know you need help. I hope you're okay now. Give 'em a call before they ruin you. Because they will if they get the chance.

[yurbud]

19. Never got it through employer, so can't afford, even though professor

at community college

[ihaveaquestion]

20. 97.80 / mo. - HMO, Drugs & Dental for me and my son.

I've been pretty pleased with the coverage so far, but it's from United Health Care and I've heard some horror stories. I also might have to change dentists, because mine has decided that UHC doesn't pay him enough anymore and he's going out of network. I don't know if I can afford him anymore.

[kcwayne]

21. $350 per month, $10,000 deductable

My premium has been going up 75-100% every two years. If I wanted a plan with a normal deductable of 1-2K, I would pay 1100 per month.

[Medical Speaking]

22. Health Insurance

I have my own business and go through SBAM for health Insurance.
For my wife and myself its $1.100 a month, and I have been told its going up another 15% this year.

Nice

[ibleedblue]

23. mine is provided free....

$350 deductable then 80/20 policy with a max out of pocket set at $2k. $10/$25/$35/$40 on prescriptions. if i had to add the family to the plan it would be $427.48 per month. luckily the wife has good insurance through her employer and the kid is on her policy (as i will be come this fall). that'll run us about $300 per month, but it's $20 copays then full coverage with no deductable.

when dim son took power i was paying $18/month for an excellent policy with $20 copays on office visits and drugs. of course that job only lasted for another 9 months after dim sons annointment.

[northzax]

24. nothing

ppo with $10/co-pay for office visits and dental care. no co-pay or deductible for vision exams or drugs. and a Flexible Spending Account (fully funded) to pay for any costs that might arise.

but then I'm lucky and have a good job.

[Maru Kitteh]

25. $0.00 UNINSURED - can't afford any

It's spin the barrel every day in this family.

[Mr.Green93]

26. 600 a month

[movie_girl99]

27. i work for a school district

my monthly premium is 86.00 but the state gives us a stipend for 43.00 a month. The coverage is 70/30 with a 1000 deductible and a $3500 out of pocket cap.

Dental is 25.00 a month.

[Cleita]

28. I get $78.20 deducted from my Social Security for Medicare

and I pay $163.37 out of pocket for private insurance that covers what Medicare doesn't, yet it's a much better deal than I got before I qualified for Medicare. At least now I get health care.

Before I turned sixty five my insurance had a $3,000 deductible, which prevented me from seeking health care like mammographies, which I couldn't afford to pay out of pocket and the insurance premium as well. But I kept the insurance in case of catastrophic illness.

[coyote]

29. Single 120 €uros/month No deductible

N/T

[formernaderite]

30. I have bluecross...pay about $305 per month for family...

We have a $1000 dollar deductible, though on emergency care it covers 80% immediately. Not a bad deal...certainly cheaper than business insurance. The trick is to get a high deductible...even if you calculate doctors visits in, it's cheaper over the course of a year than paying a higher fee. I've heard good things about wise care too....which for about $60 bucks a month let's you into a group that negotiates insurance rate fees for doctors visits. Not insurance but a discount plan. You could certainly couple that with a $100 per month major medical, and save alot more. Once the kids leave permanantly...we'll switch to that.

[recoveringrepublican]

34. About $150/month for a family of 5, $400 deductible

Hubby works for USPS. We have BCBS. Our co-pays are $15 for office visits and a certain percentage for prescriptions (not sure what it is though I know my birth control is $75 retail but I pay $8).

The $400 is for the entire family. There is an individual deductible of $250.

[tinrobot]

35. Medical/Dental $104/mo for just me.

A little more than just catostrophic coverage. Pretty high deductible on the medical, but the dental is not bad.

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Almost $800/mo ... self employed ... two adults .... no kids

cuz the kids are all grown. This gets us an HMO and no dental.

Interesting side note. The guy who sold our company the insurance advised us NOT to get dental, but instead to "self insure" ... which is to establish our own pool from which we pay denatl costs. He said that dental insurance is HUGELY profitable for insurance companies. In the years we;'ve been doing this, it has proven out to be good advice. We apy all dental costs from our little savings pool. Our payouts have been less than the premiums would otherwise have been.

[Roland99]

38. $25/mo. for myself and my daughters

Company picks up the rest. But, my deductible doubled to $1000 this year.

[flamingyouth]

39. $260 per month for medical/dental for myself.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

40. For the time being, at least,

$181.00 a month with a $1000 deductible and a 20% copay.

No matter what I do, I end up paying over $3000 out of pocket before I get any benefits from this at all.

And my monthly premium is scheduled to fly into the stratosphere the minute I turn 55. :scared:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

50. And I forgot to add...

That's without any dental, visual, or drug benefit.

[Worst Username Ever]

41. 40 dollars a month

for my employer sponsored plan.

[BlueStateGirl]

42. $221 a month. Includes Dental, no deductable. $10 co-pay fo

my family doctor, $20 co-pay for specialists.
$100 a day co-pay for hospitalization, with a $2000 per claendar year maximun for out of pocket expenses.

[Coyote_Bandit]

43. About $250 per month

I'm single and haven't seen a doctor for anything in nearly seven years. My insurer thinks there is nothing wrong with me and that my weight is ideal. I'm in my mid 40's and carry a high deductible ($5,000). Doctor visits are not covered but ambulatory services are. As are prescription meds. No maternity coverage. No dental or vision coverage.

I had COBRA for one month after leaving my previous employer. That premium was about $900 per month.

[Neshanic]

44. $250 Cobra.

[Redstone]

46. Sixteen hundred bucks. Owning your own business is a real

day at the beach, isn't it?

Redstone

[RayOfHope]

48. $261 for myself and 2 kids

My husband is insured by his employer (school district, school pays all of the employee's cost) but to get the kids and me on would have been $510/mo.

Kids and I have our own plan thru BCBS, my deductible is $2000 with no Rx coverage, they have $1000 deductible and Rx coverage. We're getting ready to go through some autism testing for our son that will cost about $1200 OOP. Insurance pays nothing if it's determined he's autistic, but will cover it if he isn't. How messed up is that?

No dental, can't afford it.

[K8-EEE]

51. Through My Husbands Union: $400 a year for 4 of us

If not for the Union, I don't know what we would do. Great coverage with prescription drug coverage & copays.

[seabeyond]

52. 940 for family; 98 dental

it just went up. would be over a thousand but we increased deductible and perscription

[all.of.me]

53. health insurance? what's that?

[Xithras]

54. $0 and my family is fully covered.

For now, at least, my employer still pays 100% of healthcare. They've been grumbling about that and want to switch to an employee partial-pay system for a few years, but our union has managed to stave that off for the time being.

[shesemsmom]

55. Right at this moment $150.00

but that is getting ready to double. I have a 1000 deductible on heath and 50 per person dental deductible. I also that income insurance with this that covers up to 60% of my pay

[LeftyMom]

56. My employer pays 100% for me

I would have to pay to add LeftyKid and I can't afford to do so at this time. LeftyDad is looking into a job with better benefits so we can get LK covered.

[wicket]

58. $382 a month for health via COBRA

[spuddonna]

59. $453/mo, 4 people family plan...

Coverage is 70/30, there's a deductable of $500/yr...

It blows... no eye care, no prescription (thank God we're young and health and so are kids!)... cripes, it's not insurance, it's freakin' extortion!!

[midnight armadillo]

61. $0 for family coverage

I pay $0 for family coverage. Hospital admittance fees and emergency room visits are reimbursed, copays are typically $15 per visit, but drugs go up to $50 per perscription.

Yes, I know I have it good at my company. Please don't hit me. It won't last - to keep the $0 per month we changed plans this year to a lesser one, but with rising costs I expect to be paying a monthly premium next year.

[undeterred]

62. I had a friend who was between jobs and the COBRA was $500/month

for he and his wife and child. He hoped to have a job again soon and found one after two months. They decided not to spend the money on COBRA- though they had the option for 2 months.

Before he started the new job he had a motorcycle accident- he was thrown pretty far. He broke both wrists, and had a ruptured spleen as well as some other internal injuries. He was admitted to the hospital and had several surgeries. He was inpatient for over a week.

The bill came to $70,000. They will be paying it down for a very long time.

The COBRA payment was expensive, but compared to the bill it would have been a bargain.

[SGBL]

63. I work for UPS, don't pay a dime

for full health care thanks to the union. I don't even work full time.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

64. had an employee meeting last night: $300/month

they told us that they pay around $300/month for each person's coverage.

[NoSheep]

65. $310 per month- single 41 yr old smoker

[SouthernDem2004]

66. Zero and family fully covered.

[Vektor]

68. $215 for just me and my husband...

He's self-employed, I am a student and work part time so, no benefits. We buy privately. Deductible? $2000. Yikes.

[Lars39]

70. I'm on COBRA : $436/month.

The rest of my family had been without insurance for a year until a few weeks ago.
Now we have to come up with $500/month until the end of October,
in addition to my COBRA payment. All that on top of medical bills. :(