Do you have health insurance?

[Subdivisions]

As a member of the SMWIA, my union insurance coverage is based on the number of hours worked and then you have to maintain a certain amount of hours to keep it and then you have deductibles.

All of this is, of course, dependant on actually having a job, which I don't. Therefore, I have absolutely NO health insurance. I am 42 and at risk of anything from angina to cancer to heart disease to any of a number of other age-related health complications.

Fortunately, as far as I know I am okay. But...what if....?

[Lex]

1. The hell of it is how it affects your whole family if you get sick

or injured. I know mine (and yours no doubt) would spend themselves broke trying to cover my medical costs if I got sick and didn't have insurance to cover everything.

I pay almost $400 per month to have it, and that's on a group plan with the risk spread out over the group.

It's a criminal racket (imho) and it's killing small businesses, not to mention families.

[Epiphany4z]

2. That is what I have

never understood about the idea of the state covering all children but leaving the adults to there own...an unhealthy mom or dad makes for unhealthy family un productive workers...more poverty.

[Pugee]

3. No, and it scares me

I am 49 and got laid off 2 months ago at a job that I had for 9 years. I also covered my college age daughter and her daughter. The grandaughter is now on M'caid, but daughter and I are out of luck if we get sick or hurt.

[williesgirl]

4. Out on disability, notified in Sept my health insurance will be cancelled

end of the year. They said to contact Soc Security right away. I did, but found that since I had coverage and wasn't actually working, I have to wait til January to apply and coverage won't begin til July 1st.

My daughter is also covered on my insurance. We're screwed. One of her drugs is $7,700 a month without my PCS card.

They won't send the COBRA package til December so who knows how much it'll be. I'm hearing maybe $1,200 a month.

[Greyhound]

5. The biggest scam going. The insurance industry is killing untold

thousands every year, denying needed coverage, abusing all health care workers from the doctors to the nurses aids, dismantling and selling off our medical infrastructure, thereby reducing our already deficient, capacity to handle disasters.

The entire field is totally fucked up, and the only beneficiaries are the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, both of whom have enjoyed record profits year after year.

[Nite Owl]

6. I do and it's a good plan

but the almost $1200mo premiums are going to kill me yet! Just for me and my son who is still in college and it goes up every year.

[AzDar]

7. We have employer-provided health insurance, yet a difficult pregnancy

in 2002 almost drove us to financial ruin, anyway.
The entire experience has made me VERY nervous about health-care coverage; you know, scared to death of actually NEEDING to rely upon it again.
There are WAAAAYY too many cracks for people to fall through, imnsho....

[RB TexLa]

8. HSA here

[Maine-ah]

9. nope. no insurance.

[Arger68]

10. Yes, I have the finest

$10,000 deductible policy I can afford.:eyes:

[ComerPerro]

11. I am inelligible for coverage. I have a pre-existing condition

I couldn't even get insurance through my employer.

I got denied, so my supervisor helped me fill out the forms again. Basically, I lied about my condition by omission.

But once they found out about it (even though it is was no longer relevant) they dropped me

[EC]

12. Nope,

in today's news it said it's up to 46.9% uninsured...almost half the population...

Then a customer in today said that Chrysler just took away the health and dental for all salaried employees (of which he was one)....(the union was able to hang on to the hourly workers insurance).

[yy4me]

13. I feel for you but what if you were 64, tried to retire at 62 (silly me)

and found that the only health insurance available to you was about $1000.00 a month. Certainly it is back to work. Now comes the good part. Just got laid off. Well, I will be eligible for COBRA but my unemployment check will go directly dollar-for dollar to BC BS for insurance. My SS check is low because I did not spend as many years in the paycheck generating work force, I worked with my husband in his business. Yea, I know, but in order to make that work, he needed help and I could do the jobs that he was unable to do. Plus raising children does not generate eligibility for higher Social Security payments. Women of my generation have lower Social Security checks. I believe we are the last that were fortunate enough to be able to spend the early years at home with our kids. I don't know how you younger folks do it. It is hard for all of us for a million reasons. Speaking of hard, the job market for semi-skilled 64 year old women is bleak...and I do not have the energy to "retrain". It is a little late for that.

[scarlet_owl]

14. Yes, but I can't afford to use it.

The co-pays are outrageous. And we spend $120 dollars a month on this.

[michreject]

15. Yes. Two plans actually

I'm fully covered from my employer(GM). I retired in Sept. I also have full coverage from my wifes employer, A local goverment service. Have dual optical and dental.

[phylny]

16. Yes, the big, evil, multibillion dollar corporation my husband works for

provides good insurance for our whole family, and will provide it after retirement.


We know we are fortunate.

[qanda]

17. No, my husband has his own business and we cannot afford insurance

I have not had a good year and am facing over $10,000 worth of medical bill and the year isn't over yet. The doctor just ordered another series of tests for me including an ultrasound, blood work and a biopsy. Oh well, life goes on.

[Opusnone]

18. No. And it's funny you should ask today

Three days ago I walked into a razor-sharp sculpture at my store, cutting my shin to the bone.

I've been offline ever since resting in bed while my wonderful wife does everything for me. With 5 stitches and 5 staples I will make a full recovery. Today is the first I've been on DU. I missed it!

I had to pay $500 at the ER and expect at least another $500 in Dr. bills for follow up and the initial surgery. Painkillers, bandages, etc. should run another $100.

Considering the cost of insurance, and the fact that I've required little to no medical costs over the past ten years, I still come out about $30,000 ahead.

And though I don't have insurance I am thankful to have the cash to pay for the visit and not depend on govt. help.