Do you have medical insurance?

[ringmastery]

If so, what kind? are you satisfied with it? I'm trying to find reasonably priced, high-deductable, catastrophe insurance and it's been a nightmare.

I can pay out-of-pocket for doctor's visits and drugs, what I'm most concerned about is a major illness and a potential $100,000 surgical disaster.

[XanaDUer]

1. I hope this helps...

it was on the consumer segment of the local news:

www.eHealthInsurance.com

It got high marks from some users, and you plug your stuff in and can compare rates, etc. It is not the underwriter of the policies, tho.

I guess it is like Geico, but for health insurance.

Good luck, and I hear you. I have to scrape to pay for my HI.

[Langis]

2. Ever hear of an MSA(Medial savings account)?

Are they available yet? That might be an option if they are.

[ewagner]

4. Yes they are

with qualifying high-deductible plans.

I represent two such companies but only in the State of Wisconsin.

[juajen]

3. Be very careful what insurance you purchase

I had insurance, they refused to pay claiming a pre-existing condition, which was not true. They finally paid 4,000 out of the 60,000, in affect, admitting that I had coverage. The hospital, of course, sued me. I couldn't afford a lawyer; so a judgment on my home. We had to file a chapter 13. This is happening more and more. Insurance companies know that if they refuse to pay, you have to hire a lawyer to try to get the bill paid, and a lot of people, like me, cannot afford lawyers.

The only advice I can offer is send one of your kids to law school. Yeah, I know, that's expensive. However, student loans are available. Even if you pay for insurance, you are not assured of payment. This is also true of homeowners' or any other kind of insurance. They are ruling and ruining our lives, these insurance companies.

[Warpy]

5. thank you for that

I lost my insurance in 1987, thanks to a preexisting condition which manifests itself in all major body systems. I can get Blue Shield only, which would only cover 80% of the bill after a $5000 deductible and which would still cost me $700/month for just myself. I've decided that if I'm going bankrupt, it might as well be for 100% of an astronomically high bill than 20% of it, and have accordingly decided to pay out of pocket. After all, I'll get sicker without shelter than I will without fattening an insurnace company, and that is the choice their prices have forced me to make.

You'll run into morons all the time who will tell you free care is available to people without insurance. DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. The hospital will get paid, one way or another. They will take everything you own, garnish your wages, put you into complete destitution. When you are destitute and have nothing left, you may qualify for Medicaid for the remainder, but only if you are disabled and cannot work and if you still have an address.

Insurance companies exist to minimize risk and maximize profit. They will deny you care any way they can, and they will drop you from the plan if you get "too sick." This is the REAL US healthcare system.

[Tom_Foolery]

6. Let's All Move To Iraq...

We're paying for their health care anyway. What we go through in this country for health care is a sin!!

[bearfan454]

7. I have Cigna at work.

It pays 80 percent. Mrs bearfan and I got stuck for 2000 on her hysterectomy. They wanted 800 up front on the copay or no surgery. We paid over 6000 in medical bills last year. Even if you have insurance it still costs you a lot.

[Nikia]

9. That's the insurance offered at my potential new job

Right now I have HMO insurance. It would offer greater flexibility on where I go but I am concerned that it won't cover as much. I would pay much less for insurance though with Cigna.

[GOPisEvil]

8. Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO.

Provided by my employer free of charge. Employees only have to pay 50% of the premium for dependents, of which I have zero.

[Padraig18]

10. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield

I pay $172/month, have a $5k annual comprehensive/total deductible, no 'scrip benefits, no dental or optical care, but it DOES have $10 million lifetime 'catastrophic illness' coverage.

Could be better, could be worse, but damned expensive still... :shrug: