OT: Health Coverage for the Self-Employed?
Tuesday, June 18, 2002 by Chris | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Hey gang. I figured I'd give this a shot here, seeing how this is predominantly an older crowd that might have some experience in this area.
In a month I'm about to lose my current healthcare coverage. I've looked at staying with the same provider, only as an individual. However, the rates are going up next month from what was once mildly expensive to something that's quite expensive.
While I can swing this, I'd rather find a less costly alternative. In past situations, I've used COBRA, but COBRA is not available to me this time.
Does anyone have any experience with finding and joining group health plans. For instance, I stumbled on the National Assossiation of the Self-Employed http://www.nase.org
Anyone have any experience with them? IEEE also has such a program but you must have been a member for 2 years before taking advantage of their benefits (I knew I should've joined years ago
) I also recall there were similar associations of developers and contracters that also had group health coverage, but I can't remember their names.
Alternatively, there also exists temporary health coverage that typically costs 50 - 100 dollars a month for 6 months. From what I can tell, this appears to be coverage
for unexpected/emergency health issues. So it doesn't cover the typical things like physicals, perscriptions. Anybody use something like this?
This seems like an attractive short term alternative to me given the fact that my current situation requires me to be self-employed in a nearly fulltime capacity probably til late fall or the end of the year until I finish existing contracts. Obviously I'd have to look in detail at what exactly they cover and what they don't.
Any thoughts or recommendations based on past experience with different providers and programs?
Thanks folks.
In a month I'm about to lose my current healthcare coverage. I've looked at staying with the same provider, only as an individual. However, the rates are going up next month from what was once mildly expensive to something that's quite expensive.
While I can swing this, I'd rather find a less costly alternative. In past situations, I've used COBRA, but COBRA is not available to me this time.
Does anyone have any experience with finding and joining group health plans. For instance, I stumbled on the National Assossiation of the Self-Employed http://www.nase.org
Anyone have any experience with them? IEEE also has such a program but you must have been a member for 2 years before taking advantage of their benefits (I knew I should've joined years ago
) I also recall there were similar associations of developers and contracters that also had group health coverage, but I can't remember their names.Alternatively, there also exists temporary health coverage that typically costs 50 - 100 dollars a month for 6 months. From what I can tell, this appears to be coverage
for unexpected/emergency health issues. So it doesn't cover the typical things like physicals, perscriptions. Anybody use something like this?
This seems like an attractive short term alternative to me given the fact that my current situation requires me to be self-employed in a nearly fulltime capacity probably til late fall or the end of the year until I finish existing contracts. Obviously I'd have to look in detail at what exactly they cover and what they don't.
Any thoughts or recommendations based on past experience with different providers and programs?
Thanks folks.
DavidK
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 2:08 AM
Reply #3 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 2:08 AM
My wife and I don't have any health insurance because we are self-employed. It's all we can do to keep the car liability insurance paid. The last corporation I worked for had a COBRA payment of $450 mo. and the one before that was $780 mo.
If my wife needs some serious medical help I'll sell our house... If I need it I'll just start diggin a hole...
If my wife needs some serious medical help I'll sell our house... If I need it I'll just start diggin a hole...
Chris
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 8:18 AM
Reply #4 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 8:18 AM
I fully understand, David. If I were to maintain the coverage for just myself using the existing carrier, it would run me north of $500 mo. 
And those COBRA payments sound terrible. Luckily the last time I used COBRA, it only cost me approx. $180 mo. That was more like it. Alas those days have passed.
And those COBRA payments sound terrible. Luckily the last time I used COBRA, it only cost me approx. $180 mo. That was more like it. Alas those days have passed.
Ogre66
Reply #5 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 9:30 AM
Reply #5 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 9:30 AM
If you can't find anything reasonably priced, you might look into setting up an MSA (Medical Savings Account). Most any accountant can tell you what you need to do. One of the advantages of it is that you can pay for all of you medical needs with pre-tax dollars. Just a thought
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Reply #1 Tuesday, June 18, 2002 10:48 AM