Thursday, November 6, 2008

socialized healthcare please

My husband recently changed jobs to take advantage of a great opportunity, but because it is a start-up company he is working as a contractor. The company offered to compensate him for the cost of our health insurance, but there is no group policy available. We worked with an agent to get quotes for individual health insurance and, like responsible citizens, filled out an application well in advance of our previous policy expiring. We figured it would cost us about four to five hundred dollars per month.

Unfortunately, if you have any health problems, no matter how slight, you are not eligible for individual health insurance. Somewhat ironic I think, but there it is. Because he takes a monthly medication and sees the doctor quarterly, my husband was denied coverage. We can get coverage for our children (they only go to the doctor once a year) and possibly for me (although they do have some questions about the appendectomy I had 7 years ago - is it possible I have another bad appendix?) but I am fed up with paying insurance premiums for people who never use the insurance. Mathematically, it just doesn't make sense...

4 comments:

Brooke said...

Take the money from the company, stick it in a savings account. You'll be lots better off!

KB said...

Oh, I'm so glad you said that! That is actually what we have decided to do, but I've been worried that it is irresponsible. It just seems so crazy to pay more than $1000 a month in premiums for a family who uses around $1500 a year in coverage. And the company Dave's working for is likely to have a group plan in place within a year.

Brooke said...

Yeah, I just figure...if you are not a high user of health care, you are better off just putting the money in a savings account, assuming Dave's company is okay with that.
Another idea, in addition to the savings account is to buy a catastrophic policy, to cover you in the case of something like a car accident, etc.
Was there socialized healthcare in the area that you served your mission? If so, how did people like it?

Kayleen said...

wow! i didn't know Dave quit Spark. good luck with the insurance! That can be frustrating!