Health insurance question

Robert_in_NY · Dec 7, 2003

Hi, here is my question, I need health insurance but have no ideas where to start or who to talk to so I was hoping to get some help from you guys. A little background info,

I am 25 and am engaged to a beautiful young woman named Erin who has a son and we have another child on the way. I can not get insurance thru my work so I have to look for it. Does anyone have any ideas or websites for me to consider? Thanks

Mark_in_NH · Dec 7, 2003

Although I don't really know of a good place to start looking, I do know that your going to need really DEEP pockets. The last time I looked into health insurance they wanted around $800 a month.

Von · Dec 7, 2003

Robert, look into some of the state run programs for health insurance. I am selfemployed and get mine thru them. It's called Valu-med thru Bluecross/Blueshield. Cost is only about $60 a month. You have to pay for the doctors visits, but it covers the major stuff! I'm sure if you do a search under health insurance in NY you will find it.

BillyP · Dec 7, 2003

Have you considered changing employers? Buying health insurance on your own is very expensive and 'usually' not near as good as you could get through an employer.

Robert_in_NY · Dec 7, 2003

I work with my father in our construction company so changing jobs is not too easy /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I will check on the Blue Cross/Blue Shield as well as searching for more info in NY so thanks for that Idea Von.

Docsknotinn · Dec 7, 2003

You might call your family physician first or the local hospital you prefer to verify what insurances they accept before you start to shop. You might be able to keep your costs down by just purchaseing major medical.

thcri · Dec 7, 2003

Robert,

You're still pretty young and you should not be expensive yet until you put your wife and children on it. I guess I don't understand why you can't get it through work unless you work for a small enough company that they get by without providing it. Here in Minnesota business's have to have a provider for you. A lot of business' though if they have it available they are pulling back the amount that they contribute to it. Our company has raised the deductible to help off set the increases we have been hit with in the last two years. Our health insurance has gone up per person over 38%. It is just sky rocketing. The Mayo Clinic even is changing their programs to cut back on the increases.

Call around and look in the State programs that are available to you. I know someone else mentioned changing jobs, and I know a lot of people that did that exactly, they even took cuts in pay to find an employer that provides and helps pay for insurance.

Best of luck to you

murph

MossRoad · Dec 7, 2003

Another way to lower your insurance cost is to take a higher deductible. You'd be amazed at the difference between $250.00 detuctables and $2000.00 deductables. It's worth looking into if you and your family are in reasonably good health. Our first child had chronic ear problems, so it cost us for 3 years, but the last 8 years, even with a second child, we've come out way ahead. As long as you are able to keep $2000.00 on hand for medical emergencies, it isn't too bad.

JJT · Dec 7, 2003

Check out your local chamber of commerce. Last I knew that was an easy way for a bunch of small businesses to pool their head count to qualify for a plan that none of them could have swung on their own.