| Author |
Message |
Cara (66.125.226.31)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 17, 2003 - 7:49 pm: | |
My husband is almost finished with the MCI-9 conversion. Time to hit the road, but would like to have decent medical insurance since we will only have it from ex-jobs for a limited amount of time. Any suggestions for full-timers? |
Steven Gibbs (12.148.43.7)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 8:49 am: | |
Yesterday Gloria and I were discussing the same thing. She suggested I post something. Cara has saved me the trouble.
I am also interested in some type of "catastrophic" insurance. I.E., to cover major problems since we could probably afford routine office visits and simple tests ourselves. Things that would cost over 1 to 2K would then be covered.
I know from experience that most medical firms have two price structures, one for insured and one for uninsured. They are more than happy to be paid some lesser amount up front then receive nothing or wait for a long time for the insurance payoff.
Again, any suggestions?
Thanks,
Steve G.
MC9
Pontiac |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess) (65.130.17.60)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, January 20, 2003 - 11:41 pm: | |
Not having insurance on an Offic visit or hospitalization puts you at a highest price for services. Many insurance companies have negotiated rates that are lower than you will pay without insurance. I had a friend who used to code his bills for the office staff for people who could pay cash. He coded the billing cards "US Mint". Another doctor in Florida took care of a very poorly dressed woman quite cheaply for surgery. When she came in for a post op visit and was told she needed to come back again in two weeks she said. "That is not possible. We've already sent the servants North."
If there were a nationwide HMO I would use it because the costs are fixed and known. As soon as I am away from home, I don't know what doctor to see anyway, so choice is not as important.
$2000 to $5000 is a high deductable is high deductable medical insurance. There was a plan 5 years ago to allow a medical savings account with tax free money in conjunction with these high deductable plans. If you don't use the money for medical expenses it grows and it is yours, not the insurance company's.
Catostrophic insurance has a deductable of $20,000 to $250,000. The $20,000 deductable is doable and cheap. I don't know who would want the higher deductables. They don't save that much more money.
Some kind of group insurance is frequently cheaper than a totally individual policy. It may be necessary to join a trade association or some other group for the benefits, even if you are not a joiner.
I am also watching for ideas. |
Ace (24.28.44.126)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 12:05 am: | |
FWIW, I recently seeked out a surgical dentist and told him up front that I did NOT have dental insurance. The major work he performed on me was really low in cost compared to what he would have charged the insurance company! I paid "just" over 1000 bucks when the REAL bill would have been issued for 4500 to the insurance company according to my receptionist friend.
Goes to show you that all is not what it appears!
Ace |
Steve (208.19.55.137)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - 12:32 am: | |
Blue Cross is nation wide and has a tele# to call for info on network providers in the town your body broke down in, sorry, no road service. If you reside in Calif. and want more info, e-mail bigbaddad@ocsnet.net and I can give you some options on med ins and medicare supplements. Steve |