RFI: interim health insurance (in the US)

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so i got laid off and my health coverage ends today. the cobra monthly premium is something insane like $280/month. anyone have any experience with cheap insurance that will cover major death-like problems? i'll turn to the bottle for minor ailments. cheers, thx

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

it's called socialism

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

but it's not cheap

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

vote kucinich

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

It will be a lot cheaper to turn to the bottle for everything.

― Gold Teeth II (kenan), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

the answer is Mexico, surely.

― Little Lord Travolta (nordicskilla), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't know, i've got a pretty high tolerance

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:25 (twenty-one years ago)

280/month = still cheaper then most healthcare you buy yourself these days. Look into freelancers union and various associations. During a spell of not working regularly I joined the AIGA and got cheap healthcare through them, but that was 3 years ago.

― Dan Selzer (Dan Selzer), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:47 (twenty-one years ago)

http://sportsmed.starwave.com/i/magazine/new/031208_yakov.jpg

WHAT A COUNTRY!!!

― Gold Teeth II (kenan), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I used Blue Cross for a while and it was cheap for catastrophic stuff. You might have to go get a physical first.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:00 (twenty-one years ago)

You can get emergency medical insurance in 3-month-periods that cover accidents, serious illness, etc. I believe I paid about $280 for 3 months, the only problem is it does not cover routine doctor's visits, Rxs, etc. This was through Pekin, I believe.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:06 (twenty-one years ago)

NB: I did not need a physical, just proof of no serious ailments/hospitalizations within the past year.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

$280 sounds like a pretty good deal, if it's reasonably comprehensive. My COBRA just ran out (and that was running me $350); I got Blue Cross/Blue Shield's "Basic Blue" coverage to last me til my new actual coverage kicks in, in a couple more months. It's $225/month, but it has a $10,000 deductible, so it's basically a catastrophe policy. Nonetheless, if you're like me, and can't afford to be WITHOUT insurance, it's about the best deal going.

I explain this shit to my Canadian friends, and they can't even follow what I'm saying -- they're like "wait, you have to pay US$225 a month, and you still can't go see a doctor? What the fuck?" They are absolutely correct, of course.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:10 (twenty-one years ago)

BUT WE HAVE THE BEST HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD!!! IF EVERYONE HAD ACCESS TO CHEAP OR FREE HEALTHCARE, ALL THE DOCTORS IN AMERICA WOULD IMMEDIATELY BEGIN PRACTISING VOODOO!!!

― Gold Teeth II (kenan), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:13 (twenty-one years ago)

I believe the policy through Pekin is called Short Term Medical Help, and my deductible was $500.

― jocelyn (Jocelyn), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, if you don't have prescriptions, and regular medical expenses, a catastrophe policy is probably the way to go. That one sounds like a good deal.

― Hurlothrumbo (hurlothrumbo), Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Health Net has something for like $65 a month or so.. but you BETTER not get sick or you're in for it.

― andy, Thursday, 30 September 2004 20:29 (twenty-one years ago)

In DC I pay about $125 a month for a Carefirst (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) preferred provider policy. It's with a fairly high deductible ($5,000?) but it includes prescriptions.

― j.lu (j.lu), Friday, 1 October 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

When I was pricing health insurance, none of my premiums were that high. I mostly wanted it for the prescription benefit and a reasonable co-pay, BlueCross plans were anywhere from $95-200 on up.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Friday, 1 October 2004 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

In New York, Healthy New York is run by the state and is a good deal, if you make under a certain amount of money.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 1 October 2004 02:03 (twenty-one years ago)

six years pass...

bump for 2010. not for me, but my gf is a grad student and self-employed. she's worried about some potentially serious back problems...any recommendations on where to start for insurance that would cover an MRI, doctor visits, etc?

― bows don't kill people, arrows do (Jordan), Wednesday, 17 November 2010 03:08 (fifteen years ago)

See if your state insurance commissioner has a website - the one for WA is really good, lets you compare plans, shows you ballpark pricing for premiums, etc. I've been quite happy with Group Health, but I think they are only in Washington state. Costco offers plans in some states - when I checked into it, they seemed reasonable for decent preventative coverage.

― Jaq, Wednesday, 17 November 2010 04:16 (fifteen years ago)

not sure how worthwhile it is, but healthcare.gov also has plan comparison stuff

― circles, Wednesday, 17 November 2010 04:57 (fifteen years ago)

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