Health insurance in u.s.
Feb 2nd 2007, 6:29 pm
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Birmingham, USA
Posts: 802
Re: Health insurance in u.s.
Medications are extremely expensive (hundreds and hundreds of dollars bimonthly). It's not like in the UK where you just pay 7 pound 50.
If you are young and healthy, you could go without health insurance, paying full price for occassional minor health problems, but it's a calculated risk. What are the odds that something happens to you? Additionally, I'm thinking it's a worse risk for women because they frequently require additional health items such as birth control, care, etc. Having a baby costs around 10 grand. In the poor rural south, infant mortality rates are higher.
Working-class jobs aren't real jobs here (ie. minimum wage and no health coverage doesn't meet basic needs).
If you are young and healthy, you could go without health insurance, paying full price for occassional minor health problems, but it's a calculated risk. What are the odds that something happens to you? Additionally, I'm thinking it's a worse risk for women because they frequently require additional health items such as birth control, care, etc. Having a baby costs around 10 grand. In the poor rural south, infant mortality rates are higher.
Working-class jobs aren't real jobs here (ie. minimum wage and no health coverage doesn't meet basic needs).
Reading this thread about what you guys pay in insurance... is there
any chance it's better to just go without it? If you have a $2,500
deductible (or something similar), the way I see it, unless the need
is very major (surgery, childbirth, accident), you're not getting your
day to day stuff covered at all. Annual checkups, vaccinations,
prescription renewals, etc. Even my days in hospital last year would
likely have come to less than $2,500 for each visit had I been in the
US (of course had I been there, they probably would have done
bloodwork and other things that add up).
I'm just bewildered, because the amounts you guys quote for insurance
is 1/3 my salary (mind you, you are quoting a family rate). I opted
out of our medical plan where I live (Canada) because I thought $40 a
month was a rip off for non-Ohip covered medical expenses (like
prescriptions), then they won't cover all prescriptions anyways, so
the ones I take ($25 a month) aren't covered. the $40 was for extended
care, so I can imagine most people here would jump at the chance to
just pay that.
>From what I know (that my US friends tell me) the best thing is
employment group medical care. I knew of someone who was offered it
for $50 a paycheck, not sure on the deductable. He opted out, but
needed it badly when the hospital charged him $1000 for treatment on
his jaw and Xrays after a bike accident. And he thought $100 a month
was too expensive...
S.
On Jan 27, 1:28 pm, gardnma <[email protected]>
wrote:
> > Does anybody know an approx cost for health insurance for a family of
> > 4(2 children)?Cobra has cost me $900 for one month, that was 10 years ago and we were
> a married couple plus one child.
>
> Cobra would have cost about $1100 per month recently, had I bought it.
> Thats with a married couple and two children.
>
> FYI:
>
> Cobra is the "bridge" insurance scam you are offered when you leave
> a job.....
>
> You should try the insurance companies for quotes......they will vary,
> so shop around. Its complicated.
>
> --
> Posted viahttp://britishexpats.com
any chance it's better to just go without it? If you have a $2,500
deductible (or something similar), the way I see it, unless the need
is very major (surgery, childbirth, accident), you're not getting your
day to day stuff covered at all. Annual checkups, vaccinations,
prescription renewals, etc. Even my days in hospital last year would
likely have come to less than $2,500 for each visit had I been in the
US (of course had I been there, they probably would have done
bloodwork and other things that add up).
I'm just bewildered, because the amounts you guys quote for insurance
is 1/3 my salary (mind you, you are quoting a family rate). I opted
out of our medical plan where I live (Canada) because I thought $40 a
month was a rip off for non-Ohip covered medical expenses (like
prescriptions), then they won't cover all prescriptions anyways, so
the ones I take ($25 a month) aren't covered. the $40 was for extended
care, so I can imagine most people here would jump at the chance to
just pay that.
>From what I know (that my US friends tell me) the best thing is
employment group medical care. I knew of someone who was offered it
for $50 a paycheck, not sure on the deductable. He opted out, but
needed it badly when the hospital charged him $1000 for treatment on
his jaw and Xrays after a bike accident. And he thought $100 a month
was too expensive...
S.
On Jan 27, 1:28 pm, gardnma <[email protected]>
wrote:
> > Does anybody know an approx cost for health insurance for a family of
> > 4(2 children)?Cobra has cost me $900 for one month, that was 10 years ago and we were
> a married couple plus one child.
>
> Cobra would have cost about $1100 per month recently, had I bought it.
> Thats with a married couple and two children.
>
> FYI:
>
> Cobra is the "bridge" insurance scam you are offered when you leave
> a job.....
>
> You should try the insurance companies for quotes......they will vary,
> so shop around. Its complicated.
>
> --
> Posted viahttp://britishexpats.com
Last edited by jaytee; Feb 2nd 2007 at 6:52 pm.
Feb 2nd 2007, 7:03 pm
#17
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2
Re: Health insurance in u.s.
I think the OP is now considering Italy....
Feb 2nd 2007, 9:18 pm
#18
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Health insurance in u.s.
"ardua" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] m...
>
> Does anybody know an approx cost for health insurance for a family of
> 4(2 children)?
mine (same family) , through an employer, costs ~12,000/year.
news:[email protected] m...
>
> Does anybody know an approx cost for health insurance for a family of
> 4(2 children)?
mine (same family) , through an employer, costs ~12,000/year.
Feb 2nd 2007, 9:20 pm
#19
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Health insurance in u.s.
"Sapphyre" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] ps.com...
> Reading this thread about what you guys pay in insurance... is there
> any chance it's better to just go without it?
no no no no!!!
That is cheap compared to what happens if you get seriously ill.
Our hospital stay for a childbirth (in hospital for 36 hours) was about
$15,000.
news:[email protected] ps.com...
> Reading this thread about what you guys pay in insurance... is there
> any chance it's better to just go without it?
no no no no!!!
That is cheap compared to what happens if you get seriously ill.
Our hospital stay for a childbirth (in hospital for 36 hours) was about
$15,000.
Feb 2nd 2007, 11:26 pm
#20
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 23
Re: Health insurance in u.s.
Italy is a $100 return flight from my hometown..my wife loves it...so untill we settle in usa we travel too and fro.
Feb 3rd 2007, 12:19 am
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 4,792
Re: Health insurance in u.s.
Cobra has cost me $900 for one month, that was 10 years ago and we were a married couple plus one child.
Cobra would have cost about $1100 per month recently, had I bought it. Thats with a married couple and two children.
FYI:
Cobra is the "bridge" insurance scam you are offered when you leave a job.....
You should try the insurance companies for quotes......they will vary, so shop around. Its complicated.
Cobra would have cost about $1100 per month recently, had I bought it. Thats with a married couple and two children.
FYI:
Cobra is the "bridge" insurance scam you are offered when you leave a job.....
You should try the insurance companies for quotes......they will vary, so shop around. Its complicated.
In NYC, we had Dental/Optical/Medical $10 copay, no referral, ZERO deductable + FOC drugs.
Florida medical Ins cover stinks, pay for every little thing.
Reg
Reg. Frank R.
