LightPanther

Hi
I am hearing some scaarrry figures banded around for health insurance in the US (likes of $10k to $12k per year). I understand that a good bit is underwritten if working for a big company....but these figures seem ginormous. How do the self employed or those struggling to get a small business to fly manage at all? Are these figures typical? Or do others here have experience of more affordable insurance to be had (please understand, I am not asking for details about pareticular insurance companies..God knows their web sites are bad enough when you go to them...just genuine examples/advice from the Americans on the forum or the expats. I mean, a couple trying to get established.....$22k per year for medical insurance....that could swallow up everything.
Give me some hope here! (if there is any)

Bob

That's why a lot of people don't have it...
The missus gets a couple hundred taken out each month, that's for medical, teeth and eyes, but on a crappy hmo, I'm only allowed emergency medical until she's been there a year, so I won't get full coverage till Jan.

Englishmum

My friend works in the fashion industry in New York City and although she gets her bookings through the Elite Models agency, she is self-employed.

Her medical insurance bill for herself and two children is $300 per week. She has to pay a $100 copay on hospital admissions and has no dental insurance. Her husband is a stay-at-home dad...and has no medical insurance coverage whatsoever.

They are gambling in the scenario that if he needs (non-emergency) medical treatment for a serious condition, he will return to his native Australia for it.

My friend's brother now lives in the US as he married an Italian-American woman last year during a whirlwind romance. The wife is a self-employed florist (arranges flowers for weddings, barmitzvahs, NYC corporate buildings etc) and David is a self-employed carpenter/builder. Their insurance is $800 per month between them but I understand that it's pretty basic coverage.

Ben

The first person on a medical insurance policy is the most expensive. Generally when you go to a couple, then family, it isn't double the first, triple the second etc. We pay our own medical insurance and for the family it is about $15,000 per year, but we don't pay tax on this. It is deducted before taxes. Then there are co-pays, out of pocket expenses (the majority of insurance only covers for 80% of operations/procedures) etc. Some states allow you to put all medical expenses that come straight out of your pocket onto your tax return, some you only get that privilage if you earn under a set limit. then there are prescriptions which can vary in price depending on what your insurance company will cover etc.

Hope that helps

NC Penguin

That's interesting. Under my spouse's employer's health insurance, his cover is free (we don't pay anything. The employer bears 100% of the premium). The employee him/herself pays nada. So, our monthly premiums are really only for me.

This has been the case in 2003, 2004 and for next year.




NC Penguin

Bob

You've been very lucky then...doesn't happen often that they take the hit...it's one of the first things they cut to save money...

AmerLisa

I have to agree with Bob. That's the way it used to be over here. After living in the UK and coming back, I find its not the norm at all. My husband has a job where his medical insurance (and we pay about $27 weekly) has a maximum of $15,000. That's $15,000 for everything, including hospitalisation, surgeries, whatever. This is all the company offers. And its at a very high premium. When I called to enquire about it, they just said that's what the company picked. It makes me very mad that anyone can get away with this crap.....god help anyone if they get really sick. :scared:

Amywen

Oh, how I miss universial healthcare. My husband and I simply can't afford insurance for the moment so we're gambling that nothing will happen to either of us. I'm not comfortable with that. I'm only in my 20s but I've had some health problems in the past that required me to see specialist after specialist and had lots of testing done... thankfully this was all north of the border so it never cost me a dime.

AdobePinon

My premium runs at $400/month for medical, dental and vision. Most of it is picked up by my employer. Sure glad they have it.