Re: URGENT: cost for individual medical insurance

Chris,

If you'll be a consultant instead of an employee, you may qualify for a
health savings account. http://www.treas.gov/offices/public-affairs/hsa/

Our local consumer guru recommends them with the following:
"The gotchas of joining an HSA
Clark is a big advocate of Health Savings Accounts or HSAs, a new form of
health coverage for which more than one million people have signed up. The
most interested are the self employed and small business owners, but more
corporations are starting to offer HSAs to employees, as well. Basically,
members pay a $1,000 deductible up front and, in return, their premiums go
down over time. At the same time, members can put money into a tax- free
HSA, which earns interest and can be used down the road to pay for
healthcare. It changes things because the member becomes the customer, not
the company supplying the insurance. The problem is that some companies
charge a significant amount to open an account. The Web site hsafinder.com
lists the 10 worst companies out there today, and the worst one charges a
$235 fee annual fee. So, if you open an account with $1,000, you immediately
have only $765. Other companies charge no fee at all and those are the
companies you want to join. When you're setting up your HAS, be aware of
what charges are involved. There shouldn't be any! "

It won't take care of the routine stuff, but it should take care of the
gotcha, while reducing premiums. It seems to work for friends who don't go
to the doctor a lot.

d



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christopher P. Lindsey" <lindsey@mallorn.com>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2005 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] URGENT: cost for individual medical insurance


> > Probably a lot more than you'll want to pay. Health insurance seems to
> > put the lie to all that "market forces" nonsense we are continually
> > bombarded with. May I suggest that you explore joining--or affiliating
> > with--an existing consulting firm [having a client in tow is a definite
> > plus] that has a group policy. It may involve kicking in a share of
> > your retainer for access to group purchase.
>
> I was also thinking of going the corporate route and doing it through
> Mallorn; the prices seem better when you have a company behind you.  But
> there's a lot of research to do.
>
> > Also, consider if you're a 34-year-old non-smoking male, how much
> > health insurance you really need. When I was a self-employed
> > writer-editor, I went about 30 years with no health insurance.
>
> Honestly, not much.  I get eye exams yearly and glasses every two years,
> dentists visits twice a year, and doctor visits maybe twice a year
> too.
>
> It's just that 'what if' factor.  Having a friend who just recovered
> from cancer and only ended up paying $500 out of the $250,000 bill
> because of insurance was kind of neat to see.
>
> Another option that I just researched is CORBA.  It looks like I can
> continue my current coverage for 18 months after I leave the University,
> but I need to call tomorrow to find out what the premiums will be.
>
> Chris
>
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