Health Care

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Permalink Reply by Richie on October 1, 2009 at 1:14pm

I have insurance for myself and daughter through my job. One of the few reasons I took a state job. Before I had this job I was in the same boat as you, she had insurance but I didn't. I know it sucks.

I found this web site, http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/Alliance?allid=Goo18811&sid..., I'm not sure how much it will cost. You will have to fill in the info to get a rate. I just googled cheap health insurance.

There was also a site called discount health insurance. They might be worth trying if ehealthinsurance turns up no good. You may have to sift through many of these sites to find one that will work. And do some research on the company to see if they are a legitimate company and not some scam.

Make sure that anyone you chose is accepted by doctors in your area. Years ago I worked at McDonalds and they offered Health Care Packages. One of my co-workers needed dental work done so he paid for this insurance for about six months. When he went to find a Dentist, they were none in the area that accepted that insurance and it was hell for him to get out of the plan.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on October 1, 2009 at 1:18pm

Thanks Richie that's what I'm doing right now, using the net and searching all around. I ended up in the hospital with a virus and now I owe over $2000 in medical bills, thank god my daughter has her own insurance she goes every 4 months to Seattle Children's for scans to make sure her cancer hasn't come back.

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Permalink Reply by Richie on October 1, 2009 at 1:27pm

I'm so sorry to hear about her cancer and I hope it stays gone. I could not imagine having to go through that.

Have you check with the state to see if they can help you out? I know all state work a little different and were I am from they would not do anything for me.......they told me if I wanted help I would have to quit school.......aint that some shit.........

They may help you pay the bill and give you insurance for a year or something. There should also be some type of Health Right or some other Sliding Fee facility close by that helps people without insurance. A lot of the time health will see people free of charge. The sliding fee doctors base your fee on how much you make. I think the ones around here you can get service of only 25% of the bill.

As far as using the net......... make sure you research the company first........the last thing you want is to get scammed.

Best Wishes to you and your daughter

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on October 1, 2009 at 1:31pm

Thanks so much she's doing great, been in remission for 4yrs. I'm gonna see if I can get basic health through the state, I think it's crap how much people have to pay just to see a doctor and to stay healthy.

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Permalink Reply by WhisperingWinds on October 1, 2009 at 5:21pm

Big corps not most service jobs offer health plans via the job., I would recommend contacting a college academic advisor to try to see about going to school to improve your jobs skills and benefits. Many states have programs to help single parents go back to school because they want you to do well and help your kids. Also, most states normally order the non custodial parent to pay for half of all none covered medical expenses or insurance premiums. Try that route via a dad. Richie is right, See your states medicaid and chip programs for parents who work with no health care coverage avaialable to them.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on October 1, 2009 at 6:24pm

It's not for my daughter she has her own insurance, it's for myself. As for school I am going back to school, I'm going for Computer Graphics.

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Permalink Reply by WhisperingWinds on October 1, 2009 at 5:28pm

Oh btw some states have free or low cost health centers. I will post the link. Health care is not cheap. I used to pay 400 a month plus copays. Get into the govt healthcare debate online. Contact your congressman at www.congress.gov they need to know how big the problem is.

Also call around and start pricing things. Some places now will ot even except insurance. You can pay cash as you go and most ER cannot turn you away and some can help you financially on a scaled bases.
http://healthfinder.gov
http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC_ByAddr.aspx

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Permalink Reply by Clare on October 1, 2009 at 6:22pm

I am paying $88/mo for health and dental for myself...found it through esurance, but high deductible and doesn't cover a lot, I'm owing quite a bit now. I am actually canceling it because you can locate inexpensive alternative health care in Portland through the naturopathic college or the Oregon College of Oriental medicine.

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Permalink Reply by Melissa on October 1, 2009 at 6:25pm

I filled out the form for basic health, now I sit on the waiting list until there's an opening and then it's going to be about $68 a month.

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Permalink Reply by WhisperingWinds on October 4, 2009 at 7:51am

call around for prices some places are giving deep discounts for cash. shop around and some dental colleges can offer some help for next to nothing. i discovered that while living in Idaho.

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Permalink Reply by Brennan on October 4, 2009 at 8:45am

There was an interesting article on NPR last week about this topic, and may be worth some time researching further before you plunk down for the discount health insurance... the gist of the article was on people in the exact same boat, who paid for health insurance on their own, and ended up with lower coverage, higher deductibles and higher co-pays, leading to a situation where they were actually worse off than if they had no coverage, from a financial perspective.

Working for Providence, we get reasonably good coverage, but I would suggest you consider taking a look at the individual health plan offerings directly from the major carriers in your area.

This raises a topic I've thought a lot about -- establishing group health care benefits for single parents. Working with a provider, a group of us could achieve lower rates than a single individual. I don't know all the ins and outs of it, but it makes sense to me on the face of it. What do others think?

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