What would happen...REALLY???

[floradelaluna]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? GEORGIA

We are self-employed, work is slow and we are totally FED UP with health insurance and are ready to DUMP IT. We have been told so many things and would like to know once and for all, what IF something did happen??? Here's what they say: 1.) you'd make small payments on your medical bills for life 2.) Your house and everything would be taken 3.) You could go to Grady Hosp. and get treatment for free 4.) You could go to Grady and get treatment on a sliding fee scale 4.) You would be forced to bankrupt 5.) "They" would just "write it off" (ha ha)

Would someone who has nothing to lose or gain PLEASE tell us the truth???

We do not want to go without FOOD just to pay a fortune for crappy insurance that would probably try to get out of paying anyway.What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

[ecmst12]

If you were to incur a large medical bill, you could be sued if you do not pay and your nonexempt assets could be taken. You could have to declare bankruptcy. Your credit would be totally destroyed. You likely don't qualify for indigent care since you're not, well, indigent. Have you looked into getting insurance through a local small business owners association? You can save a lot of money that way. You could also look into a high deductible plan which would be for "catastrophic care" but not really pay anything for preventive or minor injuries/illnesses. They are dirt cheap.

[cbg]

We can tell you what COULD happen. We cannot tell you what WOULD happen. The crystal ball is out of order and we have no way of knowing how accomodating any given doctor or hospital would be if you incurred a large medical bill that you couldn't pay.

[floradelaluna]

~SIGH~ What we have is a catastrophic policy. The economy has severely wounded our business. We're barely getting by and recently saw an attorney to file Ch. 7, although we are trying to avoid it. We pay over $600 per month for just us two adults, the kids aren't covered. Our deductible is $10,000. What is left over to pay the Dr.'s visits and the prescriptions? It's the best we could find. We've tried all other avenues that we know about. Two trade associations, Chamber of Commerce...same story...premiums too costly, deductibles too high.

People who are self-employed with a spouse that has group insurance don't know how bad this is. I guess we're in the minority. One of the reasons we wanted to drop this monthly expense is to help AVOID bankruptcy.

What can an insurance attorney do? We don't have a specific complaint, except about the entire system and how individual insurance is allowed to operate.

[ecmst12]

You don't need an attorney. You need a good insurance agent/broker who can help you find a policy that you can afford.

[floradelaluna]

Yup, you're right, but it doesn't exist, contrary to what all sorts of people CHOOSE to believe. I've been through this torture too many times in the last 15 or so years. We are not young and we have pre-existing conditions. I JUST (this week, today) worked with an agent and made application...yet once again...for something that MIGHT cover all four of us, $200 per month less than we're paying, SAME DEDUCTIBLE ($10,000). Nice that the rate is guaranteed for two years, but then what...they ALWAYS go up. Now...let's see what rate hike and exclusions they're going to come up with...they kept me on the phone for over two hours and asked the same questions 4 - 5 times, hoping to catch lies so they can slither out of paying claims later on. They asked everything but how many times we wipe our behinds. Still not satisfied, I have a lengthy list of questions to call doctors and ask about. If you are not totally self-employed (without an employed spouse), don't even bother to comment. YOu haven't been through the washer, dryer and wringer! It is a deplorable situation. It is in place ONLY, and I mean ONLY for the profits of the insurance company. My family's health is NOT a concern. Bring on the National healthcare...!!!

P.S. Before you try to tell me what is "AFFORDABLE," lets check our definitions. $600 per month with a $10,000 deductible is NOT. And I busted my butt to get that because the previous policy went up to $1,000 per month. Not "AFFORDABLE" in my situation!!!

[floradelaluna]

Yup, you're right, but it doesn't exist, contrary to what all sorts of people CHOOSE to believe. I've been through this torture too many times in the last 15 or so years. We are not young and we have pre-existing conditions. I JUST (this week, today) worked with an agent and made application...yet once again...for something that MIGHT cover all four of us, $200 per month less than we're paying, SAME DEDUCTIBLE ($10,000). Nice that the rate is guaranteed for two years, but then what...they ALWAYS go up. Now...let's see what rate hike and exclusions they're going to come up with...they kept me on the phone for over two hours and asked the same questions 4 - 5 times, hoping to catch lies so they can slither out of paying claims later on. They asked everything but how many times we wipe our behinds. Still not satisfied, I have a lengthy list of questions to call doctors and ask about. If you are not totally self-employed (without an employed spouse), don't even bother to comment. YOu haven't been through the washer, dryer and wringer! It is a deplorable situation. It is in place ONLY, and I mean ONLY for the profits of the insurance company. My family's health is NOT a concern. Bring on the National healthcare...!!!

P.S. Before you try to tell me what is "AFFORDABLE," lets check our definitions. $600 per month with a $10,000 deductible is NOT. And I busted my butt to get that because the previous policy went up to $1,000 per month. Not "AFFORDABLE" in my situation!!!

[floradelaluna]

Sorry 'bout the double post. How to get rid of it?

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by floradelaluna

~SIGH~ What we have is a catastrophic policy. The economy has severely wounded our business. We're barely getting by and recently saw an attorney to file Ch. 7, although we are trying to avoid it. We pay over $600 per month for just us two adults, the kids aren't covered. Our deductible is $10,000. What is left over to pay the Dr.'s visits and the prescriptions? It's the best we could find. We've tried all other avenues that we know about. Two trade associations, Chamber of Commerce...same story...premiums too costly, deductibles too high.

People who are self-employed with a spouse that has group insurance don't know how bad this is. I guess we're in the minority. One of the reasons we wanted to drop this monthly expense is to help AVOID bankruptcy.

What can an insurance attorney do? We don't have a specific complaint, except about the entire system and how individual insurance is allowed to operate.

Have you ever thought of having one of you get a job that offers benefits, instead of both of your running your company? It might be something to consider.

[floradelaluna]

community hospitals, charity hospitals**************...WHATEVER they are called....WHAT do they do??? Service indigent people at no charge? Charge a sliding fee to everyone else? My nurse friend in another state says not to worry, (OH, PUHLeeeese!!!) that there are community healthcare centers that will care for you.. okay...exactly how is this possible? We are not indigent, but
dirt, and I do mean DIRT poor with DEBT...overwhelming, Chapter. 7 qualifying DEBT, which is not taken into consideration, only INCOME...but I am confused, don't understand what she means...?????????

[cbg]

There IS no one size fits all answer. There is no answer we can give you that will apply in ALL situations for ALL hospitals. Each hospital makes up their own collective mind as to how to handle such situations. You're asking us to give you a black and white answer to questions that are nothing but grey. The answer you want simply does not exist as an across the board response.

[ecmst12]

Ok you might want to rachet back the bitterness just a touch. WE did not cause your situation. My dad is self employed and I've seen what he pays for himself, his family, and his one employee - it's a lot more then $600, but it's also a lot better coverage. So have you looked into a small business owners association in your area? If you can get a group plan through one of those, you can possibly save money but more importantly you won't be subject to individual underwriting guidelines (like an employer-sponsored plan) and you'll have better coverage. You can also look into what state sponsored coverages are available in your state for your kids - I know in my state, any family can get state healthcare coverage for the kids on a sliding scale.

It's useless to complain about rates going up over the years, rates for EVERYTHING go up over the years, and yes health insurance is a business like everything else and they can't stay in business if they can't make money, just like YOUR business!

[cbg]

And FYI, my husband is self employed and I'm an IC. I cannot afford the group insurance that is available to me, and while he qualifies for coverage through his part time teaching job some semesters, he doesn't qualify every semester; it depends on how many sections they need him to teach. And yes, we are both in our fifties and yes, he has pre-ex conditions. So I know very, very well what you are saying. But I didn't cause your problem and neither did anyone else on this board.

[floradelaluna]

No, no one caused my problem here. I'm just venting because I don't know who/where to vent to (Obama???) and had just been grilled and drilled to death by the insurer I'm trying to apply with. I may end up giving up because they are wanting information from doctors in the past that aren't even practicing anymore!

The policy we now have is actually a small business policy, so that is not the answer. Actually, I'm mad at the situation and a number of other people (not on here) who have stubbornly argued that there MUST be something better out there, I'm just not looking hard enough.I really did want to get that message out!!!

Yes, many times have I considered finding employment with good coverage. Dh absolutely refuses to, so that's out. I have a three-page journal of jobs I've applied for, but with unemployment so high, my qualifications just don't seem to be competitive.

Sorry for offending anyone, but at least you're INFORMED the next time you meet someone in this situation. And I feel just a tad little relief for getting it off my chest...apologies for that...

[cbg]

WE were already informed. If you want to "get the message out" you might want to get it to the people who don't have it yet.

Yes, health care is expensive and not always affordable. That's not news to anyone here.