General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHealth Insurance Companies.....I hate them
I'm looking for health insurance for April. My cobra is over as of March 31, 2012. I was contacted by a company...see link
http://awaselectcare.com/ghs/compare-plans#awabenefits
We were reviewing the insurance starting at $209 per month. When I got down to surgery, it's not covered. I told the agent that I had no intention of having surgery (currently recovering from knee replacement), so there's nothing in my future, except for an emergency. The agent said look at the pollicy starting @ $314 per month. The surgical benefits still don't even cover a fraction of the cost. If I were to buy the policy and ended up having surgery I would end up bankrupt.
I hung up on the agent.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)riverbendviewgal
(4,252 posts)There are no limits.....yes, we have to pay for prescription drugs so many people have a private plan. My plan is $140 a month but covers prescription drugs, eye care, dental, massages, semi private and hearing aids....I claim the cost of the plan on my income tax.
When I turn 65 my Ontario govt health care covers all prescriptions except for a 2 or 4 dollar dispensing fees.
I can get all kinds of surgery , lab tests, and doctor visits. no limits. Hospital stays, operations etc and if I have to travel 200 km or over my Govt health insurance pays for the gasoline and a motel, if I have to stay overnight with a travel grant I apply for and send in..
It was the Canadian doctors that got me to take hearing tests and I found out that I was completely deaf on one ear and half deaf on the other one. American doctors never advised me to get tests. The hearing aid has really made my life more enjoyable.
Imagine going through two loved ones health care treatments at the same time. My son and husband both were diagnosed with cancer two months apart. They got everything, MRI, CATscans, chemo, radiation, stem cell transplant. intensive care, operations, tests, counselling, nutrition help, home care, palliative care. ALL NO CHARGE....We had to pay for the hospital parking and TV rentals.
And the government paid 2300 dollars toward each of their funeral costs.
My Florida vacation last winter had me meeting up with many Americans....I would say 85 percent of those not retired had NO health insurance...could not afford it.
so sad.
stopwastingmymoney
(2,042 posts)If it's available to you
I was declined by blue shield when my cobra ran out and kaiser took me with a reasonable premium. It's a deductible plan but I am protected if anything big happens.
Good luck!
hunter
(38,311 posts)You can cut your premiums by reaching for the very high deductible "catastrophic care" levels of coverage, but facts are if you suffer a medical catastrophe you'll be screwed with or without coverage. Most people can't pay insurance premiums when they can't work.
Unless you are fabulously wealthy the insurance companies will cast you off if you get too sick. Public agencies, "socialized medicine," will then pay for your support. Or you'll die.
Either way, the health insurance companies are fat pigs profiting mightily from the fears and suffering of their customers. They rob people when they are down and out.
Sensible civilized nations know that anyone can have an accident or a serious illness so they have universal health care.
The U.S.A. is not a civilized nation.