Anyone here who is self-employed and buying their own health insurance? Or have had kids w/ braces?

[GreenPartyVoter]

I'm going to have to leave medicaid and I have no idea how to find reasonable health insurance. Anthem is the major provider in this area. In fact it just about has a stranglehold so we may not have much of a choice.

Also, anyone have experience with dental insurance costs? I have a kid who desperately needs braces. Or is it cheaper to go without insurance and just pay for the braces?

[alc]

1. been a few years but I was self-employed for 10 years

I had better family coverage (me + wife + 2 kids) than any of the employer coverage my friends had (doctor choice, co-pay, drugs, dental, vision, etc) and they all paid more annually. I paid significantly less monthly but had a higher deductible ($1000-1500) but I still came out better for a year even if I paid the full deductible. Don't avoid high deductible plans because the deduction + 12 monthly payments can be less than 12 months with a low deductible. It may not work for you, but make sure you consider it.

We found a great independent agent who always got us good deals. He sold all sorts of things (annuities, stocks, life insurance, etc) and we had to listen to his sales pitch about every 6 months even though we said we only wanted health insurance. But it was worth 30 minutes since he often got us a better deal on health insurance. We switched pretty frequently (maybe 5-6 times over 10 years) but always kept the same doctors and low co-pays, etc. Years we needed the full deductible we were still ahead of low-deduction plans, but other years we came out much better.

Shop around and if you can find an independent agent who will continually look for you it may be easier.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Thanks. I will definitely look around. Anthem practically owns the state, so I don't

even know what else is available out there in my area.

[stubtoe]

2. I think a lot depends on which state you live in.

If you have any pre-existing conditions, you might have a hard time getting any insurance plan, unless your state has a high-risk pool plan you can buy into. But absolutely hunt around, once you get all the info together, the application process is pretty much the same between companies.

We learned that dental insurance is not a good deal, and that it's cheaper to pay out of pocket.

Good luck to you and let us know how it goes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Thank you. I will definitely be doing a lot of research.

[abluelady]

3. I Didn't Have Dental Insurance

The orthodontists in my area have great payment plans--they go over the length of the braces, which was over two years. It was definitely doable. My kids are self-employed and purchase their own insurance. They have a huge deductible so basically it is a catastrophic plan. It is all they can afford.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Hmmm Well, I have a ton of meds that I get so I am wondering if it would save me money if

I had insurance that would help me with the costs, or not.

As for the braces, the little man is not good with pain and freaked out over the idea of getting them. I don't even know when I will be able to talk him into doing this. :(

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. my daughter is 18. She had braces when she was 8

and the dentist that saw her at 18 told her that she never should have had braces
so young.

He also said that the braces weren't the appropriate treatment for her issue
which was an underbite.

I don't know how braces are for other people, just what my daughter experienced.
It was pretty uncomfortable for her.

I can't speak to other situations, just our own.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

6. Have you tried this site ....

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/


Do you belong to any associations that you can get group insurance with ? Sometimes a professional organization or a local Chamber of Commerce offers group insurance to members.

Also, don't rule out a High Deductible Health Plan and an HSA. You can fund the HSA with the money you would have paid the insurance company in premiums.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Thanks!

[EvolveOrConvolve]

10. I paid for both my wife's and my son's braces out of pocket

$1,800 for my son and $1,500 for my wife. They required a $300 down payment, then the balance in payments over a year. It's actually quite affordable (or at least more affordable than I thought it was going to be).

[supernova]

11. GVP, I will be

I am trying to start my own writing business and will be looking to have my own insurance.

If there is any way I can possibly afford it, I want to delink my insurance/medical care from any potential employers or colleagues.

I've had problems with lay offs the past eight years and I'm pretty sure at least two of them were related to my health status, that frankly merely mentioning I wasn't 100% healthy was as good as a deathknell.