I just received my yearly renewal for my health insurance. 4 years ago it was 640 a month, now it's 872 a month and in January it will be 1272 a month. I could switch plans for 972 a month. My hubby and I work for ourselves and things are really slow, and it doesnt' look like the next few months will be better, actually we may both be out of work, so approx. 1000 a month is just too much, and this is not even a great policy. at the moment we dont' have a prescription plan and dental is totally out of the question. I know none of you can help, I am just boo-hooing. I am so afraid of being without it, but even a retail job won't cover this amount, we need that money to pay mortgage, car insurance and eat. Something's got to give.

I carry insurance for both my hubby & me from my employer. I pay $700 a month and they pay $1100 (I believe). It's unreal when you think about it.... yet at this stage in our life we can't afford to be without either.

I feel your pain.

And the health insurances are all up in arms about national health care - saying that a national health care plan will cause them to increase rates - when have they NOT increased rates???

This is one of the few countries where a major illness or unexpected accident or emergency operation can bankrupt people and cause them to lose their homes. And this includes people who HAVE health insurance. (Over 50% of the people who have to declare bankruptcy due to medical costs HAVE health insurance).

It's making a lot of us feel like we should move to Canada - but that's not so easy anymore - Canada doesn't want our sick insurance deprived or under insured refugees LOL.

Something has to change.

I have crappy Kaiser, which I guess is better than nothing. Maybe they aren't that crappy except I hate the Dr.s in general. They really have a system there I liken it to movie the Stepford Wives except its the Stepford Drs, lol. My husband and I pay 300.00/mo. My employer pays the rest, which isn't that bad on their end. I am currently on medical leave and they are actually paying our full premiums which is pretty nice of them. My husband works for another branch of their company so they could technically take it out of his paycheck but they haven't done so yet. I know I am limited in that I can't go out of network per se, I can change Dr.s throughout Kaiser. The major Kaiser hospital is close to me and it is a good one. The only thing with them is you pay co-pays ($30.00) all over the place. Their RX formulary is limited to mostly generics as far as your co pay goes. If you want brand name it is coming out of your pocket for the most part. Hearing what some of you pay, I guess, it is liveable. It is outrageous what we have to pay for insurance health and otherwise. It's a wonder any of us can live at all. Between health insurance, car insurance, homeowners insurance, property taxes, car registration, sales tax, payroll deductions, it's a wonder how many of us get along at all. Oh well, enough of that. I need chocolate.... dark chocolate, lol.

enough, i feel for you and your husband. that is a terrible situation you are in and believe me, many of us are in the same boat.
i can't believe how bad things are getting, it's a jungle out there.
sincerely
boo

My husband and I dropped our insurance several years ago.It was too much.My kids have coverage but we do not.We took the money we would have been paying the ins.Co and put it in the bank,left it there,and when we need to go to the dr we pay cash.Most drs offices will even give you a discount if you pay that day.Mine does.Also most drug companies now have programs to help you if you cannot afford your prescriptions.So please do not be scared.GOD bless

I guess that works to a degree as far as simple Dr. appt for annuals, the flu or whatnot, however, if you have a major illness your gonna have to have a ton of money in the bank to cover such an emergency. If you are on the younger side of the fence than that will probably suffice but as you get older and more junk pops up as many of us can attest to, it's just plain scary for so many people.

I am covered through my job, but hubby is self employed and his premium is $800 a month with a $2500 deductible!! I stress about it every month!! I am so sorry you are dealing with this!! It's just so unfair! ONE big illness and the whole family is wiped out financially!!

(((((enough))))) hang in there!! I hope help is on it's way!!

I thank you all for listening. It is so scary. I almost dont' want to go to any doctor right now for fear that if I had something and had to drop the insurance I wouldn't be able to ever get it again with the preexisting clause. LOttery here I come.

enough, i understand! i know the feeling..hubby and i are without insurance right now..we paid COBRA till the money ran out...it is quite scary to be without insurance..as i am a cancer patient in remission..in indiana==you must be without insurance for 6 months and then you can qualify for the healthy indiana plan...we are working on the 4th month without..so we are getting closer..but it is quite scary...everyday i pray that we stay healthy..I am trusting God to take care of us...
check into your state insurance plans....its possible you may be able to get some insurance there..
somehow i feel that health care reform is desperately needed! im not sure its going to pass this time around...but something needs to be done to help us!

I understand what you are saying,however what are people who simply cannot afford insurance supposed to do?We have searched high and low for affordable plans and cannot find one.I am thankful that hubby and I are healthy-but if one of us had to go into the hospital I am sure they would work out a payment plan as well.GOD-bless

I completely understand, I wasn't being negative toward your situation. I'm apologize if it sounded like I was judging you as that was not at all what I meant in my post. This is NOT your fault, health ins. is just very expensive and it shouldn't be. There are definitely county hospitals (usually teaching hospitals) that you could get care from in an emergency. My ex found out he had colon cancer he has no insurance, no job. He lives in Texas, the state paid for his surgery and chemo/radiation. Is it top of the line care or cutting edge care? I don't know. He is just grateful to be getting care. Maybe that is the only benefit of insurance is that you have more of a choice, but, even then do you really? The whole health system is so clogged up in red tape, it's a mission to get anything done even in a serious situation. If you are a millionaire which the majority of us are not, we don't get to choose the most esteemed or the most advanced in knowledge Dr. or hospital. They make it so darn difficult. I get a headache trying to pick the plan I want. We don't pay that much in premiums, we are with Kaiser. My employer pays 1/2 and we pay 1/2 for myself and spouse. It comes to a little over $300/mo. which isn't much but I still don't like paying it but I am grateful for it. You have to do the best you can with what you have. I know many people who don't have medical insurance. My husband and myself didn't have any for 2 years. You are not alone in this dilemma. I hope our government comes up with something that makes sense for everyone. (but, again it's the government so I'm not holding my breath). Take care, Mich

Thanks Mich,this is one of those subjects that really gets us all.My hubby and I tried to keep our ins.,but the deductable was so high the ins .co was not paying anything.I wonder if we will ever see affordable care for all Americans?I really hop and pray we do.GOD-bless

I can always count on you guys to help me feel better, no matter what the situation is. thank you ALL. I hope I suddenly find a great job with benefits and my husband gets a huge house to build, then we will be set for a while. If not, then, we will just have to deal with it, take vitamins, eat right and keep exercising and hope for the best. Even with our current insurance, I know it's not enough if we really got sick, 900 a month and no prescriptions, so really, what does it give us? I am really hoping the reform passes this week and we all start seeing results. I still want to believe it will get better. Have a great weekend.

My husband and I are also doing without health insurance at this time. We had it through his job till just two months ago (August). Things are really tight for us now and unfortunately, that high insurance had to go. Hope we can find something affordable soon. We've had to go to a Redi-Clinic once for a prescription but if something serious were to happen, we would be "up a creek."

I hate out current health care system....

Just saw a report that in some states, people purchasing health insurance may have only one insurer to choose from, and in other states-they may have only two choices available. North Dakota was the state that only had one insurer. Without choice, the insurers have a monopoly situation where the consumer is the loser.

Sad,I just hope whatever happens I get some health care help.GOD-bless