What are you self employed guys doing about health insurance?

[Raider Bill]

This is a major peeve of mine. Actually this is way past a peeve. I lose sleep over it.

I had the same BCBS plan for years. Being self employed the last 28 years it was all on me. I also supplied the same to select employees. $500 deductible, and could go see any dr we wanted, free check ups and discounted meds.

Had a colon resection which cost me less than $1000 including all followups, everything. knee surgeries, heart issues with 8 days in the hospital. All covered no problem. Normal rate increases every year but manageable. I figure that I'll be revisited by either heart or colon C issues in the future so can't go without.

Enter affordable health care. as soon as this started my rates skyrocketed. Last increase was 87% to $2200.00 a month. No way could I afford that.

Had to tell a couple long time employee's that I couldn't pay their med plan anymore.

Went on the obama care marketplace last year and found that I make too much $$ to get any help. My wallet is in disagreement. Ended up with a crap silver plan nobody accepted that started out at $800 per month but couldn't find a dr to accept it so I lost all my established Doc's. It covered my meds but everything else had a $12K deductible then a equally high copay.

2 months ago someone decided that the county I live in needed a rate special increase due to higher medical costs so I got a notice that my premium was going up an additional 37% taking me to just over $1000 a month. I'm told be ready for more increases. The way business is I'm not going to be able to do that long.

I went to the VA Friday did the means test and got signed up. Don't know much about it but hope it keeps me from getting fined for not having coverage. I also don't know how it works if I'm in say Tenn and need medical attention with the nearest VA hospital 3+ hours away.

I have an appointment middle of February with a VA counselor who I hope answers my questions.

The affordable care plan is not affordable to me or anyone that is self employed that I know.

[red oaks lumber]

bill
i'm steve nice to meet you :)now you have meet someone that affordable care act has helped ! been self employed my whole life.

[Corley5]

Looks like you're in the minority R.O.L. 

[Peter Drouin]

None here, I make the payments to me and pay as I go.

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

Looks like you're in the minority R.O.L. 

Since September 9th, 2009.......the date he Registered.  :D :D :D

[red oaks lumber]

ain't that the truth goat  :D :D

[stumpy]

I'm not going to comment on this.  If I do, it will surely be sent to the restricted topics board and I will likely be sent to the woodshed.

[Raider Bill]

There are huge differences in the rates and plans between states and as I found out even within a state.

Steve, I'm glad it's working out for you. Maybe I can be a dependent, I'll pay the premium.  ;D

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

ain't that the truth goat  :D :D

Don't let it bother you ROL. At least you in the minority.....thats a group.

I am in a "1".    :D :D :D :D :D

[goose63]

Raider Bill talk to your V A rep I am in the V A health care system and I don't have to be signed up any mandatory insurance
I am at 100 % so my wife is on what thy call champ v a so she is covered through the V A too

[sharp edge]

Most people in U.S. hate Obamacare and think the Canada system is a joke. I put $60,000+ in 10 years in the old med. ins. system and didn't get penny back, SO there must be A great another system out there, tell me about it.

SE

[Bricklayer51]

Bill when all this started va sent me a letter saying my va health benefits meets a minimum standard or minimum essential coverage. So no need for any thing else. Your va rep will get you squared away .thanks for your service.

[Wisconsintimber]

We use a faith based health sharing group called Samaritans  It has been great for us, $400/month prem for family of 5 and $400 ded,  but we haven't had to go to the doctor very often.  There are some limitations though

[rbhunter]

Red Oaks what does the government plan run for you if you do not mind someone asking?

[red oaks lumber]

i won't post the premiumns , last time i did that i was beat harder than a dirty rug(old saying) what i will say is this.. when i applied in late 2013 i had an insurance guru help with the signup. my understanding about the ACA is it's most benificial to farmers, meaning me(they) have alot of exspense and alot of depreciation that helps reduce your taxable income. your health ins. prem. are based on line 37 of your fed. tax return...adjusted gross income
i also don't recommend self employed people to file their own taxes,the money you hope to save not paying a tax preparer will cost you alot more on lost deductions and credits. i'm having a real tough time believeing i'm the only one that is benefited from ACA ;) i'm not that lucky

[Randy88]

We've switched insurance quite a few times over the years, BCBS being the one we've had the most often.   Right now its running about a grand a month, fairly high deductible but all in all, we have been treated very good by them, we've used it a lot with all the kids over the years.   

As for what's to come, time will tell, but I do know, I weigh the pro's and cons of insurance, and as of yet, it pays me to have it, meaning I have more to lose if I wouldn't and something bad were to happen, in the future, who knows, I just take it one day at a time.     I could shop around a lot more to find the very best deal, but for me, I like to be able to pick up the phone and have someone I know to deal with and get answers from, or help if needed, rather than press one for English.   

[coxy]

 sorry put it in wrong place

[sandhills]

I'm not going to get into this too deep, but I agree entirely with Randy88, it's very nice to talk to a friend rather than a computer.  One of our best friends sells insurance and has went above and beyond for my step daughter who's a long time (multiple time) cancer survivor.  now that she's no longer a minor it was hard finding the right path, funny how the government won't stand behind someone going to college and holds down full time work, but if she wanted to be a deadbeat could have all the assistance she needs, now I'm done.  I get my insurance through my wife's  job, but before we were married the premium, on average, was tripling every year  :-\.

[Just Me]

 To put it all in context, I could make the payments on two nice new 4x4 pickups for what my crappy insurance is costing me..........

And I can never pay it off except if I die.

[reubenT]

My no 1 health insurance is John 3;16.  but we're talkin earthly stuff here.     My grandmother was a nurse under Dr Kellogg of Battle Creek Mi.  She was well versed in hydrotherapy,   I hear her mother treated a great many cases of flu during the epidemic of the early 1900's and never lost one.   My mother taught us,  (my brother and I)   and then he and I carried it a whole lot further by studying herbal and natural healing and nutrition quite extensively.  We know how to eat to stay well and what to do if we do get ill.    Consequently we never need a doctor.   The only possible need for one would be a really serious accident to set bones or some such thing.   
But I've worked in the woods timber cutting and sawmilling,   rode horses and done mechanic work and farming for the last 30 years with no worse accident than a jammed finger or a sprained ankle.  Therefor I don't have or want any of the normal health insurance.  If the gov wants to force me to have it they can do so,  but the chance of me using it is pretty slim.   I know some guys who are an accident waiting to happen, and some who eat all the wrong food that'll make them sick,  they should have it I suppose. But I have a talent of moving carefully, thinking before I move,  done quite a few tricky tree felling jobs safely.    Just a couple weeks ago I dropped a walnut,  it hung in a maple,   dropped the maple,   it turned the walnut loose but hung in another walnut.   Then I dropped the second walnut.    They call em widow makers for a reason. 

[red oaks lumber]

not having insurance is potentially comitting financial suicide. i can't do that in good faith.my opinion

[Raider Bill]

not having insurance is potentially comitting financial suicide. i can't do that in good faith.my opinion

I agree.