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Talk to me about health insurance (or lack of)
Seth wants to take a new job and it is unclear at this point if they offer health insurance. Currently he is on his own plan at Oakley. I've checked into having him on my plan and it is crazy expensive to have all three of us on my plan.
He says that he is not going to NOT take a job because they don't offer health insurance. This is a job that could develop into a career (Maine Running Company) and he would really enjoy his time there. Right now he can't stand his time at Oakley.
I say that he can't not have health insurance. If he were in an accident and we had a hospital bill of $15000 couldn't that put us into bankruptcy?
Is it really risky to not have health insurance?
What do people do when it is not offered through their work? Like people in a small business or waitresses, etc.
Re: Talk to me about health insurance (or lack of)
I'm not sure what the options are in Maine for buying individual health insurance plans but from my experience, you want health insurance. I see the worst of the worst though as a medical social worker! Are you able to add him to your plan?
ETA: and since I'm in MA, I don't know all the options for people to access insurance unfortunately... I could write you a book if you were here though. There is also a difference between medical debt and financial debt affecting your credit.
So I guess that having all three of us on my plan isn't as expensive as having Seth get his own plan through someone. All three of us can be on my plan for just over $450 a month...if I get to keep my job...which at this point looks OK.
I hate this kind of crap.
I want rainbows and cake all day long.
And puppies and kittens too!
And I agree, Seth should have health insurance and it is probably cheaper to just add him to your plan. Can he ask MRC about whether they offer health insurance? And if not, what the future prospects might be if this were to become a career?
The cost is so frustrating!
I just wanted to add that since YH is pounding the roads often running, it's even more of a benefit for him to have insurance. My brother is a professional triathlete and he was hit by a car last year and broke his wrist. He's very thankful that my dad made him look into an individual catastrophic policy...because if he didn't, my brother would still be paying off those bills. My brother doesnt' have anything but $$ that they'd take, but if you guys own your home, that could be at risk if the medical bills collected too much without INS.
Ugh, insurance.
I wouldn't say this was a great decision, because I do think it's better to have insurance, but I was without it for 3 years between leaving college and when I could finally afford the premiums at my job. Matt doesn't have insurance anymore since leaving Oakley, and it does make me nervous, especially because of his fondness for high risk outdoor activities, but right now that's just how it is. The little dude is on his mom's insurance through her work.
It's exciting that Seth has this chance and crappy that money is standing in the way. Grr. I hope it will work out somehow, it sucks feeling trapped in a job you don't like because of money, that's where I am and it's pretty discouraging.
Jake blowing out the candle at Katie's coming home party
Katie Belle
Kristen, Chad, Jake, Katie & Sadie the Wonderdog, est. 6/17/06
Yes, catastrophic is what I was referring to as short-term - you can get that for as cheap as $50 a month, but yeah, honestly I would probably just add him to your plan if you have to. It's not great, but it's not the worst especially if you have good coverage. I used to pay $850 a month for just Marcus and I for kind of crappy coverage
That was when we looked at catastrophic/short-term for Chris because we absolutely could not afford to add him to my plan.
I hear ya
Yeah, he needs health insurance. Especially with all of the running he does. If he hurts himself and needs surgery or something you guys would be screwed. The money out of the paycheck sucks, but least it's a little at a time rather then a big hospital bill.
He definitely needs health insurance! I look at it as a necessary expense, like taxes. The cost just is what it is, it's something you have to do.
Sounds like you can get him on your plan, so just do that if his new company doesn't offer a plan.
I think everyone gave great advice. $450 seems like a ton, but I remember when I was doing the health insurance dance, it was sooo expensive. I ended up paying $550 or so a month for reduced cobra, which ended up to be over $750 a month for just me. It was very stressful.
GL with your decision. Kudo's to Seth for the possible new career!
$450 a month for all three?!?! Can I have that plan? That is WICKED cheap! I pay $250 a month for crappy insurance-- just in case something goes wrong. In the past year, I've paid out over $1000 (beyond the monthly premium) plus co-pays. And that was only because I HAD to go to the doctor because I had intractable vomiting. No wellness care covered at all. Huge deductibles.
I have never worked anywhere that had such a low insurance premium for a family of 3. Snap that up before more budget cuts make it impossible!
$450 a month for family coverage is great, I pay $700 for just Josh and I
I didn't have health insurance the summer between when I graduated college, and started my first job, I went a year on the Aetna plan my school offers, then switched to the BC&BS plan MH has at his work, My school since they pay my insurance for me, offer an In Lieu Of payment for opting not to take it, and since the person who was in the office didn't tell me that they offered that for the 3 years she was embezzling money from my school, they are paying me back for the 3 years I was not getting reimbursed for being on DHs plan, they'll either pay me what they would normally be paying for my insurance, but in my case they pay what it costs DH for me to be on his plan. It's kind of nice to get that chunk in my paycheck..
Anyway maybe Seth's company will offer (eventually) a credit if he opts to go on your health insurance rather than take theirs?