Nurses working without health insurance

sarafina · Jan 23, 2011

For those who asked, yes my policy is with my employer. There is a reason not many people at my work place can afford to buy the coverage. How am I expected to have to meet a 10 thousand deductible while still paying $500+ a month.

The 'good news' about the company I work for is that once you are there 5 years, the employer pays for your insurance (employee only not spouse of child). This sounds like a great deal....but think about how much you've paid up before the 5yrs are up.

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2011

I pay for private health insurance. $220/ month for myself. My deductible - $1500, copay $30/ visit. It boggles my mind that people who have insurance plans tied to their place of work pay more than I do.

The purpose of an insurance company is to provide profits for their shareholders , this is why Corporate Business needs to kept out of purchasing healthcare,

Providing healthcare, however, it doesn't matter who owns the facilities and who employs the staff as long as clinical quality is assured through a proper Quality Assurance and Clinical Governance process.

this is something which the Liarbore lovers of Unison and the 'reds under the hospital beds' Regressive Conservative Merkins both fail to realise ...

RooseveltERoosevelt · Jan 23, 2011

I can't find the paperwork with the actual amounts, but I have been told that insurance through my hospital is pretty reasonable and has a good prescription plan as well (if you fill it in house, which most people do). However, I don't use our plan- I use my husband's, since he is active duty military, so sticking with Tricare Prime means no costs for us (and I'm happy with our care). I did actually take dental insurance through my hospital, just for myself, because it's better than the military one (which I have, too), and I need to get some work done, so I figured it was worth it to have 2.

WickedRedRN, BSN, RN · Jan 23, 2011

I am fortunate in that my husband carries the insurance for the family. It was financially better for us to have him carry us, as a family policy through my employer would have cost us more than $350 per pay, and that was just for the health ins! He also carries the dental, although it is no great policy. Seems to me most dental policies don't cover much.

In any case, I have worked in the corporate world prior to my nursing degree and I can attest that hospital and health care workers get the worst insurance out there. Cost per pay is astronomical and the deductibles are atrocious.

Not_A_Hat_Person, RN · Jan 23, 2011

I just qualified for my employer's plan. I carry the insurance for myself and my husband. The cheapest available plan (out of 3) is $168/week, with a $1200 deductible. I just got done paying $695 a month for COBRA, and my ex-employer is trying to raise my January premium retroactively, after saying the premium would be the same when they switched plans.

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Jan 23, 2011

My husband insures us. We pay $360/month for entire family, which includes vision, dental and orthodontics. Our deductible is $1000 per person or max of $2500/ family. After that it is traditional 80/20 coverage. Our prescription coverage is not that great, but the only rx we have is for a flouride rinse which we pay for out of our health care spending acct. Our copayment is $20 an office visit or $150 for an ED visit if not admitted. Do not need referral for specialists. Prices do go up for out of network with greater deductible and coverage drops to 70/30. We have cadillac coverage b/c my husband is a partner in the firm and partners get this outstanding coverage. Other employees have a different policy but i don't know anything about it except that they will not insure tobacco users at all.

I heard coworkers say the plan offered at the hospital was really terrible.

canchaser, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2011

Wow, Jenin. U r lucky. I have a employer ppo. I use them for everything. Hospitalization is free. Dr appt is30. But I had my husbands insurance. 2500 family deductible. Then 80/ 20 which was still expensive. I broke my ankle and paid 5000 out of pocket but was glad for the coverage.

Bella'sMyBaby · Jan 24, 2011

How Pitiful.....Nurses who don't have/can't afford Health Insurance but in turn, take care of MANY people who have Sucked off the system their entire lives.....

2011NursingStudent · Jan 24, 2011

I purchased an individual Blue Cross/Blue Shield of IL plan for $270/mo... it was cheaper than my employer's insurance and has $30 copays, $3,000 hospital deductible and maternity coverage after 12 mos. I'm happy w/it.

rainbowsandsunshine · Jan 24, 2011

My company wanted $550/pay period ($1100/mo) to cover my family. Absolutely not!! We just signed up with a private insurance agent, who got us accident insurance, life insurance and dental/vision. We are willing to pay out of pocket for the little stuff. Figure as long as it is not chronic and requires hospitalization, it will still be cheaper than $1100/mo with $10,000 deductible. Also, we are starting a "Oh $hit" fund, of $100/pay period to have in savings for emergencies. That is the best we can do... Living on one income is a tight squeeze with 3 little kids.

Mudder · Jan 24, 2011

Health insurance in this country is a joke for working people, well, anyone really except the rich. I have coverage from work, it's doable but the deductable is outrageous as most of you know.

The really sad thing about healthcare in this country......those that fall threw the cracks. My youngest daughter (25), has a brain tumor, she was laid off from her job and couldn't afford COBRA (who can???) so now she has to just "deal with it" A FREAKIN' BRAIN TUMOR!!!! She can't afford the lab work to see the Doctor to get the prescriptions she needs to function but because she hasn't popped out a few babies she's not eligable for Medicaid......what gives??? Her life, that's all. It's so sad.

Psychtrish39, BSN, RN · Jan 24, 2011

I dont have health insurance I work on call for the state corrections department I would get benefits after 6 months if stay at part time EACH week. Suffice to say I havent been working part time weekly so no bennies until can consistently work part time each week (20 hours) and its my supervisors in the time of budget cuts to the state that control how much I work and also my 2nd job I am a vendor for a company and proctor home health aide certification exams so no insurance. I am healthy but I do have dental issues that need addressed. There are alot of nursing jobs acute care and otherwise but not many full time with benefits. Such is the breaks but I at least have a income coming in, so I am happy.