A new home health nurse cannot afford the health insurance

[faygokraze]

Here is my story. Im in michigan. A new LPN. Starting in home health care for a company i have worked for as an aide. While attending school and getting paid as an aide I was on medicaid as well as my 2 children. They stay at home with stay at home father. We live together just not married. He doesnt work. I get paid 22.00 an hour and work weekends only 12 hour shifts in home care. Iinsurance premiums for a family me and 2 kids would be 250.00 a week. NOT KIDDING!!! My company is considered an agency although being part of a hospital. Now I am no longer on meidcaid because my caseworker says i make too much but the kids will stay on it. Either way healthcare for a single (me) is 101.00 a week. How in the world do you guys afford this. Should I go to a LTC facility and quit a 22.00 an hour job for 16.00 but health insurance ??

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

Those rates sound outrageous, If I were you I would make sure those are correct quotes, If you are a weekend/baylor nurse you should be getting rates a full-time employee receives--that's the perk of being a baylor, if not I'd go elsewhere--that's just not reasonable. As a weekend baylor my health insurance is about $400.00 per month for a family of 5, Good Luck

[caliotter3]

Your situation is not unique. Many are in your shoes. Another consideration is that in agency home health, in order to even qualify for benefits, you have to work a minimum number of hours per week. Some agencies allow you to pay out of pocket to make up the difference, but most do not. Only you can decide whether trading jobs would be worth it to you. That premium just sounds too expensive to me. Most of us in your shoes just trudge along with no insurance. Carefully consider your options and all of the consequences, not just the health insurance issue.