Gasp! An uninsured Nurse (rant)

[optimist]

I visited a Dermatologist today to check out a painful spot that had developed on my lip. It came up in conversation with his assisstant that I was a nurse. She glanced at my chart and remarked "I see you dont have insurance, and you're a nurse? How can that be? Surely you realize how important insurance is." My response "I dont buy into the insurance business and Im prepared to take the finacial risks that that may entail". She rolled her eyes and went on about her business. This is not the first time Ive caught flack for being a nurse and not having medical insurance, as if my involvement in the healthcare field should somehow guarantee that I be excluded from the millions of Americans living without health insurance.

The truth is, my employer does not offer coverage for part-time employees (which I choose to be due to family obligations). I could be added on to my husbands work policy on which he carries himself and our daughter but at a price of over $700 a month (heck he would practically be working for just insurance!). I could get my own policy to the tune of $150 a month and pay outrageous copays for every visit and Rx. But Ive found that barring any major emergency/Dx that Im coming out much better NOT having insurance. The dermatologist gave me a discount for paying cash so my bill was only $60 (an insurance copay would have been $70). When I get sick I go to urgent care where they also give cash discounts, I pay $86 whereas hubby and baby have an urgent care copay of $200. I go to the health dept for my yearly GYN visit and BC pills to the tune of $90 (as based on my income) whereas when I had insurance I paid $35 per visit plus $25 a month for Rx. Im saving a ton of money not being insured. Now I know that if anything major comes up Ill have a ton of bills to pay out of pocket, but thats why they make payment plans. I just cant justify paying $1800 a year for a healthcare discount program (i.e. Insurance)

And just because Im a nurse does not mean I should have to have insurance!

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I used to think along the same lines as you.

Until my husband cropped with a genetic disorder that rendered him uninsurable and the medical bills were in the near-million, annually.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

When you are an unemployed nurse that isn't any different than any other unemployed person who can't afford insurance. Health insurance is a luxury that many employed people can't afford. I would invite anybody making such comments to buy a policy for me.

The OP is not unemployed; she works part time (by choice) and is a second income in her household. She is choosing not to be insured, which she is entitled to do. However, she posted this on a message forum which is designed for feedback from other members. She is getting feedback; I doubt she expected she would not receive opinions counter to her own.

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

You are one car crash or cancer diagnosis away from financial ruin. And who will end up paying your astronomical medical bill that you will default on because you can't pay? All the rest of us- through increased taxes, health insurance premiums, and increased medical charges.

[JBudd, MSN]

My late dh was diagnosed and dead in less than 5 months, at age 42. We had previously made the decision for me to work part time in order to access the hospital insurance, as what was available to him was extraordinarily expensive. At the time, we had a whopping $400 in savings.

My having insurance saved our family, got him care (good care), and we are debt free from it. Life insurance bought us a house downpayment, and a car that ran well. Rather have him than the cash, but wasn't given that choice....

I understand your math, but would encourage you to consider if you can get onto your hospital's plan as a part-time employee (I was at the time), and drop your husband's coverage instead.

Good luck.

[Ruas61, BSN, RN]

The 50 million in cost for that guy's healthcare, I wonder how much is the lawyer's cut.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

My husband was never sick a day in his life. Until he got a tumor...

6 months of chemo was $22,000 a month. A 20% copay was $4,400 a month. Add on radiation treatments, a major surgery, medicines, etc. even with insurance, our out of pocket expenses were astronomical. Thank God my husband was very successful in his career and we had the money.

If you never get sick, I'm sure you'll feel very satisfied about your risky philosophy. If you get cancer or some other catastrophic illness, I imagine you will look back on your cavalier attitude with regret. There is no "payment plan" that will assuage the financial devastation of a cancer diagnosis. But it seems you don't realize the true potential consequences of your attitude or you are in denial about the fact that serious illness can happen to ANYONE, regardless of previous health status.

But hey, it's your life and only you (and your family) will pay the consequences if your little gamble doesn't go well.

Good luck-you're going to need it. I'm sincere when I say I hope you enjoy good health and happiness.

This:

Well, not really. When it does happen, and she can't afford the payments of thousands or dollars, she'll default and everyone else will absorb her debt through increased cost of healthcare.

The hospital I worked at (and every other hospital in the country!) treats patients that will never end up paying their bills. I wouldn't want to see someone not receive health care due to cost, but it DOES affect so many things: the facility itself (that has to eat the cost SOMEHOW), increasing charges resulting in even HIGHER insurance premiums, etc. We as employees felt it, since there wasn't money for other things. We were even asked yearly to contribute to a fund to help offset these unpaid bills (!!!). It was voluntary, but the fact that they even ASK tells you how bad the situation is! So then, that comes full circle....we would see our premiums go up, our wages stagnate, and then be asked to donate from what we DO make.

It absolutely affects more than the person and their family.

[nursel56]

When you are an unemployed nurse that isn't any different than any other unemployed person who can't afford insurance. Health insurance is a luxury that many employed people can't afford. I would invite anybody making such comments to buy a policy for me.

Thank you. There are certainly a lot of people here wagging their fingers about this without knowing jack about the person's life, their assets, their health, their judgement, their probable insurance premiums based on age and previous health history, their zip code and their moral fiber. I think we know a catastrophic illness can wipe us out financially.

What matters is that we meet those obligations like responsible adults. Otherwise it's none of their business. I don't know any nurse who can't afford insurance spending her extra bucks on cell phones, manicures, and designer handbags.

[OCNRN63, RN]

Thank you. There are certainly a lot of people here wagging their fingers about this without knowing jack about the person's life, their assets, their health, their judgement, their probable insurance premiums based on age and previous health history, their zip code and their moral fiber. I think we know a catastrophic illness can wipe us out financially.

What matters is that we meet those obligations like responsible adults. Otherwise it's none of their business. I don't know any nurse who can't afford insurance spending her extra bucks on cell phones, manicures, and designer handbags.

Maybe. But those of us who actually have been unfortunate enough to be sidelined with a catastrophic illness know up close and personal how medical costs can spiral out of control. That's why it's unfathomable to someone like me to see someone seem so cavalier about dealing with something "if it happens." Heck, I just got a lab bill, for which I will be entirely responsible, for $3,340. I already hit my out-of-pocket max. for the year (which means I have shelled out beaucoup bucks), but insurance isn't covering this charge.

I don't know too many nurses who can afford to pay tens, even hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical care OOP.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

I think it is a tragedy that you, like so many other Americans, don't have access to affordable health care.

[ChuckeRN, BSN, RN]

I call BS on that story and the medical bill. I'd want an itemized account of that $50m.

For example, the SF Giants fan that was beaten at Dodger Stadium on opening day. His bills now total over FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS.

How much is that a month, you reckon? Someone working in healthcare should definitely understand that most major illnesses/accidents cost far, far more than one can pay on a payment plan, and should also know that the likelihood of it becoming a reality far outweighs the little that most people pay for insurance. $1800/year? Come on, now.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9PNLGAG1.htm

But like someone said, it's not my family. I just hope you don't live to regret this decision.

[SNB1014, RN]

do you do your crossword puzzles in pen, as well?

only those who are currently healthy are so "arrogant" to believe they don't need ins.

the current plan your hubby has is a rip, i agree. im sorry that this is the option you are dealing with right now.

God forbid you are faced with an emergency (something your local urgent care cannot handle) or a new dx of a chronic/serious illness, you will be billed to the max and the remainder will be distributed against your unfortunate fellow citizens.

for everyone's wallets and the well being of you and your family, please rethink this.

if i stretch it, i can see a young person or young healthy couple not have ins and count their healthy blessings. but for your child??? How about CHIP plans? an upgrade?

[JenniferSews]

You are certainly within your rights to do what you feel is right. I myself went without insurance from the time I was 18 until I was 25, like I imagine many others.

But I have to wonder what would happen if you suddenly had a catastrophic illness. Would you really set up a payment plan for an amount greater than your mortgage? Or at some point would you cut your losses and just declare bankruptcy, thus shifting the burden off onto the rest of us consumers who do pay for insurance?