health insurance

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

Health insurance is outrageous if you have to get a private policy. When I was working agency I tried to get a private policy for me and my children. For each child it was going to be $99 a month EACH... then for me.. well,,, I was 32 at the time, and the insurance company somehow looked into my health records and saw that I had been to the doctor a time or two and he diagnosed me with hypertension (which I had only once, because I was in so much pain from a strained ankle) Anyway, they failed to believe me and REFUSED to cover me. So,, I ended up getting a full time job that provided insurance and benefits. If I ever lose my job or have to go to agency work, I will keep my cobra insurance as long as possible. I know that they would never insure my now husband.. He has diabetes, hyperthyroid problems and hypertension.

Neveranurseagain, RN · Mar 11, 2009

I pay $1000 a month for my self and my 2 teens for the "privilege" of having Kaiser.

And I have a $40 copay for every lab or office visit. I don't qualify for an individual policy due to pre existing conditions. I wouldn't have health insurance if it wasn't for my late husband's employer still counting me as an employee as my COBRA has expired. It takes up 35% of my income....

The kids qualify for SCHIP, but it won't lower my premium at all as only a family plan is available.

I get all my antibotics online. By the time I drive 120 miles round trip to Kaiser, pay the $40 copay then another copay for an RX it costs too much. So I do what other people do--go to Amazon and buy pharmaceutical grade fish antibiotics...

I<3Nursing · Mar 11, 2009

I pay 99$ a pay period (bi weekly) for my family health insurance with a $25 co-pay for office visits. There are no pre-existing conditions for the insurance that we are provided and we have 8 different types of insurance to choose from, which is good bc you have choices but bad bc its hard to pick!! Right now I have blue cross blue shield federal. I work for the VA, but at a private hospital I paid 140 a pay period for family with worse coverage. Just thankfully i got the job working for the feds! Sounds like I'm lucky, they have either single or family no plus one, but that's good bc it covers my kid :)

MiCountry · Mar 11, 2009

I pay $25 PPP for a family plan which includes me and 4 children, but have about a $4000 annual deductable, 15$ copay for office visits. Found it often cheaper to have meds filled at Walmart than use the hospital pharmacy as they change a minimum of $10 for all scripts. I can get my Zantac for $6 a month at Walmart. Also Meijers (a local store similar to Walmart) fills many antibiotics for free and gives out free prenatal vits with a positive pregnancy test. That's relavant cause my 17 YO just told me I'll be a grandma again in 7 months.

Magsulfate, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

I pay $25 PPP for a family plan which includes me and 4 children, but have about a $4000 annual deductable, 15$ copay for office visits. Found it often cheaper to have meds filled at Walmart than use the hospital pharmacy as they change a minimum of $10 for all scripts. I can get my Zantac for $6 a month at Walmart. Also Meijers (a local store similar to Walmart) fills many antibiotics for free and gives out free prenatal vits with a positive pregnancy test. That's relavant cause my 17 YO just told me I'll be a grandma again in 7 months.

Congratulations.. I think? It's good right? Babies are miracles from Heaven. I was a mother of three (a set of twins in there) by the time I was 19.

Anyway, I think the poster is asking about private insurance, not group through your employer, maybe I'm wrong. But it is always wayyy more expensive if you get private insurance.

Mollypita · Mar 11, 2009

Wow, I'm amazed what some of you pay. It definitely illustrates the insane costs of health care these days!! I'm in MD, only cover myself with my employer's health plan, and the cost is $ 23.00 per pay period. I have a $20 copay, generic drugs I think are $10 per prescription. $50 for a visit to the ER. Dental and vision are not included, would be significantly more with those options.

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Mar 11, 2009

I pay $65 a week for a policy through my home health agency. That's for a single person and not the best policy they have either!

RNCEN · Mar 11, 2009

I am not in the medical field yet, but I pay $700 bi-weekly for myself, my wife, and 2 children.

LadyK,RN · Mar 11, 2009

I used to work for a large HMO and premiums are based on a variety of factors. The largest is employer group size, that is why people who work for the feds get such low premiums...the feds buy insurance coverage on a national level so they have great bargaining power. The second major factor is the benefits included. Usually, but not always, the better the benefits the higher the cost. The third major factor is usage of a group, especially smaller groups. Every year the costs associated with coverage are analyzed. If there has been a lot of usage (especially beyond basic preventative care) then premiums will be increased. The last major factor that I can think of immediately is the employer, how much do they contribute to the premiums of their employees and families? Again, this is where the feds offer great benefits, I think they pay about 70% of the premium.

jschut, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2009

I'm getting dh added to mine in a couple of days and mine should go up to about $57 a week.

That covers my spouse, myself and 3 children....

BrnEyedGirl, BSN, MSN, RN, APRN · Mar 11, 2009

I work for a hospital that is self insured,..I pay $203.48 a mo for health, vision and dental for me and one child. I pay $50 co pay for office visit, $150 for ER and our RX's are $10 IF I use the hospital owned pharmacy.