health insurance

Nurse Ratched, RN · Aug 12, 2004

Do you have chronic conditions or just need catastrophic coverage? You might also check in the student nursing forum where they discuss this - many students are required to have insurance before they can start clinicals. Good luck :).

jemb · Aug 12, 2004

Depends a lot on your age, too. There's a huge difference between what a 20 year old and a 50 year old pay in premiums. When I worked per diem (for many years), I chose a PPO with a high deductible and copays for basic office visits, 80% coverage for everything else after the deductible was met. It had an annual $5000 maximum annual out of pocket which would be applicable if I had an accident or serious illness that resulted in a lot of medical expense.

Mine was through Blue Shield, but I think Blue Cross has a similar policy. I even heard that Kaiser Permanente has come up with a comparable plan, if you live in a state that has Kaiser.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Aug 12, 2004

... Does anyone know of any reasonable health insurance coverage...

A fairly recent Consumer Report article on this subject, concluded that basically there's no real good answer to the above prob faced by many unemployed folks. Sorry.

Check out the mag. Should be readily available at the library.

Good luck!

dazzle256 · Aug 16, 2004

I recently changed my status from staff to prn. Naturally I lost my health benefits. while searching to purchase my own, the quotes has been " thru the roof." Does anyone know of any reasonable health insurance coverage.
Thanks in advance

What about AFLAC? (spelling) ... you know the one with the duck. A PRN nurse I know uses that.

directcare4me · Aug 16, 2004

I will also be needing to get my own soon. I plan on looking at Golden Rule; after reading the previous post, I will also check out AFLAC.

futurenp · Aug 17, 2004

Golden Rule is a great one. It paid out nearly a million dollars for my dad when he had leukemia 3 years ago. Unfortunately, they won't insure someone from my state (Washington).

Jolie, BSN · Aug 17, 2004

I will also be needing to get my own soon. I plan on looking at Golden Rule; after reading the previous post, I will also check out AFLAC.

My parents were self employed and couldn't afford traditional health insurance. They carried a catastrophic policy with Golden Rule for a number of years, but were dumped by the company as they got older, despite having no significant health problems or large claims. Check out any company thoroughly, including contacting your State Board of Insurance.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Aug 17, 2004

When you change from "with insurance" to "without insurance" you are eligible for COBRA. Check with your HR department.

RN4NICU, LPN, LVN · Aug 17, 2004

When you change from "with insurance" to "without insurance" you are eligible for COBRA. Check with your HR department.

A nurse that used to work on my unit came back as PRN recently. We were talking one night about health insurance. He told me his COBRA rate (for the good for nothing crap insurance we had) was $900 per month!!!!

OMG!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

It wasn't even good insurance!

By the way, Blue Cross and Blue Shield are now BlueCross BlueShield - one company (I actually thought they had always been one company - learned something new!), and they have very decent rates for individuals.

directcare4me · Aug 17, 2004

My parents were self employed and couldn't afford traditional health insurance. They carried a catastrophic policy with Golden Rule for a number of years, but were dumped by the company as they got older, despite having no significant health problems or large claims. Check out any company thoroughly, including contacting your State Board of Insurance.

I will definitely check into this; although, my closest friend is self-employed and has had Golden Rule for several years. It is set up by Golden Rule that you join FACT, which I can't remember what that stands for, but it is a "group", and according to Golden Rule, this then means that you cannot be dropped, or have your individual rates go up. The group rates go up every year, but supposedly, not your individual rate. Will have to do some investigation. (as always)