purchasing your own health insurance

NedRN · Jan 17, 2015

The cost of good insurance is $400 - $800 and up. This is ultimately your cost as well. Your portion of the premium deducted from your check could be less, but no matter what your copay might be, make no mistake, you are paying the entire amount.

Flygaze · Jan 17, 2015

Which company did you find eye, dental and health for under $200? I have Aetna health only and it's $226. (To COBRA would have been $600/month!!!) The agency I'm working with is paying $150 a month for it since I opted out of their plan. I wanted continuity incase I decided not to go with the same company next assignment.

xoemmylouox, ASN, RN · Jan 17, 2015

I don't know of ANY insurance policy that is that cheap, especially if you are buying it on your own. I looked recently myself, and for just health insurance for my family the cheapest I saw was $600 a month.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 17, 2015

I'd like to know too. The cheapest I found was $600 per person.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 17, 2015

Blue cross blue shield? No? Am I wrong? The offer I got was $177 a month with the lowest deductible.

I love my blue cross and that's what I'd like to keep.

Keep in mind I'm single with no kids. Maybe that makes a difference?

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Jan 17, 2015

I'm old and have a higher income Just for me it's $600 month for a $5000 deductible. I believe it also depends on where you live too.

amoLucia · Jan 18, 2015

Uh, don't even begin to talk to someone from New Jersey. I think we have the highest premiums in the country and with such a narrow pool of providers available, there's not much of any choices.

NedRN · Jan 18, 2015

Private high deductible insurance used to be under $200 if healthy but I think the ACA requirements means that they now start over $400, just like group health through an employer. But the plans are better and you cannot be denied coverage. Anything you get starting now for $200 means that your employer is hiding the real cost (the COBRA amount) by lowering your pay.

travelcrazyRN · Jan 18, 2015

Insurance costs depend on age, social history (smoker?), and area. If you are paying 100-200 for "good" insurance you are getting a deal. Most insurances with reasonable deductibles, copayments or co insurances are 350-1000 per month depending on age. Most health insurances that are only 100-200 per month have 10K deductibles , 50/50 co insurances, and small pool of in network providers. Adding dental, and eye to this for 100-200 per month! Please share what company this is so I can sign on too. I have the worse insurance I can think of (10 k deductible, 50/50 co insurance (Not that they pay anything with such a high deductible) for $200 per month. I cridge everytime I send BCBS a check.

Soliloquy, MSN, APRN, NP · Jan 19, 2015

I'm currently comparing between BCBS plans because that's what I like the most. I was looking at the HMO plan which was about $120 a month, but I would prefer a PPO which is about 160 a month. I haven't decided which one I'm going to choose from if any at all. I need to decide. But the higher up I go, the less deductible. So If I pay about 260 a month, then I'm looking at a $500 deductible

Added: The only thing is, I only ever go to the doctor at this stage in my life for check ups and all those plans are "no charge, no deductible" for all preventative care. So I may go for the PPO if for no other reason than to have the flexibility of PCP options.

NedRN · Jan 19, 2015

HMO plans are a fail for travelers. You should do some searches for out of state providers even with PPO to see if coverage is available when traveling.

I must say I'm stunned by the plan costs you are being quoted. Are these plans subsidized on an exchange or from an employer?