When I left my teaching job to move to Ky I lost my health insurance. So I signed up for a private policy. It really only covers hospital stays and preventative care, but I do not visit the Dr. often, so I thought it would be okay for me. At my age, 47, and my health, it turned out to be only 125 a month. I didn't think that was too bad. Good luck, but I would call around. Hugs, Dawn

Dawn, that sounds like a pretty good deal. I have to pay $385 for mine and of course it can always go up from year to year and probably will. Barbara

Does your state have low inoome insurance? Here in Wisconsin there is Badger Care. I don't know how you qualify but it might be worth checking into. Hugs

Do you have access to you state representative? You may want to ask if there is any help available. I am assuming you don't qualify for medicaid? It is a shame if you end up falling into the "cracks". I'm wondering if you could even consider out of state carriers? My carrier is out of state through my former employer.

I would really hate to see you have to give up healthcare--that is such a major thing today. I wish i could be more helpful. If anything comes to mind, I'll message you.

Being without health insurance is a risky thing obviously. I am one of the lucky ones I guess, I already carried our health insurance through my employment--and now for me only it's less than 100.00 a month for very good coverage including vision and dental--but I work for a health care institution. Have you checked your local blue cross to see what kind of CHIPS policies they have? I would check everywhere you can for the most affordable policy that will at least meet catastrophic needs before you drop what you have so that you don't run into any "pre-existing" issues. Good luck, hope you find something that meets your needs and you can afford.

I agree, check the state and see what they offer. sometimes they have programs depending on income and work a sliding scale. Definitely worth a shot! And the private insurance is a great idea too!

I am self employed and mine runs 420.00 a month just for me, but I'm SURE there are better ones out there.

Dawn, your rates are AWESOME!!! Maybe I should move ther just for the insurance!!! lol

Hugs, Diane

When my son stopped being a full time student he was dropped from my insurance and no insurance company would take him because he is on coumadin. (He was 22.) He registered at a local hospital clinic and was covered for everything 100%. With no insurance - he paid nothing for his prescriptions (paid $10 copay with insurance), he paid nothing for blood tests (paid $15 with insurance), and when he got hurt when working on a car and went to the ER - he had xrays, etc - and got no bill. Call local hospitals - see if they have any programs for people who do not have insurance. If he had been hospitalized for any reason - 100% coverage.

Google (or whatever search) "Health Insurance changes for 2012" the affordable care act changes everything, you could probably Google that too. I hope you find some solutions, looks like tedious reading.

Hugs,
Ron

Great idea I am going to contact my local representative to see if I can get his help....

In Florida we have a Department of Elder Affairs. They handle all kinds of situations that arise and people need help and don't know where to turn. Does your state have an agency like that? Or maybe a local United Way fund? I will pray you find something you can afford that will protect you.

I'm in the same boat end of this month. I've been spoiled w/fantastic health care coverage for the past 27 years thru DH's RR union. To keep the same beni's thru COBRA would cost me alone over $600/mo - not going to happen. SInce I started teaching again in August I'm eligible for a $200 donation toward a policy of my choosing end of October (after my 90 days) but even then it's a very basic plan w/a really high deductible. Still don't have a lot of details - even about what my share will be for that. My oldest D offered some research from a friend who deals w/insurance as D's had to find her own family coverage thru private plans since they've been married & seems to think there are a few options that would work for me for only a couple hundred a month. When I got the job & saw a health care plan, I just left it alone & figured it would be the best bet - but I guess it's time to take her up on that offer so I can compare options thru private w/what's offered thru my school. S24was covered til he graduated law school last year, S21 mostly has gone without since he turned 19 til the 1st of this year w/the new legislation - his jobs have all been in construction offering no benefits. I may end up doing that also for a while - at least next month. And I certainly cannot afford to pay for any coverage for them - I will be lucky to manage some for myself. Hopefully I will talk w/a financial person in this upcoming week & sort out some of my concerns for how things are going to work best for me financially from this point out - quite a different direction than I was going in 4 months ago...

I don't know how many people would consider this an option, but the large hospital I work for employs many many previously retired people and also some that are partially disabled and also a few that don't really need to work other than for health insurance. Most health care institutions have health care plans that are very very reasonable. I work in the business area and have been with the hospital for 30 years, but we have many people working either full time or part time depending on their needs, in the environmental services department or cafeteria or other places, just strictly to access the health insurance. Many of them hire on after retiring from their regular job and work part time til they are medicare aged just to keep good health insurance. For those who would want to be doing something anyway it makes sense. I live in an area considered a retirement area anyway, so I guess maybe we see more of this than in other places, but for the most part these employees seem happy to be doing something, they are getting paid to do it, and they have great health coverage. It wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea I know---but it is a thought for someone who is retired but not medicare aged yet and looking for a way to keep good health insurance until you are. My health care for medical, vision and dental for myself only totals less than 50.00 per paycheck, paid bi-monthly that's less than 100.00 a month. You can't beat that. Most large health care groups have better than the average health care costs for employees.