Widows & Widowers Support Group

This community is dedicated to those who have lost a husband, wife, or partner. Anything is open for discussion here, with the hope that we can focus on grief, bereavement, life after loss, and continuing on after a great loss.

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Death & Dying
/ Widows & Widowers Support Group

Health Insurance

Truhal
Truhal
It was tragic that young olympic skier Sarah Burke died in a sking accident. But to add to the tragedy, her family has been left with massive amounts of medical bills. The accident happened in America. If it had happened in Canada, the family wouldn't have to deal with even one bill because they have Universal Health care there.

Today my doctor told me about her husband, a diabetic. He's uninsurable because of it. He owns his own business, so his insurance is on his wife's policy, but what if something were to happen to her? He wouldn't have insurance.

In the US people lose homes because of medical bills. If you're a widow/widower the fear of ending up without insurance is very real. I obsess over it because less than six months ago I had a mini-stroke. I'm in sales, in other words, no job security. And if I lose my job I'll be unisured. It's just another burden of widowhood.
deleted_user
deleted_user
yes, this was a giant worry of mine also... till i found out medical insurance is part of my widow benefits. Before i knew this i was considering the Christian "insurance" organizations that cover one another's medical bills...they work differently than conventional medical insurance companies. Maybe this option would be helpful for you. ~S
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was insured under my wife policy through her job as a educator. We had a great insurance plan. Very little out of pocket as far as co-pays were concerned. After she passed my premium through cobra for the same coverage we had was $699/mo. No way I could afford that. After some shopping I had to get some basic coverage with a high deductible and no pharmaceutical coverage. I have some issues, asthma, high bp, and thyroid. The bp and thyroid are available as generics and many pharmacies have $4 scripts. My asthma meds have no generics (in the US) and are astronomically priced. I discovered that through Canada I was able to get generics on these medications at a small fraction of the price. Which I have and all is well. I'm not paying $20 like I did when I had the full coverage but I'm pay $57 instead of $355. Big difference. The pharmaceutical companies here are gouging us!
cheerryG
cheerryG
I live in fear of not being able to work two jobs, one pays for the ins. and MD bills. No job=no medical. Almost died before I finally got it last year, after 10yrs. of going to the free clinics. Then they did not want to pay because I was so sick! G-
deleted_user
deleted_user
I feel for all of you! I am retired and of course am on SS, but also have the insurance I have had since my 1st husband died in 1987. It is only a couple of hundred a month and I am able to handle that. Been on SS for a little over a year and have never paid a bill.

My daughter just told me that when her husband was out of work, their cobra was $2500. I guess you pay what ever the employer paid. They of course could not afford it.

Are free clinics the way to go?
deleted_user
deleted_user
When I lost my job, I was offered COBRA. Talked with them (COBRA) myself.....my premiums would have been over $800 a month. I was getting only $1000/mo from unemployment. Useless program. Absolutely USELESS!!!!
Nicker07
Nicker07
I too am one of those that I just could pay the premium from my husbands retirement insurance -

Ehealthinsurance was the same for me - dead end

And there has not been any local WA groups that had insurance much lower than the $600 I was paying SOME were lower but did not cover that much....

Its scary first time in my life at age 62 in April without health insurance until I am 65 on medicare...