Health Insurrance

I was just wondering where you all get your health insurrance, and how much you pay in monthly fee's and what the deductible is. Well this is for the Americans here.

I figured this category is the best place for this since if your main income is photography, that means your self employed, and part of that is getting your own health insurrance.

I know PPA membership gets you access to some health insurance, but it may not be the best one out there. Probably is but maybe not.

You beat me to the punch. I was coming in here to ask the same thing. I've been reluctant to give up my regular job because of the health care benefits that I have. I'm wondering about the new exchanges that will be set up via the new health care bill that passed.

I'm not well established with a ton of clients yet. Therefore, another option for me is to relocate to Canada. I'm seriously considering it.

It's going to vary hugely... In our case, we're insured with Kaiser, and my wife's is around $700/mo, mine $300/mo. I don't know what the deductible is. She's got some serious medical issues, that's why hers is more. We were able to transition from our coverage at "real" jobs, over to Kaiser as I started self-employment.

Dave

I can get in on my wifes insurance plan from her job, but its $200 a month and her deductible doubles to cover both of us. So instead of being responsible for the first $3000, well be responsible for the first $6000. Its a pretty good plan for her since she doesn't pay any monthly premiums so if you consider the $3000 as premiums for the year, its pretty cheap. But for two, not so good.

Canada

Karl Johnston wrote in post #10289571
Canada

I'm curious, do you have a feel for how much the average person pays for health insurance in Canada?

Dave

I think its around about 0

hah! I didn't mean "how much is the check you write for your health insurance", I was thinking more from the perspective of how much tax the average person pays that gets directed to health care.

Dave

I think Canada pays 0.5% more in taxes than Americans, on average. But the us spends a bit more in defense.

Bump. Any other full time solo photographers here that have to pay for their own insurrance?

msfvirginia wrote in post #10315232
Bump. Any other full time solo photographers here that have to pay for their own insurrance?

As a general matter, if you are self employed, yes, you have to pay for your own health insurance. The cost will depend on the type of coverage, whether you will be covering dependents, etc. The rules for the new health care law are not written yet, so it's anyone's guess how it will work. But, I can guarantee it will cost a lot more than any of the politicians said it would.

From what I hear, the Canadian system leaves a lot to be desired. Some of the hospitals in Ohio treat more Canadians than US citizens when it comes to hip replacements because the Canucks don't want to wait the 18 months it takes to get a surgery slot. When the Prime Minister of Newfoundland traveled to the US to have heart surgery, that should tell you something.

msfvirginia wrote in post #10286423
I was just wondering where you all get your health insurrance, and how much you pay in monthly fee's and what the deductible is. Well this is for the Americans here.

I figured this category is the best place for this since if your main income is photography, that means your self employed, and part of that is getting your own health insurrance.

I know PPA membership gets you access to some health insurance, but it may not be the best one out there. Probably is but maybe not.

My wife and I have blue cross blue shield $2600 deductible each. Around 5K per year.

tgara wrote in post #10321364
As a general matter, if you are self employed, yes, you have to pay for your own health insurance. The cost will depend on the type of coverage, whether you will be covering dependents, etc. The rules for the new health care law are not written yet, so it's anyone's guess how it will work. But, I can guarantee it will cost a lot more than any of the politicians said it would.

From what I hear, the Canadian system leaves a lot to be desired. Some of the hospitals in Ohio treat more Canadians than US citizens when it comes to hip replacements because the Canucks don't want to wait the 18 months it takes to get a surgery slot. When the Prime Minister of Newfoundland traveled to the US to have heart surgery, that should tell you something.

And if nothing is done its gonna cost a lot to. I work in it everyday. We are the only industrial nation that doesn't have health care and we are #37 behind Costa Rica. Insurance companies in the US dictate healthcare. Its kinda like putting the fox in charge of the hen house. When it come to profits or you or one of your loved ones health guess who looses. Not Blue Cross Blue Shield.

I have a very good friend, a former marine and Vietnam Veteran and his wife died of cancer some years back and they had really good insurance but when she died they owed 150K because much of her treatment was considered by the insurance company to be experimental. So if you get a serious illness you can be forced into bankruptcy and loose everything. That sounds like a lot to be desired too, don't ya think?

We're rated behind Canada BTW.

If our health care is so bad, why does everyone come to the US for medical treatment? Ever been to children's hospital? I would say that more than half the kids there are from overseas, and yes I have talked with many of them.

Mark

Markk9 wrote in post #10323611
If our health care is so bad, why does everyone come to the US for medical treatment? Ever been to children's hospital? I would say that more than half the kids there are from overseas, and yes I have talked with many of them.

Mark

There are many of us going and our Drs going to other countries for healthcare and to provide healthcare. And yes I have been to and worked with Childrens Memorial Hospital.