Health Insurance = No Homesteaders & No Freedom

The problem is that no, we don't have the freedom to choose, especially if we choose to grow, make or provide our own medicines.
And, the laws concerning practicing medicine without a license are about as Draconian as the drug laws.

Except for the part where other people are now paying for their insurance.

Heck, people who see that as an option can do that now. Medicaid, welfare, food stamps...

__________________
*
*
*
*
*
Watch the transformation from city mice to country mice, visit my webpage at Billy Joe's Food Farm


www.facebook.com/billyjoesfoodfarm

Most of the other "civilized" nations of the world have universal health care. But every time it comes up here, there are screams of "socialism". So the ones who have health insurance and/or deep pockets get about the best health care in the world. The ones who don't get to toss and turn at night and worry what if one of the kids gets appendicitis or something. I know a lot of people who simply do without it and aren't getting any preventative screenings or anything. Their lives are probably going to be cut short by something that isn't diagnosed until it is "too late". I know somebody who is a virtual cripple and had to go on disability because the lack of health insurance kept them from getting knees fixed until it was way too late. It is a messed up system at the moment but it isn't just messed up for homesteaders, but for everyone who doesn't have a job that comes with coverage or at least enough income to buy a policy. But that's what we have and everyone has to make their choices and then live with them.

__________________
It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.
Laura Ingalls Wilder

They were also lucky to live past 50

__________________
Recognize the beauty in things, in creation, even when thats difficult to do.
Be loving, show compassion. Create while we're here.
Enjoy this life, be in this life but not be of it.

Very well said MOCOWS.....

Yeah, I'm MUCH happier applying for food stamps, and medicaid now that I lost my job, than I was with a paying job and health insurance.

__________________
Recognize the beauty in things, in creation, even when thats difficult to do.
Be loving, show compassion. Create while we're here.
Enjoy this life, be in this life but not be of it.

Not what I meant, shygal. Just said that being "self sustaining" by choosing to let other people pay for your stuff, as the OP suggested, kind of goes against the definition.

__________________
*
*
*
*
*
Watch the transformation from city mice to country mice, visit my webpage at Billy Joe's Food Farm


www.facebook.com/billyjoesfoodfarm

I live in a community with a large Amish population, and I work in healthcare. The Amish get a substancial discount when they have to be hospitalized. The hospital is willing to do that because the Amish always pay their bills. They routinely get at least a third off any hospital bill. The doctors work the same way with them. They certainly live off their homesteads income. Oh if one of them has a huge bill the community chips in and helps pay the bill. Several lessons here. One why dont our churches have the same sense of community and help those in the church family the same way? Also why dont we [non Amish homesteaders] have the same reputation as the Amish?

I will give you a real world example of what having a good reputation gets you. We had a dog and a horse get very ill at the same time [into the thousands in vet bills] My vet who has a cash only policy waived that because of our long standing relationship and community reputation.

Having an MD that you have a good relationship with will go a long way in getting a hospital bill reduced! If your doctor knows that you always pay your bills promptly and you have a good relationship with him/her. They will go the extra mile for you. FYI this doesnt go for the medicaid/food stamp Ive got three babies from three different daddies crowd. If medicaid dont pay for it thats it usually. The doc isnt likely to go the extra mile to get them the non covered treatment. Yet if its a elderly patient with medicare they will try their best to encourage the hospital to work with you. Remember hospitals [esp in rural areas] need those doctors and they dont want to tick them off. Use this knowledge to your benefit folks - if you need care and have insurance they can and do help with the high deductables and or uncovered treatment. But again they usually only do this in cases that they have an already established relationship with.

Sorry Shygal, that stinks. My DH will be behind you in the unemployment line soon, I am afraid. This "recovery" we are having is apparently cleverly disguised as a depression. We will soon be "health insurance poor". It will be our biggest monthly expense it looks like. More than all our other insurance policies combined.

__________________
It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with the simple pleasures and to be cheerful and have courage when things go wrong.
Laura Ingalls Wilder

Earthkitty; I dont believe i suggested anything about other people paying for someone elses stuff. The debate was how you deal with Health care and Insurance cost and how that relates to your homesteading or self sustainability lifestyle.

I could have kept my policy through Cobra....for ONLY 1200 dollars a month. which I wouldnt even get that much in unemployment, so what is the point of Cobra?

__________________
Recognize the beauty in things, in creation, even when thats difficult to do.
Be loving, show compassion. Create while we're here.
Enjoy this life, be in this life but not be of it.

We are self employed. When our BCBS premiums finally went over a thousand a month, we went to a cheaper HUGE deductible policy. Cheaper, and I suppose maybe a blessing in disguise, despite our anguish at the time over not being able to afford great insurance anymore. This way if we don't use up the deductible, it's still in our pocket, rather than the insurance company's.

__________________
*
*
*
*
*
Watch the transformation from city mice to country mice, visit my webpage at Billy Joe's Food Farm


www.facebook.com/billyjoesfoodfarm

SORRY, cedarvalley! It was fffarmergirl who said that.

__________________
*
*
*
*
*
Watch the transformation from city mice to country mice, visit my webpage at Billy Joe's Food Farm


www.facebook.com/billyjoesfoodfarm

Isn't COBRA a government thing? See how well things go when they get involved?

__________________
*
*
*
*
*
Watch the transformation from city mice to country mice, visit my webpage at Billy Joe's Food Farm


www.facebook.com/billyjoesfoodfarm

No, COBRA isn't government run insurance.

What is COBRA?

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires most employers with group health plans to offer employees the opportunity to continue temporarily their group health care coverage under their employer's plan if their coverage otherwise would cease due to termination, layoff, or other change in employment status (referred to as "qualifying events").

COBRA Insurance FAQ's is COBRA?

__________________
Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Amish homesteaders are waived from Ocare(less). So, anyone eles want to get an Apron from HT'er CC and join.

There are several options besides full coverage expensive insurance. One is a health sharing organization such as Christian Medi-Share or Samaritan ministries. I'm with Medi-Share. A family in their 30's pays around $260.00 a month with a family deductible of $1250.00 and 100% pay after that. There are other mutual sharing organizations out there, not just Christian. And they are exempt from the ACA. High deductible "catastrophic" policies are another route. Docs and hosps. will give you the same discount as they do the insurance you are under when you don't meet the deductible -- around 40% off the total bill. Then there is self-insured where you pick up everything yourself. I personally believe the latter is the worst way to go, but many do. When I was without coverage, I negotiated medical bills down to what Medicaid would have paid (about 50% of the bill) since I was uninsured.

In spite of the high medical costs, it is quite possible to make it on your own. I live in a rural community, and barter with both my dentist and optomatrist. They both love homemade bread and don't have wives who bake, so I get free dental and vision in exchange for a couple of loaves of bread a month. When I kept chickens, I also provided them with a couple of dozen eggs along with the bread.

__________________
I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it. Attributed to Voltaire

I always thought homesteading had something to do with adapting, making do, improvising, etc and clearly we have a group of people here that are providing fine examples of doing just that. Then there's another group of people with their hands out, expecting someone else to pull the wagon. I know which one sounds like homesteading to me. I just never have been able to understand people who pursue their dream on other people's dime.

And this kind of attitude has always struck me as more than a touch hypocritical (or maybe just ignorant, depending upon the writer).

Public hospitals
Schools
Fire departments
Police departments, court systems, and prisons
Roadways, bridges and dams
the military
national parks
etc, ad naseum

These are all public goods/services where apparently a group of people have their hands out, expecting someone else to pull the wagon.
But I'm sure you "real homesteaders" (which, btw, was a tax-payer subsidized program! lol) eschew the use of any of that list.

__________________
~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

We are a 56 yo couple. We gave up MEDICAL (not HEALTH) insurance in 2006 when I quit my job of 25 years. We get a medium sized pension if Maryland stays solvent for 9 more years. We will snap up SS in 6 years or whenever it is available and invest it in provisions and equipment.

We use Homeopathic remedies which 90% of you would not try. Anyone who would like to try it, order some Arnica Montana for the next time you bang a finger or other body part. I think you will be amazed at how fast the throbbing pain stops, and order a kit. We got ours from:

homeopathyworks.com • 800-336-1695

We have used the remedies for many - maybe 15 or 20 situations, and they have always resolved without a Doctor. Some will say it is mind over matter. That is still allowing us to stay home instead of paying dollars to a Doctor, and catching something in the waiting room.

We eat as naturally as we can, including sprouts and kefir 5 times a week. We are the only human on about 1500 acres.

I believe good health results from good genes, good sensible food, good environment, little stress, little sitting, good sensible safety, regular exercise and good sense in general.