[Zookeeper]

We are trying to find a major medical policy, just something which would pay the majority of the bill if we were in a serious accident of became chronically ill. We can pay our own incidental doctor bills and buy meds for the most part out of pocket, cause we are healthy. At least for now. Just want something which would prevent us from losing our home and our life's income if we wound up with a BIG medical bill.

*Can* you lose your home over a medical bill? I have heard som many conflicting stories on this. I even worked for years IN hospitals and I have been told you can't.

I have not found anything I can afford. I looked at them maybe a year ago and the premiums have DOUBLED since then on all the policies I can find. I looked at MediShare and last year it would have cost us $167 for the family and now it's almost $350/month for the same plan. Same with BC/BS and others...they start at about that and go up to well over $1,000/month.

Do any of you have major medical for self-employed or small businesses that does NOT cost this much?

Anybody got another plan for not losing our butts if something major were to happen??? I'm just not paying thousands and thousands of dollars year after year just in case something were to happen. You get medical treatment no matter whether you're insured or not...and your bill can be paid by indigent funds through the hospital...and if you were sick enough not to be able to work, Medicaid would cover it...

Do you know where I'm going with this? What do you think?

 

[Brea]

Have you checked High Deductible Plans that incorperate Health Saving Accounts? Say a $3000-5000 deductible with a savings account to cover the deductible?
I don't know much about independent coverage since I've always had it through work.

 

[Alice In TX/MO]

I'm paying about $500 a month for just me on an independent plan. Age 52, good health except for migraines.

If you've got family coverage for $350, you are doing VERY well.

 

[NWMO]

Tell you what, if you can get family coverage for major medical for that amount, you better jump on it.

We were able to insure our boys with independent BC/BS policies when they were younger. That was a huge cost savings for us, instead of taking out the works family coverage.

Luckily, my wife and I are both covered by our employers and the boys are still on independent policies. That saves us hundreds of dollars each month.

I am not aware of any companies that are more "reasonable" than what you are sharing in your post.

 

[caberjim]

you could just get catastrophic coverage to insure against big injuries and cover the small stuff out of pocket. Figure out what you spend on medical expenses during the normal course of a year and compare that total against what you would pay out of pocket for comprehensive medical coverage.

 

[DenverGirlie]

Wow, $350 a month seems really cheap to me.

 

[chma4]

I pay $850/month for me, my husband, and my daughter. It was 750, went up 100 dollars this year. It is pretty decent coverage. $20 copay for drs, and 40 for specialists. 100 for emergency room, and didnt pay a penny for delivering my daughter by c-section. It does not include any dental and not much of a break on all prescriptions. Cant complane, it is Aetna

 

[sgl42]

Re: Losing your home due to healthcare costs:
I don't know for sure, but I think in many cases you can lose your home. I think it varies based on each states homestead exemption, how much equity you have, and other esoteric things. You'd have to talk with a lawyer, or do some online research.

They may also be a way to put ownership of your house into a trust, to which you are the beneficiary. Something like this might protect you from a medical bankruptcy, and possibly from other lawsuits and liabilities. You'd have to talk with a lawyer.

--sgl

 

[Frank_P]

As far as I know you cannot lose your primary home to debt.
It is THE ONLY asset that is protected from debtors. Here in Florida...you can also keep one car...because of the "need" for transportation.

I guess it could vary from state to state...but what's rattling around in my head is that it's Federal law...but I could be wrong.