[Jewelry making - Article 00316] - Re: [Orchid] Insurance policy

[Suzanne Wade]

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Hi All,

    I've been doing a lot of research on this topic for an article that
    will appear in AJM. I wish I could say that I've found answers:
    unfortunately, because of the way health care works in the United
    States, there doesn't appear to be any inexpensive answers -- for
    anyone. 

    A few things I have learned. It matters -- really matters -- what
    state you live in. In some states, insurance companies can place
    major restrictions on what they will cover for individuals and can
    base their premium on expected cost of care. In other states,
    restrictions are limited and the cost must be in line with the cost
    of a group policy. In some states you can be rejected for health
    insurance: in other states you can't be. In some states, associations
    can set up group policies, in other states they can't. (Which is why
    most national associations haven't been successful setting up true
    "group" policies -- navigating 50 sets of very divergent rules makes
    it next to impossible.) In all states, how much you will pay will be
    largely a function of what health care costs in that state. As with
    everything else, if you live in a high-cost-of-living state, such as
    Massachusetts of California, you'll pay more for health insurance
    than a colleague in a state with a lower cost of living. 

    To learn about your rights and restrictions on health insurance in
    your state, try http://wwwhealthinsuranceinfo.net, maintained by 
    Institute for Health Care Resarch and Policy at Georgetown
    University, which offers downloadable consumer guides to health care
    in all 50 states and the district of Columbia. 

    Different states also offer different options for those who cannot
    afford health insurance. These plans are normally income-dependent,
    but may be worth checking out. If you have children, you may be able
    to get them health insurance through a plan of this type, even if you
    yourself don't qualify. To find your state health department, you can
    try the Health Insurance Association of America at
    http://www.hiaa.org, under consumer information, directories. 

    The harsh reality is that no matter how you slice it, health
    insurance is expensive. There are wide variations from state to
    state, but the bottom line is a health insurance policy costs a hefty
    chunk of change. Many of us don't realize how hefty because we've
    been covered through an employer, who picked up a percentage of the
    cost, which can mask exactly how expensive it is for *everyone.*
    (Although the self-employed do have to shoulder certain expenses that
    larger companies don't, according to the NASE.) The costs are also
    going up steadily. Whatever you think about the politics of health
    care, that's the reality of the moment. NASE (National Association
    of the Self-Employed) is doing some lobbying on this issue for those
    who would like to see political change that might reduce costs for
    the self-employed: you can learn more about their positions on their
    web site at http://www.nase.org. But at best, this is a long-term
    approach, not an overnight solution, and involves primarily tax
    relief for small businesses that would lower the real cost of health
    insurance, not the end to high health insurance premiums. 

    The high cost of health care is the primary reason some 40 million
    Americans lack it, according to the Census Bureau. And not having
    health insurance can be just as expensive, if not more so. If you're
    healthy and stay healthy, you save money. But if you have a serious
    illness, the hospital bills can bankrupt you, literally, and there is
    some evidence you may not receive the same quality of care as someone
    with health insurance. 

    Right now, if you're simply trying to find a low-cost option, there
    doesn't seem to be any real solution -- at least not one I've been
    able to find. The only thing you can do is do your homework, find out
    about your state's policies, negotiate the best policy you can, and
    maybe become active on the issue to influence your legislators to
    address the problem in the way you deem most appropriate. I think
    what is probably most frustrating, and frightening, for most of us is
    exactly how little control we have over the situation -- we either
    pay up, or we take the risk of not having access to the health care
    we need. 

    Anyone want to share their stories of being uninsured/trying to find
    insurance in America? I've heard from some of you in the past, but
    I'm always interested in adding more information to my article. 

    In the meantime, good luck to you all. 

Suzanne Wade
writer/editor
Suzanne AT rswade.net
Phone: (508) 339-7366
Fax: (928) 563-8255


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