Health insurance, no employees, best bet?

[customsticker]

After college (graduated in 2006), I decided this was my calling and I now run my shop full time, with no employees. We all know, with that kind of choice, we have health insurance to deal with!

Is anyone in this same single-man-operation situation and know who is the best health insurance carrier? I have had a graduate insurance for a while, but that is now running it's course and it's time to go into something else. Blue Cross blue shield has been an option, which is who I may just go with. But I wanted to hear some other opinions of possible!

[Billct2]

Do you belong to the Chamber of Commerce or USSC?
If so see if they what have available.
The cheapest bet in any case is a "disaster" policy, one that has a high deductable (like $1000). Fotr a young single non smoker insurance is relatively
reasonable.
Just as important, is disability insurance.

[Pro Image]

Anthem of VA is who my insurance is trought.......36 no smoker with a 80/20 police with 1500.00 out of pocket runs me just shy of 80.00 a month......I added my wife on and her's is 123.00 a month so for the both of us its 203.00 a month..........Its the best deal I could have found..............One more thing the plan doesn't pay too much for drugs...........

[Sign Prophet]

Kaiser Permanente. 97 a month, 1500 deductable, Good drug coverage. I dont know if they are in every state though. They are the biggist here in cali.

[Derf]

A PPO with a 2500 deductible HSA qualified plan and the HSA account is What I have.. I could get group insurance with my employees however they are all covered under their spouses insurance so an individual plan is better for me.

I would sit down and talk to a (few) insurance brokers and get educated about the insurance business.

[iSign]

I just waited until I was 40 something to get any. That saved me a lot of money.. but I guess it could have cost me a lot, so I was lucky... a few sports related broken bones, stitches, and concussions... but nothing serious.
now I pay $450/ month for my wife and I with Kaiser. Kinda sucks... but my last 2 broken bones were free :rolleyes: My wife has had some more costly visits to the ER, so I won't be without it anymore.

[customsticker]

Everything you guys have mentioned is about on par what I have seen.

My take on it - we do what we enjoy, we get the flexibility of living a life and not living in a cubicle - I will take some higher premiums and some out of pocket expenses to make my life more enjoyable :)

Just a rant there :)

[threeputt]

You asked "who is the best health insurance carrier". Question. Do you want a disaster policy for a catastrophic illness? Or do you want to be able to go in for checkups, treatments, obtain pharmaceuticals, tests, eyeglasses, etc?

My opinion is this. If you're young, healthy, and not married you can run "bare" for a while. Or alternatively, just get something that will cover you if you're really messed up. But if you're married, approaching 30 years, have kids, not as healthy as all that, then definetly get a health care policy.

We use Kaiser Permanente. About $550.00 per month, down from over $700 per month. (was able to finally go down to just wife and myself, no kids anymore) It's great. Our co-pay is $15.00 per office visit, or prescription. All in all, not bad. And if you're incorporated you can provide this to yourself as an employee benefit, and deduct it as a regular business expense.

Just my 2 cents.

[Replicator]

I currently have Blue Shield PPO 2500 @ $250.00 a month for myself only,

but I'm looking for something cheaper . . . maybe a group deal through the chamber of commerce

or some other group policy to lighten the burden of cost !

[Matt Cuellar]

I use Regence Blue Shield, $1,000 deductible, 80/20 after that. Costs me about $135 per month (non-smoker too). It's also a PPO provider so I'm not stuck with only network-authorized doctors.

Matt

[customsticker]

I'm 24, and like to stay on the safe side, never know what can happen.

I will keep looking, my insurance ran out this week (yesterday.)

[JimJenson]

If you can qualify, private is the way to go. If you cannot, you can get group insurance through Aetna. They accept groups of 1.

[JimJenson]

I use Regence Blue Shield, $1,000 deductible, 80/20 after that. Costs me about $135 per month (non-smoker too). It's also a PPO provider so I'm not stuck with only network-authorized doctors.

Matt


Ah those were the days. I used to have cheap insurance. Unfortunatly, I have to go through a group, 985$ a month for me, my wife, and 2 kids. Due to health factors with my wife, I cannot get private insurance any longer. Its a bitch getting old.

[quikseps]

Best bet for the money is Blue Cross 80/20 PPO with no drug coverage and a $2500 deductible. At least you'll really be covered in any situation...much unlike some of the rinky-dink companies mentioned.