My husband's company pays for his coverage at 100%, which is great. However, to cover our two young sons and me we pay about $700 a month (it's great, comprehensive coverage through United). The price is ridiculous! I've never looked into purchasing my own insurance, but think it may be a good idea. Anyone out there have experience purchasing individual healthcare coverage? Any advise would be helpful. Thanks!
M.,
The boys will be cheap to cover. You can get a policy through Blue Cross Blue Shield and it has co-pays at the Dr. Your premium will depend on your age. Unicare probably has the most reasonable policies out there, but every year, they raise your premiums. Maybe you could just buy the boys a different policy and it would lower your rates. Also, with Blue Cross, when your kids are school age, it actually lowers your rates. Best of luck!
M.,
You can find it for less. BUT $700 may not be high for what you're getting. I don't know what you're deductible is or co-pays or prescription costs are.... but you might be getting a deal.
When my husband was laid off we had to pay the insurance premium for a few months. That means his plus the family. It was $1350 a month. And that was with United Healthcare, low deductible, low co pay, low prescription cost.
Though it is alot of money, you really need to evaluate what you're getting first and then see if you want to trade down to something cheaper.
You can shop around online, but it sounds like you have a great deal. We have an individual policy through Blue Cross Blue Shield and pay 1,250.00 per month for me, my husband, and two children. I think the premium for just me and the kids is $900.00. We have a very good plan and I know there are cheaper ones, but you will not get great coverage. Plus remember that there are no individual policies that cover maternity. You can buy a seperate maternity policy, but they usually only cover up to $3000.00 and you know it cost way more than that to have a baby. I have shopped around to find cheaper insurance, but the coverage was not what I wanted.
You can definately find something cheaper...although the coverage may not be the same. We have ours thru Unicare ( www.unicare.com ) For a family of 4, we pay about $1000 every 3 months. The deductible is very high, but it is the cheapest coverage you will find. I make an effort to check around every year to see if I can find something cheaper. We've been using them for 7 years.
