I have health insurance/ I don't have health insurance

[catmandu57]

I'm trying to get a feel for how many people are living without a safety net.

[FlaGranny]

1. Possibly about to lose health insurance. n/t

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. I work for a small business

They offer to re-pay me for health insurance, but because I have asthma, allergies, and am slightly overweight, the insurance companies will not cover me.

[supernova]

3. I do not have health insurance

Unemployed.

And yes, I do have some medical bills that I'm paying off on time. Hey, you do what you can do.

[On the Road]

4. I Have a Major Company Health Plan

with Verizon -- selected Optimum Choice as the provider. However, each year the benefits are lower. I just paid $175 for two shots out of pocket (hepatitis B and yellow fever) in order to go on vacation. Couldn't believe it.

[Warpy]

5. I lost my insurance in 1987

due to a chronic condition that is a lulu. I managed to work full time for years, then part time, as a contract employee until last fall. I am disabled and currently starting a fight with social security. I may lose everything before the bureaucrats get going, because my medical bills are enormous.

I am a registered nurse.

Hospitals wouldn't hire me on staff because I'd make their insurance rates go up.

I hate what this country has become.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

6. A few years ago, we didn't have health insurance

for a while. My husband started a new job which didn't have insurance at the time. Well, I was looking for a personal policy to cover the family when I got sick. It just started out as a cold so I thought no big deal. It was around Christmas so the fact that I was always tired really didn't surprise me.

Being new to the area, I didn't have a doctor yet. Finally, after Christmas, I went to an emergency care facility. It was $150 to walk in the door. Another $150 to see the doctor. My son was also complaining about a sore throat. He went with. The doctor fee for him was only $100. So after the chest x-ray and the prescriptions for me and my son, my little bout with pneumonia cost over $1000!

After that, I finally decided on an insurance policy! ;-)

I really don't know how people manage without health insurance. :-(

[OKNancy]

9. Because policies for

some are so outrageously high. Depending on age and medical history, a small family could pay $1000.00 per month for the insurance alone.

[Lars39]

7. There's at least a third category.....COBRA.

That definitely falls under the heading of extortion. :(

How many people that have insurance, good or bad, know what their COBRA insurance would be per month if they lost their jobs and had to go on COBRA because of pre-existing conditions?

How many people are on the state's program because they are uninsurable according to the regular insurance programs?

Then there's catastrophic insurance...

[blindpig]

12. fourth category: virtually worthless insurance

insurance which covers almost nothing but you hope will cover you in the event of something catastrophic. That's me.

[Lars39]

13. Catastrophic insurance is like playing with fire.

I had catastrophic ins and had to have 2 surgeries within a couple of months of each other. Wound up owing $4000. Would have owed $8000 if the surgeries had straddled the year, like Dec/Jan.

[cheezus]

17. I think the only this it does is screw you

by keeping the damage just enought to keep people out of bankruptcy.

[Lars39]

24. It might only delay bankruptcy for a few years.

If you have a chronic health problem, you could easily rack up enough debt over a few yrs time so that bankruptcy looks like a pretty good option.

[cheezus]

25. and that's exactly what they don't want

that's why they sell you "cheap" (read, the exact amount you can barely afford) insurance that does nothing but guarantee that they'll keep getting money from you forever.

/underinsured and pissed off

[nickinSTL]

8. Health insurance

I have health insurance, but my fiancee doesn't.

She was unemployed for almost 3 years. She's interning for a company now (unpaid) for a month, and if they keep her, she'll be able to get insurance 3 months after that.

And she has sleep apnea. Hard for her to put in a full work day if she can't get restful sleep.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. We have MaineCare. (medicaid)

[Athletic Grrl]

11. My hubby has health insurance.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to work at my current job, in which I am officially an independent contractor.

[SmokingJacket]

14. Catastrophic policy that doesn't kick until we pay 5K.

Obviously this is just so we don't go totally broke and have to sell the house if something horrible happens. We still pay $200 a month for it (family of four) and never go to the doctor. We're self-employed and can't pay $700 a month for a full policy.

Actually, so far it's been expensive but we've been healthy (knock on wood) so it works for us. I pay for the occasional check-up out of pocket.

However, my son had a weird rash that I knew I should have gone to the doctor for, but I decided to wait since I didn't want to pay $150 to be told I should just put some neosporin on it. But a neighbor with a similar rash (and full health coverage, I might add!) found out she had **Lyme disease**. So I'm taking my son in on Monday -- if my neighbor hadn't told me I might have let it go, and untreated Lyme can be devastating. One sees the risks of this kind of health insurance.

[Lugnut]

15. I have health insurance

But it sucks. Deductibles have gone up substantially, services are restricted for most procedures that were previously fully covered and claims take forever to be processed. The good thing about my coverage is that I can still choose my health care provider.

[cedahlia]

16. No insurance here!

Mr. cedahlia and I are both healthy, non-smokers in our mid-20s. So naturally, we thought applying for and getting individual health insurance would be no problem. Ha! It turns out that we were declined because (are you ready for this?) about 4 years ago I had the audacity to see a therapist for panic attacks. Yeah, turns out I am just too much of a risk for those assholes, 'cause you know, there's a possibility I might someday need a prescription for anti-anxiety meds, which would just completely wipe them out finacially. So rather than taking the risk of having to fill one lousy rx maybe every two years or so, they will take the loss of about $4000 per year they would have been getting from us had they not been the pricks that they are. Brilliant, I tell ya. :eyes:

[SiouxJ]

18. I have it but it's expensive as hell

and I pay for it myself. I'm also now chained to a particular state because if I leave it my Ins. company will cancel me and I can't get it anywhere else because of a pre-existing condition. Great system we've got here.

[sleepyhead]

26. I'm in the exact same boat.

Self-employed, so it all comes out of my pocket. $5K deductible and still pay about $600/month for crappy coverage (no dental or vision coverage and very low reimbursement schedules for "routine" care). I spent thousands last year on diagnostics for a chronic (non-serious but annoying) condition, and now I too have a preexisting condition that will follow me for life! I couldn't even add disability coverage in case I can't work and have to close my business (that pesky preexisting condition, you know). When are the citizens of this country going to wise up and DEMAND single-payer coverage for ALL of us?

[GreenArrow]

19. I have it but...

it costs more than one third of my monthly salary to cover me, wife and baby. Factor in bills, food, fuel, etc, and there is nothing left at the end of the month. Less than nothing, actually.

For what we pay, it should cover EVERYTHING. It doesn't, of course.

[LWolf]

20. I have health insurance.

My mother has medicare.
My oldest son has Kaiser...which has not helped him to get care. They don't want to operate on his hernia. It's been 3 years. Insurance isn't helping hime.
My youngest son has nothing at all.

Insurance does not guarantee care.

[TOhioLiberal]

21. no insurance. N/T

[Feanorcurufinwe]

22. Insurance is a scam.

The fact that the insurance industry has convinced almost everyone that it functions as a 'safety net' is one of the most success con jobs in history.

[Selwynn]

28. umm, ok so how I am supposed to pay for my surgery that I need?

Can you give me an answer?

With insurance, I pay 100 bucks. Without insurance I can't pay for the surgery. So what do you suggest I do?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

30. First off, is this a real question or a hypothetical one?

[Selwynn]

31. It is a real question.

[Selwynn]

40. Bump for an answer - I'm still waiting

[Feanorcurufinwe]

42. Bump for impatience

because I can

[Feanorcurufinwe]

41. What kind of surgery is it?

[Selwynn]

44. What difference does that make?

I don't feel like sharing every facet of my private life on a board, nor should it be necessary to answer a simple question.

Just accept that I have a surgery that I have to have, it will cost me 100$ out of pocket because I've already met my deductible. Including the deductable it would be 350$ to me total. That's as opposed to thousands and thousands of dollars (9,500$ is the last figure I had) which I could never afford.

So... please tell me how I'm supposed to get the surgery I need without insurance in a way that doesn't banrupt me?

EDIT- by the way, if you're still going to avoid answering the question by asking one sentence questions that aren't relevant, can you just do them all at once in one post and then answer the question?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

51. If you don't want to talk about a real situation,

we can talk in hypotheticals, it's up to you.

EDIT- by the way, if you're still going to avoid answering the question by asking one sentence questions that aren't relevant, can you just do them all at once in one post and then answer the question?

If you don't like my method of expression, fine - no one is forcing you to talk to me. But if you want to have an actual discussion, there will be some back and forth involved - that is the way conversations work.



The fact is, I don't believe the choice you are presenting is a real one; in fact, it is exactly the myth the insurance companies want you to believe.


It is not true that you will be denied essential surgery because you don't have insurance.

[Selwynn]

54. It is a real situation.

And I won't be "denied" surgery, I'll be forced to pay for it.

I am not going to tell you the specifics of my problem, because that is private. But I will tell you this much:

I've have been to the doctor four times over this, the first time was when I got the diagnosis that I needed surgery, the second time was when I went to a second doctor for a second opinion. The third time was to get an estimate of the cost and talk about my options for paying, and the fourth time was to fill out the paperwork for my insurance and schedule the surgery. I go in for surgery July 18, and must take off work that day and Monday, should be able to return to work tuesday.

Without surgery, my particular "problem" will develop infection, get progressively worse, and keep me from walking. However, after being in contact with viritual every doctor and both hospitals in my town, there is no place that will just "do" the surgery for free. And yes they will deny me the surgery if I can't pay becuase it is not deamed "life threatening" - yet.

So, of course you are not "denied" surgery if your life is on the line, but you ARE saddled with huge medical bills. When I was growing up, the reason my father had to file bankrupcy was because he had no medical insurance had a stroke, then complications from a stroke, then a condition no one could figure out, but the time they did figure out what the problem was, he owed well over 10,000 dollars that he couldn't pay.

It is true that in my situation, doctors would work with me to make the paymenets for my surgery. I discussed this with them to see all my options, and I could pay x ammount over x months. But even the monthlys were so expensive I couldn't afford it. What's more, WHY WOULD I pay for the entire thing out of pocket when I have insurance that will cover 100% minus deductable + 100 dollars in this case?

My choices are thousands of dollars out of pocket that I can't afford or 350$ out of pocket.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

55. "in my situation, doctors would work with me to make the payments"

Yes, that is true.


So it looks like the original dilemma you posed:


With insurance, I pay 100 bucks. Without insurance I can't pay for the surgery.

Was indeed a false choice.




My advice to anyone considering getting health insurance is to take the same money that you would pay in premiums every month and put it in a bank account earmarked for health care.

[Selwynn]

56. No, that's not correct.

What you failed to quote is the part where I said that even with the kind of payment options discussed, I can't afford it, and further more - why would I?

With insurance, I pay 100 bucks (but as I mentioned, I had already met my deductible so if you want to add that in, its 350$) - with out it I can't pay for the surgery. By pay for I meant, I can't AFFORD it. And this isn't something I can wait on.

Oh yes, of course, I could sell my car, sell my house, move in with my parents and only eat Raman noodles for the next year and pay for the surgery, or I can let insurance pay for it. Why wouldn't I do that? Why wouldn't I let insurance through my company pay for the expense of my surgery?

As far as your advice about putting what I pay into premiums into a savings account for health care, I pay 90 bucks a month for insurance. In one year, that would be 1,080$ dollars not including whatever fractional interest I would get on that. How is that better for me than insurance that will COVER my surgery? I've made up for the cost of my premium 10 times over this year, and I know my own health needs enough to know I have a lot of medical expenses. So how would saving the same money I spend on my premium be BETTER for me?

How about you just accept that your all or nothing statement about insurance was a bit premature, and that different people's situations require different kinds of action, and in some situations, especially in situations where insurance is provided as a benefit from a company, it may make sense to use it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

57. I accept the idea that paying for surgery is difficult.

Without insurance I can't pay for the surgery.

This is the statement I took issue with, and nothing in your previous post changes this from a false statement into a true one.



How about you just accept that your all or nothing statement about insurance was a bit premature, and that different people's situations require different kinds of action, and in some situations, especially in situations where insurance is provided as a benefit from a company, it may make sense to use it.


What I said was 'insurance is a scam'. I didn't say that there is no situation in which acquiring or continuing to pay for insurance is a sensible choice.

[Selwynn]

60. Without insurance I can't pay for the surgery.

It was true when I first said it, its still true now. You've failed to suggest any alternative that works for my situation. Unless you are saying its a better choice for me to file bankruptcy than let my insurance cover the surgery. Are you saying that?

Ok then.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

63. You've already said that wasn't true in post 54

It is true that in my situation, doctors would work with me to make the paymenets for my surgery. I discussed this with them to see all my options, and I could pay x ammount over x months. But even the monthlys were so expensive I couldn't afford it.


What I am saying is that in actual fact, what you say here is true: you can pay for the surgery by making payments. I fully accept the idea that you feel that you can't 'afford' it. But you yourself say you could pay for the surgery without insurance.

That is my point -- insurance companies want you to believe that insurance is your only option -- and it's not. Perhaps you think it is the best option for you - fine. I didn't mean to offend you, nor did I mean my comment as explicit nor as implied criticism of you personally nor of the the choices you've made.

[Selwynn]

62. I guess "LOL" wasn't the heading you wanted?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

64. No, it wasn't

it had a disrespectful tone, which was not what I was trying to convey.


Why do you object to my edit? :wtf:

[Throckmorton]

73. Lets see, my late wifes cancer treatment cost over $320,000.

The price of a very nice house in these parts. Now, how do it pay on this in installments again?

Or do I just go bankrupt?

In Connecticut, Bankruptcy will cost you your home, car, and personal property worth over $1500.00.

Ill stick with the insurance scam.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

75. How much money did the two of you pay in insurance premiums in total?

[TeeYiYi]

70. That's an interesting suggestion . . .

. . . and one that I think I'll consider a little closer.

For that suggestion to work, I think people would have to be in relatively good health to begin with. If you know that you are going to be in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals and emergency rooms and insta-cares, then those people would do better paying for insurance.

TYY

[Feanorcurufinwe]

71. You are correct.

My idea certainly is best suited for someone who is young and in good health, who does not yet have any health insurance. If someone already has health insurance, I wouldn't advise dropping it in favor of a healthcare savings account without knowing the details of the insurance plan. There are some plans that are a good deal, they are just very, very rare.

However, in the hypothetical you posit: If you know that you are going to be in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals and emergency rooms and insta-cares, then those people would do better paying for insurance.

what leaps out at me, is that a person in that situation who does not already have insurance is going to have difficulty obtaining insurance. So whether we are talking insurance or savings, you better get your plan in place long before you get sick.


Also, if you are without insurance, and start a healthcare savings account, it won't stop you from getting health insurance if a good plan becomes available. And the money will still be there if you lose your insurance someday.

[progressivebydesign]

76. The illogic of your argument is shocking..

How about a NEW poll? Anyone here on DU have an extra 10k to 100k to finance cancer treatments and subsequent care? How long would it take us to save up for a triple bypass? Cancer chemo? Liver transplant? Wait until you save up? Disease and accidents don't wait until you have money in the bank.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

77. Just what is the argument I am making that you find illogical?

Would you please demonstrate what I've said that is illogical? Please don't show merely that you can conceive of illogical things that I haven't said, please show the illogic in what I have said.

[RebelOne]

23. I have excellent health insurance,

which includes dental and eye care. And I only pay $32 every two weeks. I am fortunate that my office in Georgia is part of a huge media company in New York, so there are a few thousand employees, which makes my health insurance very inexpensive.

[Selwynn]

27. I have really bad insurance via company.

[Mizmoon]

29. I have too much insurance

I work two part-time professional jobs, both offer excellent insurance (PPO), as well as excellent dental coverage. My husband's job also offers solid insurance and dental. We are covered by both his job and one of my jobs - but dammit - we're all totally healthy and have hardly used it.

Now you KNOW the law of the universe - if we both got laid off from these jobs and lost coverage we'd certainly come down with something awful.

[Skittles]

32. the results of this poll are disturbing

I know we're mostly liberals but I do think we have a pretty good cross-section of society here. 38% of us have no health insurance? It is criminal.

[genius]

33. I have it and I still want universal, single-payer health insurance

Just because we're insured today doesn't mean we'll be insured tomorrow.

[Cleita]

34. Too simple.

You needed the third category.

"I have health insurance, but I don't have health care."

[Kipepeo]

35. Took me forever to get it

What sickens me is that the jobs I've worked that make the least amount of money didn't provide health insurance and the jobs I've worked for more money come with it right away.

Why should the working poor have to PAY for their own health insurance when those making a decent living (not to mention those making shitloads) get it from their employers?

makes me sick.

[kentuck]

36. I have not had health insurance for 10 months...

and I need it....

[Cleita]

37. Why Kentuck?

I don't have any to offer you but I am collecting stories about why people are being denied access to health care from our greedy corporate system. PM me if you'd rather be private. I am very interested.

[kentuck]

38. No...I am like millions of others, I suppose....

I lost my job about ten months ago and I could not afford Cobra and I thought I could just get another job and get coverage thru it...I did get a job, working on a commission and a lot of travel and expenses involved and I did not meet the threshhold in total earnings for the first 3 months to qualify for health coverages and I decided I was going to try and find another job where coverage might be a little easier to get but then I had another problem with my health and I was more or less immobilized for about the last 5 weeks (excepting the last couple of days) so I was putting in resumes trying to get a customer service job or whatever and last week I made an appt to start training this past Monday. Unfortunately, I was unable to walk or drive so I had to call in and tell them that I could not make it because I had a knee "problem" and I could not drive or walk...So there went that job....still no coverage...So I am attempting to see if I can get some help from the Veterans Administration. I have never asked them for anything.

[Cleita]

39. Thanks Kentuck for answering. I am copying this to my list and I

hope maybe I can ask you for more details in the future if I need to. Even though the VA doesn't do what it was originally founded to do, due to all the budget cuts our wonderful Republican politicians have done to them, you should try. A friend of mine was able to get the help he needed through the VA when he fell through the cracks otherwise. Even so it involved a lot of waits in line and bureacracy to maneuver through, but at least he did get the healthcare help he needed in the end.

[gpandas]

53. you're not "asking" for anything,..

just claiming what you deserve and earned. my friend who is unable to work due to back problems (carpet layer) says he gets some monthly amount. my take is that it's like workers comp and they try to discourage any vet who applies by making the application process long and tedious. i think vets are getting shafted, anyhow, so try to avail yourself of any benefit. pride has nothing to do with this, it's simply part of what you already paid for.

[SmokingJacket]

43. Insurance INFLATES health costs.

Just a theory of mine. I know someone who had a surgery that cost over $100,000. Her coverage was 80%, so she had to pay almost $30,000. Seems to me that $30K alone is probably a more than reasonable cost for what she had done.

Insurance enables costs to get out of control. I mean, sheesh!! Doesn't it seem like insurers profit off the amount they've inflated costs by?? F****** parasites.

Of course, it's not like I have a better solution.

:shrug:

(edited for lousy grammar)

[IronLionZion]

45. How about Kerry's health care plan?

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/healthcare/

I have insurance but Kerry's plan looks like it will make it more affordable and accessible. Much of the cost of insurance is due to administrative inefficiency rather than corporate greed. Moving to electronic records instead of paper will save millions or even billions.

[qwertyMike]

46. Canadian Here

:):):):):):):)

[Zorra]

49. I have a lot of friends from Canada.

Every one of them without exception loves your health care system.

[mhr]

47. Lost My Insurance In 2000, Not Covered Since Then

eom

[Lestat]

48. I have it...but...

I lost it for about six months because of a stupid little technicality. So, for six months, I went without any prescription medication that I needed. I had horrible withdrawl symptoms. I was on the maximum dosage and they cut me off like that, with no warning. :grr: My grades in school suffered as a result...just because of a stupid little error. :grr:

[DoctorWeird]

50. I Have Severe Depression

My medications run about five hundred dollars per month. When I had insurance they were only forty per month. Luckily my granddad lives in Mexico and I can get them for about half that cost. Bush's anti-health policies are a death sentence for anyone with severe depression, manic depression, etc. etc. etc. It's only a matter of time before the end comes on an extremely bad day for the unlucky ones. And Bush will have the blood of every single one of those lost to suicide on his hands.

[dand]

52. I have insurance,

unless you are a corrupt member of Congress (life time free medical benefits) or lucky enough to be Canadian, you are fucked.

[central scrutinizer]

58. another category: redundant coverage

I am covered under my plan and my spouse's plan which underscores the disparity in this country. What a fucking waste of resources - 45 million (at least) Americans with no coverage and we have too much with no way of sharing the wealth. Plus we are all very healthy and rarely use any of benefits.

[mongo]

59. Insurance costs for small business are unfordable

1800/mo for 3 employees. Maybe someday, but That would almost double my payroll.

So no insurance for 18 months now.

Got plenty of hospital, Dr. and lab bills though. At least our family Dr. is a reasonable guy and we try to keep up with his bill and send an extra $20.00/mo on what we are behind. The labs and hospital just sends your bill to a collection agency.

They gouge you on the cost if you are not insured. For a blood test I should be getting every month, the insurance paid and the lab accepted $3.96 for the test. Now, I get billed $39.00 for the same test.

I get tested about every 4 months now. If they charged me the $3.96 I'd get it done every month.

[babzilla]

61. uninsured since 2001

fingers crossed for continued good health.

At least I think I'm in good health.

I should probably get a medical opinion, but I can't afford it.

[TeeYiYi]

65. I want to clarify . . .

. . . I have health insurance but I pay a very pretty premium for it. I survive on Top Ramen and day old bananas so that I can have the privilege of having health insurance in the gool ole US of A. It's an individual policy due to my 18 month COBRA policy running out 6 months ago and I'm 'self-employed' now. Because my health history is not squeaky clean, (who's is?) I can't get an individual insurance policy in the traditional sense of the word. I have to have the most expensive, high-deductible 'state mandated through Congress' insurance reserved for the 'un-insurable'. Don't get me wrong, I'm in the best health of my life, but ONE prescription can keep you from being underwritten on an individual policy, as was my case. So here I am. Yes, I have health insurance — but I go without in a lot of areas of my life to hang onto it.

TYY

[JCMach1]

66. Leave the US and you will learn about quality health care

I just paid less than $15 for my daughter to have a cavity filled...

Need I say more.

My daughter was in the hospital with a terrible skin infection for 8 days this spring... She required intensive nursing care for her skin burns...

Total bill= $0

[bikebloke]

67. Alas, finally

Until a few years ago, I went many a year without. Luckily, my lifestyle philosophy is a healthy one. I really hated working in places where nepotism and cronyism were practiced obscenely. The royals didn't work, but collected all the perks. The rest of struggled.

[TeeYiYi]

68. freddie57 — You should post a second poll . . .

. . . to include all of the variations of insurance that people might be on. Your poll as it sits seems skewed without knowing what level of insurance people are talking about. And if they have a 'safety net', how good is that net and what price are they paying for it?


Some suggestions for the new poll:

1) Federal government UBER CUSHY insurance.

2) State government ALMOST AS CUSHY insurance.

3) Large corporation QUITE CUSHY insurance.

4) Small corporation NOT AS CUSHY insurance.

5) Large business PRETTY GOOD insurance.

6) Small business STARTING TO SUCK insurance.

7) Really small business DEFINITELY SUCKS insurance.

8) Lost your job COBRA EXTORTION SUPER SUCKS insurance.

9) Independent contractor EXPENSIVE individual insurance.

10) STATE — HIGH PREMIUM — HIGH DEDUCTIBLE (COBRA ran out) insurance.

11) CATASTROPHIC expensive HIDEOUSLY SUCKS insurance.


These are only suggestions. Your mileage may vary. ;)

TYY

[TeeYiYi]

69. One more thing . ..

. . . You should probably add Medicare and Medicaid.

TYY

[TeeYiYi]

79. kick

TYY:kick:

[Piltdown13]

72. I have insurance, but not the best policy for my situation

It's actually pretty good, as individual major med policies go (of course, this is just my first year on the policy, so who knows what will happen at renewal time) -- assuming, of course, that you have some pretty major disposable income. (Except for the fact that they put a rider on allergy treatment, which is basically the only medical problem I've had.)

I'm a graduate student, so needed to keep my premiums fairly low -- I pay about $118 per month. Naturally, this means a fairly high deductible ($1000), with 50% coinsurance until I hit $3500 out of pocket for the year. (The out-of-network numbers are even higher.) I figured, if something does go horribly wrong, I can put the out of pocket costs on my credit cards, then be covered 100% for the remainder. Wouldn't be too bad if I had a decent income. The other issue is that my primary provider, as it were, is the student health center, which is NOT on my insurance, so anything I have done there (immunizations, checkups, etc.) doesn't count toward my in-network deductible. (I use the health center because it only costs $14 for an appointment, and women's clinic visits are free, compared to the $100 or more it costs to see a "regular" doctor. Doesn't go towards my deductible, but it does get minor matters taken care of much more cheaply than would be possible otherwise.)

I also use the health center pharmacy because it's much cheaper than retail pharmacies -- but they're not on my pharmacy list, so prescriptions I get there don't count for the deductible either. Unless I know for sure that I'll be using well over $500 of drugs in a given year, I'm pretty much screwed. Basically the only use my insurance has been is when I've been sent to specialists outside the health center. In other words, I've got a major medical policy that, because its out of pocket costs are so high that I'd have to put them on (high-interest) credit cards, I end up using like a catastrophic policy (though it has given me a little help with tests ordered by specialists). I can afford $14 doctor visits, but it's much more difficult, if not impossible, to carve $150 visits out of the monthly budget.

Going without insurance is not an option for me, because I generally travel to Africa once a year to do fieldwork, so I have to have coverage in case medical evacuation is needed -- or in case I pick up malaria or some other tropical disease, many of which can put you in the hospital even months after you get back home.

I realize I'm in much better shape than the uninsured, but I am always aware that I could be dropped (or have my premium raised to the point of unaffordability) at the next renewal. And the way I ended up in this situation REALLY pisses me off. See, my university DOES NOT mandate insurance coverage for all students, though it pays for a mandatory plan for student academic appointees (TAs, etc.), international students, and fellowship recipients. This means that the coverage offered through the school to American non-appointees, non-university fellowship people, and undergrads -- the "voluntary plan" -- is pretty bad, because, since it's not mandated, they assume the only people who buy it are those who expect to need it, and the plan is tailored accordingly.

Last year I was going off a university fellowship and onto an external fellowship, so called the insurance office about my options. I was offered the option to continue the mandatory plan for six months (which would only delay the inevitable) or purchase the voluntary plan -- which had just been downgraded from a plan offering catastrophic OR scaled-down regular coverage, to catastrophic only...with a MAXIMUM lifetime benefit of $75,000! So, I got to spend two months tracking down and obtaining coverage on my own.

And of course, the kicker is that there are probably dozens if not hundreds of grad students in a similar position who would be uninsurable as individuals. I know a few of these folks personally, and I'm hoping that the recently-announced new policy will be helpful to them (and maybe even myself).

Sorry for the long rant...this issue has been bothering me for a long time.

Edited for clarity.

[SouthALdem]

74. There should be another choice...

How about "I have something that resembles health insurance." My health insurance company is full of BS about what it will won't pay. It's like they toss a coin and decide based on that whether it qualifies or not. Thank God however they cover prescriptions. My Rx bill is around $600/mo and they reimburse us for almost all the cost (Around 80% for all but one Rx-we get 50% on that one)

[juajen]

78. I fall through the cracks

Retired early because of health reasons, won't be covered by medicare for three more years.

[The Flaming Red Head]

80. no health insurance

this thing won't let me vote because I just registered, but I have no health care. I find it impossible to afford any type of coverage and I’m getting to the age where I need it.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

81. Welcome to DU! Red Head!

[sweetness]

82. Our family is insured but...

I must travel to central america for affordable dental care.

[Nikia]

83. It holds me hostage at a job I don't like

I wanted to find a new job, but my husband is having some medical problems. I have good insurance that my company pays 75% of. Almost all jobs that I could get require at least three months of working for them before they extend insurance. COBRA insurance would be too expenisive. We are young but private insurance wouldn't cover my husband's problem since he already has it.
In some cases insurance is a scam. For example, when I worked for a temp agency, they sent we a form on their insurance: $400 per month, $1000 deductible, a maximum of $10,000 covered in a year. (Not much of a safety net, would cost most people more in premiums than they would get in health care).
I have good insurance though that is worth it, especially with my employer paying 75%.