If you are self employed in the USA, do you have health insurance?

by Iamallcool 50 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  journey-on

  Re: If you are self employed in the USA, do you have health insurance?

  I have never gone without health insurance and over the many years I have owned four different businesses. I paid my own and 1/2 the cost for my employees'.

  But...it isn't cheap. I got into a discussion with a young man that owns a small auto repair business not long ago. He doesn't have insurance. Says he can't afford it. However, in the course of the conversation, he told me that he spends about $480/month on cigarettes for himself alone. His wife smokes a different brand and her ciggie bill is slightly less. His 6-pack a night booze bill adds an additional $250-300 per month. I don't knock him for drinking and smoking....it's his choice. It's all about priorities. He also has a two-year old. I doubt seriously that he is contributing to any kind of healthcare fund for him, much less college fund.

  That being said, I agree with Terry. I think small businesses should take more advantage of the business associations available that allow companies to pool. There are resources out there that help reduce costs....but it takes research and a pro-active approach. Too many Americans just throw their hands up and wait for Uncle Sam to step in and in the interim, whine and complain about everybody else being insensitive and unsupportive.

  Terry is also right about emergency rooms. I have a friend that worked at the county hospital. People on government aid can actually call an ambulance to bring them to the ER for treatment and never pay a dime. Others, based on what insurance they have, can pay as much as $1000 for an ambulance. And...that hospital is full of folks being treated for major illnesses that pay (or don't pay) according to their ability.

  Many forget that corporations also provide huge sums for programs to help people afford care for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc. You just have to get pro-active to take advantage of what is available.
• 

  NewChapter

  NewChapter, something about this must be a bit off.

  MMM---sorry I just saw this. My brother has always provided excellent health benefits for his employees---including dental and vision. I can't speak to other companies, but for him, he has an older employee with an older wife. That one person's premiums are huge. He pays a lot to keep everyone insured.

  Before he had regular employees---when he was getting things off the ground---he had the most difficult time getting his own insurance. He is healthy, rarely sick, but he is an amputee. Most of the companies he contacted simply refuse to cover an amputee. Period. He found one that finally would take him, but they wrote up the coverage to exclude ANYTHING that would even hint that it had to do with his leg. And it wasn't the greatest coverage.

  When you have employees, it is easier because you can get group things. But this still doesn't mean that it isn't a huge expense and hassle. If you want to be self-employed in America, you will absolutely have to deal with our immoral healthcare system. Sometimes, no matter how much you are willing to pay, you simply can't purchase insurance. Nothing would wipe out a fledgling business faster than devastating medical costs.

  So yes, at this time, he has coverage and so do his employees. I think most small businesses would not be able to do it though. The cost is so high. But for him, he is doing well and he offers this cheerfully. For a smaller or less profitable company, it would be impossible. And if you can't cover your employees, and they can't get it on their own, you will lose all the best talent to the large corporations who have more bargaining power, and you will be stuck with the left overs. If you can't even make it that far---having regular employees---because you can't get health care coverage, then we've lost another job creator.

  NC
• 

  SixofNine

  Fortunately, thanks to the ACA, for every American the research you need to do to purchase insurance can be now be done with just a few mouse clicks.

  Start at Healthcare.gov and follow the links to your State's options.

  Every option available to you will be listed in an apples to apples comparison.

  It should be simpler still, but it is 1000X simpler than pre-healthcare Act.
• 

  journey-on

  You get an Error message when you click on your link, Six. Can you double check your link?
• 

  NewChapter

  Many forget that corporations also provide huge sums for programs to help people afford care for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc. You just have to get pro-active to take advantage of what is available.

  What is the difference between expecting corporations to provide programs for healthcare and asking the government? How is that more noble? How is it more noble to tell the poor to get their very expensive healthcare from emergency rooms, after their diseases have gone too far, than making sure they can get maintenance care? Another cost that must be absorbed by . . . someone. Why would you prefer to reduce people who are willing to pay for coverage to charity cases begging corporations to help them out---instead of insuring they can get coverage on their own?

  The government plan is not socialist. It makes sure that everyone can buy coverage. But apparently this makes people really mad, as they would rather medical bills go unpaid, or people be even more dependent on profit making corporations to come to the rescue. Because that is somehow more elevated than working out a universal plan, with standard rules, that everyone can have access to. I guess it's okay to whine and complain to corporations.

  NC
• 

  SixofNine

  Many forget that corporations also provide huge sums for programs to help people afford care for diabetes, cancer, heart disease, etc. You just have to get pro-active to take advantage of what is available.

  Many also forget that the Government tax break (which is a type of subsidy) to corporations who provide health insurance/care is over 230 billion per year.

  Link above is working now.
• 

  Violia

  Due to hubby's health change he now is not able to work and only option is Cobra . He can't qualify for Medicare for 24 months or age 65, whichever comes first. Age 65 will come first. The cobra would be almost all of his disability check. So he is without insurance .

  We had a social worker over a few days ago and at one point she said something like, if she had the illnesses I had she would not want to live. You can't imagine how I felt. I guess it would be cheaper if I just offed myself. It is all very complicated when you are under 65- which I am by a number of years. Since I lost benefits under hubby's insurance, I now have one of the advantage plans. If I don't like that I can pay for a supplement but they are very high for folks under 65.

  I'm changing my vote. The h*ll with this, I guess I should just go off myself, as my infusions cost a lot.

  Hubby won't qualify for any kind of state insurance until he is without insurance for 6 months. The state high risk pool are as high or more than cobra .They state on the site they are not low cost.
  We make just a little too much for Medicaid so , we are in that vast middle ground who can't get help.
• 

  journey-on

  Thanks, six. I'll pass that sight on.

  I am always amazed at how people tend to see only what supports their viewpoint. I like to think I'm not, but I'm probably guilty of it sometimes, too.

  Voluntary vs Forced.... NC, that's a big deal for lots of Americans. Corporations pour money into setting up and implementing these programs voluntarily. I'm sure there are tax breaks for doing so, but nevertheless, that's the avenue they CHOOSE. Individuals and corporations give large amounts to hospitals and programs that actively help. I love the Ronald McDonald House and St. Jude Children's Hospital among others.

  County Hospitals....I don't know about your local tax bill, but ours breaks it down into School Tax, Property Tax, Bridge and Road Tax, Hospital District Tax, etc. etc. etc. (The list of taxes goes on and on) Our local hospital taxes are used to provide indigent care, preventative health programs for the poor, maintain charity hospitals and provide other services. It amounts to a lot of money and the ability to hire good doctors and nurses.

  They have FREE SCREENINGS for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. etc. etc. BUT----YOU HAVE TO BE PRO-ACTIVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. I think our district even provides bus transportation to some of the free screenings. But, again....you have to make the call and arrange the transportation.
• 

  NewChapter

  I'm changing my vote. The h*ll with this, I guess I should just go off myself, as my infusions cost a lot.

  V, I understand on a very personal level how this feels. Please keep your chin up. When we listen to this endless debate, it is hard not to be affected by the thought that some simply think it is too expensive to keep us alive. Every single person in that debate, whether they want to make sure we can get the care we need or not, are at risk for being in our spot. It's endlessly hard to have to sacrifice every bit of extra to pay in medical care. It's extremely frustrating to watch savings, 401 K's, assets dwindle and to watch bankruptcy loom---because we've committed the greatest sin in America---we got sick and can't play by their rules anymore. But I'm glad you are here. We disagree on a lot, but there are so few people I can discuss Minchin with in the detail I like! And I see your contribution as much more valuable than financial. We actually still count. Regardless of the prevailing attitude about pulling weight and paying our way (which is fine for healthy people)---we have something to offer.

  Feel better. Rock On!

  NC
• 

  NewChapter

  They have FREE SCREENINGS for cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. etc. etc. BUT----YOU HAVE TO BE PRO-ACTIVE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM. I think our district even provides bus transportation to some of the free screenings. But, again....you have to make the call and arrange the transportation.

  And what happens after the screenings? What about those that fall between the cracks? What about those that make too much, yet not enough? There is a false sense of security here. Oh, you can get screened---sure---in SOME places, this is not universal. And when you are handed bad news---------well-------so sorry. Uhm, perhaps you can get into this program or that----in SOME places---again, not universal----unless you make $20 too much.

  Taxation is not theft. We do plenty of things that aren't voluntary. There is a cost to having a great society. Great societies don't throw their weak in the cold and tell them to hope for the best. They don't assume that some program somewhere will help---NOT UNIVERSAL---

  You like proactive. Then let's be proactive. Let's make sure everyone has access to healthcare, and stop just assuming these things always work out. They don't.

  NC