My wife currently works for a large coporation for her full-time job, and we have great insurance through them. Less than a year from now (after the baby is born and my wife is working only part-time or not at all (outside of our business), we are going to need to get health insurance. We have purchased independent insurance before, but we would be curious to see what those of you all that are doing photography full time do for health insurance...

Nathan

Hey guys, just wanted to revive this post because I trying to answer this same question.

Any help.

I'm currently working at Starbucks part-time (20hrs) and get full benefits (medical, dental, vision, stock, tuition) but I'm wondering what to do once I'm ready to step away from them.

Haha!! I do the same!! Gotta love those Starbucks benefits. (and getting my day started suuuper early!!) I am also self employed full time... but no benefits there.

We self-insure through Blue Cross (CA only maybe) and haven't really had any issues. The premiums are 100% deductable now (as of 2004 I think), so it's really a no-brainer. We don't have life insurance yet, but will be setting it up as soon as Caleb is born...I guess that is soon though...

I'm not sure what rates you have been quoted but if you're a PPA member they have a health insurance plan through a agent.

Steve

Just reviving this thread to see if anyone had any other suggestions. We definitely need a group plan b/c my wife gets kidney stones and on an individual plan those are considered a pre-existing condition and would not be covered. We had an individual plan before and they didn't even cover things such as ear infections for our son. Any ideas on how to get on a group plan as a full-time photographer.

holy moly - I just read this and thought, "after the baby is born!"

Then I realized it was old!

hey guys-
we are in the process of reviewing our plans and here is a little bit about what I have learned...mind you - i'm not sure this is EXACTLY the way things work - but from my info gathering here are some options...

My guess is that insurance options vary from state to state as to the legal protection you are granted to get benefits regardless of pre-existing conditions. Some states take more action to provide everyone with options...

In the state of colorado - i always thought that i didn't have many options other than to carry an individual premium of which, if my husband and i wanted to have kids, no part of pregnancy would be covered. However, in our state - anyone that has a business producing a good percentage of your income and can prove that you run a viable business can apply for a business group of 1. The insurance companies are required to offer you coverage and cannot decline you based on pre-existing conditions - HOWEVER, the rates on these policies have been quoting much higher than the individual non-business related policies.

If you and your husband or wife or another business partner split revenue 50/50 - you can apply for a business group policy - both of you do not need to pick up the coverage (aka - your partner can waive coverage) - but you are both eligible for coverage. Getting this policy requires providing a great deal of proof to the insurance companies - but you absolutely have to proove that it is a JOINT business. So – in this case, my husband works for a school - the benefits are great for him - but very expensive for me. benefits are just as good with the group policy and a bit cheaper - so the business group of 2 will most likely be the best option for us.

I guess i didn't really realize that group policies existed - and i don't think a lot of the companies are quick to sell them. So you have to ask specifically about business plans...

I'd be curious to see what anyone else has learned

still searching for some...or putting off getting it is more like it. Health Net seemed to have a lot of options and decent pricing. not sure if they are nationwide or not.

my thing is i would like coverage that include alternative medicines, like acupunture and massage. more about preventative care...

In New York, we have Healthy New York(state subsidized health care). You cannot make a lot of money to qualify. If you are just starting out it is a great choice. You get coverage through Blue Cross/Shield. For a family of three with basic coverage we pay $489 a month, not too bad.

LOL!!!!! Yeah, that was a slightly old post! Addison is now almost 2!!!

We now use Blue Cross through Farm Bureau, and they are absolutely amazing!!!

From what I can tell from internet searches, FL does not have the option for group coverage for groups of 2 I guess I'll have to call around and see what options are available.

I was thinking the same thing...and wondering why he was saying "my wife" like we don't all know Amber! I was totally confused for a moment!

But as far as insurance goes I do know a little bit about it. First of all, group insurance is available (my dad specializes in group benefits). And you can be as little as one person to get it. The problem is that it is typically more expensive than individual. If you are young and healthy group insurance is probably not the best option. An individual policy is not too outrageous...but you do have to add on benefits such as maternity care, so that would cost extra. Seriously, if anyone is interested in talking with my dad about group insurance or even individual insurance, please give him a call. He is a broker so he is not limited to only one insurance company. He can shop around for you and find the best price for your situation. You can call Reid at 828-312-2186.

Also, for life insurance I would strongly recommend Northwestern Mutual Life and a WHOLE life policy....not term life. Whole life with Northwestern is set up much like a savings account and can build up cash value over time. There are also lot's of other benefits with their insurance policies.

If you are wondering what the difference between term and whole life insurance is; I can simplify it by saying that term life is like renting the insurance...it doesn't build cash value and can expire, but is usually less expensive. But whole life is like buying it...it builds cash value and never expires.

Hope that helps!

My daughter's $400,000 in medical bills (and she's only 3) make it REALLY difficult for me to consider leaving full-time employment that has very good bennies. But I really do envy those of you who can do it on your own.

you should check out HSA plans. This is basically a special account that you set up to use for things like this (massage, chiropractor, birth control)...basically, anything that your insurance won't cover. It will be tax free and deductible this way, which may be the best it gets.

I too have come up against the dreaded "preexisting condition" conundrum. I mean, HELLO!? Isn't this why we need health insurance in the first place!? It's like if you're not in completely pristine mental and physical health, than you can't get decent coverage. geez. I just buy my prescriptions through jandrugs.com (gotta love canada) and use my HSA. I'm looking at joining the chamber of commerce to take advantage of their group plan...

Nice to know i'm not the only one struggling with this. Hopefully i'll find a hubby with good benefits someday!!
Abby

I hope the Republicans among us won't have a fit, but stuff like this is exactly why we should have a national health insurance, or at least something assuring everyone of coverage (and more importantly, access to health care, since payment and access are two separate things). I'm sure everyone knows or is at least aware that there are about 40 million uninsured people in this country, most among the developed world, and we rank last in terms of health indicators, yet we spend more than any other country. Fewer people have access to employer coverage, and an increasing number of the uninsured are hard working people. Basically, it's time to reshape our system and create one that is universally fair.

I'll step off my soapbox now

Phil, I couldn't agree more.

Erich, that's great to hear you mention Healthy New York. I'm applying for it, and when my fiance and I are married in October 2008, it would be awesome for both of us to be covered under it. I'm planning on doing photography for the rest of my life (as well as a few other entrepreneurial ideas I may execute ), and he is a Music Theorist (will be working on his M/Ph D at Eastman), so neither of our career choices really lend themselves to corporations or big business that will provide us with health care coverage.

I will agree that our healthcare system has issues. However, a government-sponsored healthcare system is not some panacea. Which programs, exactly, does our government run efficiently? Might frivolous lawsuits have caused some of these skyrocketing costs?

This article is a prime example:
FEMA Wants Over $300M in Katrina Aid Back

NEW ORLEANS Feb 6, 2007 (AP)— In the neighborhood President Bush visited right after Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. government gave $84.5 million to more than 10,000 households. But Census figures show fewer than 8,000 homes existed there at the time.

Now the government wants back a lot of the money it disbursed across the region.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration has determined nearly 70,000 Louisiana households improperly received $309.1 million in grants, and officials acknowledge those numbers are likely to grow.

Because our government runs things so effectively...

The government is actually far more effective than private industry in terms of administrative costs.

Also, lawsuits really don't have much of an effect on rising healthcare costs, what does contribute to increasing costs is over-adoption of new technologies and oversaturating markets with those new medical devices.

As a bit of background, I take this stuff as seriously as I do photography, if not more; I have a masters degree in health policy and I plan on pursuing my phd in the same subject area (hopefully). This is stuff I really believe in...

Agreed! I did a paper on this topic in grad school.

Golden Rule primarily insures individuals and the HSA/ high deductable plan I have through them is reasonably priced. Many states have laws that prevent you from being penalized by preexisting conditions, provided you've maintained some sort of health insurance without any gaps.

The HSA type of insurance ultimately gives you a lot more control over your health care since you can chose where and how to spend your money or to save it. That's the primary downfall of a goverment run system, someone else decides what treatment you qualify for and where and when you get it.

When I was a healthcare and Medicare LA on the Hill, I was constantly lobbyied (by those with a financial interest) and begged by constitutents to change Medicare benefits. It always stuck me as a little crazy that people like me (as staff write legislation and greatly influence their boss's vote) with no medical background have contol over what type of care is covered.

And what most people don't know is doctors that treat Medicare patients aren't allowed to provide treatement that's outside the scope of what Medicare covers, even if the patient wants to pay for it out of their pocket.

This is obviously a huge topic, but one other thought, a lot of our uninsured population are young people that don't think they need insurance and don't want to pay for it. Even in countries with "free" health insurance they can't get everyone to sign up.

Our system is certainly broken, but, in my opinion, giving people more control over their care and having the cost more visible (so people aren't running to the doctor for colds because it only costs them $20) will make people more savy consumers of health care while maintaing quality of care that we have. We really do have the best health care in the world.