H'okay so we are going to start with the useful, or at least semi-useful, part of Classical Stinker. Health insurance is on my mind these days because I just got married (yay!) to a tenor (am I nuts?!) who is wonderful (love o' mah life!) and who doesn't have health insurance (crap!). Being the paranoid lady that I am, I have always had health insurance, even when it meant wrangling complex state bureaucracies for months in order to get it. My man, however, is...a dude. Not worried. So, we have waded back into the health insurance fray, and I'm here to report to all you stinkers. Singers. All you singers.
1. Under 26? You lucky bums.
One of the most tangible effects of the Federal Health Care Law is the inclusion of all people under 26 on their parents' health insurance. If you are under 26, your folks can add you to their plan, and you can reap the benefits of group-rated health insurance. Most employee health insurance premiums are partially paid for by the company, so you are basically getting subsidized health insurance from your parents' jobs.
2. Canada is a little far. Try Massachusetts!
When I was 23 - 25, I lived in Massachusetts, where I would have had health insurance no matter how old I was! Whaaaaattt???!?!?!? That's crazy. Being under 26 did still have advantages, however. The Young Adult list of plans was much cheaper than the others, for families, small businesses, and the self-employed. But the amazing thing is that even these plans are about $700.00 cheaper than they would be if purchased outright. And if you make less than $32,676.00/year, you may qualify for subsidized plans. Not government-run, scary-line-inducing plans. Private-sector, regular plans.
3. Low-income plans: Application alchemy.
If you make too much for Medicare but too little to afford $1100.00/month (or more) for insurance, some states have subsidized plans for the sort-of-poor. One option that I found in my home state was Healthy New York. Although there are strict income guidelines, if you meet them you can get insurance from companies like Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna at a group-negotiated rate. The key to the application is to send them way more evidence than they ask for. They ask for pay stubs. Send them your tax returns for the past three years. They ask for a utility bill OR a lease. Send both. You get the idea.
4. COBRA! Ssssssss....
If you have a job that provided health insurance, ask about continuing your coverage through COBRA when you leave. Some plans provide continued coverage for as many as 36 months from the date of enrollment in COBRA, but most will last you about 18 months past the end of your job. If you are in grad school and are a Teaching Assistant or a Graduate Assistant, find out if you are insured as a student or an employee. If it's the latter, you may qualify for COBRA coverage. The cost will be significantly more than what you paid when you were working for the company/school, since you are now paying your contribution and theirs. However, it's likely to be hundreds of dollars cheaper than purchasing insurance outright. And cheaper is better!
5. Disaster preparedness.
Let's say you make too much for Healthy New York (or a comparable program in your state) but still too little to afford health insurance. If you live in New York City and you have a couple of jobs, you can easily make more than $2,327.00/month and still only have a few hundred bucks left once rent and bills are paid. If you are going to go without insurance, you need to have a plan. Where are the sliding-scale clinics nearest you? Which hospitals have the most robust charity funds? Planned Parenthood offers many essential services, such as annual exams and STD testing for both sexes, on a sliding scale based on income. Find out what kinds of documentation you'll need for income verification, and have a folder ready to bring along. This is your insurance card. Always apply for charity if you're at a hospital, and never, ever pay for something after the first bill. It will take a long time, but appeals are often granted if you're willing to work for them.
That's all I got. Let's here what you guys have to say! Do you have a plan that works for you? A tip to share? Do tell!
Look into Freelancers Union and Fractured Atlas, which is a non-profit umbrella organization. If you buy membership to TCG (which entitles you to a subscription in American Theatre magazine) - you are eligible for Fractured Atlas benefits.
ReplyDeleteBoth those organizations have group insurance plans, which are cheaper than going it alone.
I'm juuuuust looking into again, as it's been far too long since I've had insurance.