Insurance, Self Employed NY
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- Abominable
For you folks in the Tri-State area that freelance or run a small company what do you do for health insurance?
Oxford wants $1200mo for POS and $750mo for an HMO.
I'm hoping that some of you that have gone through this before might be able to give me better information.
Thanks, e.
- Momentum20
get married to someone who has insurance... haha well thats what i'm doing LOL
- Abominable0
"get married to someone who has insurance... "
Yeah, I'd been thinking about pulling that stunt until my gf decided to become self employed too.
tkmeister: Thanks for the reco for TEIGIT. That might be the straw that forces me to renew AIGA membership. The rates are incredibly less expensive than going it alone.
willing to listen to alternatives if anyone has any.
thanks, e.
- fyoucher10
I have Aetna and only pay 180 a month for a PPO. My wife just got on my plan too since she just left her job a cpl months ago.
No PCP, but I pay like 25 bucks for everything...but I still save in the end. And I have good coverage. The wife is an HR Generalist so she knows all about this stuff. I think Aetna might only be a PA thing tho.
Check into it. I've heard about those steep rates before.
- F_180
Freelancers Union:
http://www.freelancersunion.org/…Nation Congress of Employers:
http://www.thence.org/Insurance.…
- Abominable0
fyoucher1: thanks for the tip on Aetna. I'll call next week.
F_18: thanks for the links. re the Freelancer's Union: unfortunately, United's Golden Rule doesn't carry into NYC. I've only heard negative things about HIP in the city. Does anyone have anything 'nice' to say about them as a provider?
As a general update, it's going to cost me $300 to renew my AIGA membership and after 2mos i can apply to their group Oxford plan which is three-tiered between $350 and $700mo for individuals.
Enrollment to the Freelancer's Union is free and their HIP related range from $325 to $250mo. Don't yet know what an EPO is. God help me, the acronyms are beginning to mount.
National Congress of Employers, is a new one to me. They don't have specifics on their site about coverage. They do offer PPO in addition to the rest and seem to offer dental through Aetna, which is a plus. Is anyone using them or know their rates? I'll contact them next week.
Both AIGA and Freelancer's union has this caveat that you be able to prove that you were employed for 20hrs a week for at least 8 weeks. As a freelancer who doesn't punch a time-clock or really get paid on a regular basis, does anyone know how this process works?
Again, thanks all for your help.
- brooke0
NASE - National Organization for the Self Employed.
- canuck0
move to canada.
- EricStralow0
Those price quotes (1200/750 per month)...are those for individual plans or for company coverage?
I'm not an insurance aficionado (bare bones works for me), but those numbers seem really high to me. I'm riding the COBRA currently but all external health plans I've researched have been running between 200 and 400. I can give you a number if you want it.
- skelly_b0
I have a self-employed AETNA plan with a hefty deductible, but it is only running me $50 a month. Unless you have something in your health history making things difficult you should have no problem finding something cheaper.
- Abominable0
skelly, I'm going to give Aetna a call during the week to see what they can offer. Are you in the City or outside?
eric re "Those price quotes (1200/750 per month)...are those for individual plans or for company coverage?"
That was Oxford's ONLY coverage for self employed people.
It seems through at least the AIGA that they have a much better plan (or at least comparable ) at a cheaper price.
- EricStralow0
Those Oxford numbers shock me.
Knock on wood, but I treat health insurance like earthquake insurance...I have it because I'd hate not to have it. But I rarely exercise it.
Hey, a little FYI. I got jumped a few years ago in Brooklyn and had to go the the emergency room. I learned that if you're a victim of a crime in NYC, that the city covers your health + psych bills if you dont have insurance. So...you know...save for the flu/cancer/cutting off a finger with a jigsaw/etc, that puts my mind at ease when walking down the street or cutting through traffic and etc. Ie, anything that can be spun into a criminal act can be covered if necessary. Sayin.
- tkmeister0
oxford liberty metro plan covers pretty well for less than $5000/year through aiga. i mean if you get a serious injury or any health problem, your bill will easily run way more than that. i wouldn't go with a bare bone plan, not in this phase of my life.
- Abominable0
those oxford plans all look ok. I've had oxford in the past and thought they were ok, but opted not for cobra when i went fl last year. I don't think the bare bone plan is right for me either.
I'm definitely going to consider that option. did in fact re-up my AIGA... for better or worse.
I'm going to look into the Aetna and HIP alternatives, through other orgs listed already, early next week. Does anyone have anything good to say about either company?
Eric: thanks for the tip on the mugging. Your loss is our gain. I don't live in Bkln but i shouldn't have any problem getting into trouble here in Harlem.
- EricStralow0
No problem.
And I wonder if you could spin the a cold or something into a crime. IE, the city doesn't regulate air pollutants correctly as per the Clean Air Bill r32872...make the connection...cite the holes...sue sue sue...free Nyquil!
- enki0
- JAO0