Health Insurance: "Young Invincibles"

Here's a video from CNN about a young bike messenger in NYC who does not have health insurance. He says he's been in a few health-related binds on the job. See what you think. As mentioned previously, I advocate purchasing health insurance if it is not provided through your employer (some is better than none). Here are my thoughts on the bike messenger:

1) It may be possible for him to get a short-term policy for relatively cheap if he's healthy.
2) If you are a bike messenger is it difficult to obtain medical coverage? (It seems like a high risk job...)
3) Does he have a medical condition that prevents him from obtaining affordable coverage?

Health Insurance: Short-term plans

There is a website called gradspot that has helpful career articles that are easy to understand and oriented towards recent graduates. This particular article, "Considering Short-Term Health Insurance", contains information on who may benefit from purchasing short-term insurance, how much short-term insurance can cost, and common providers.

Health Insurance: Be a Smart Consumer

So...you're still looking for a job but you want to purchase health insurance? Or, do you have a job and access to group health insurance through your employer? Are you being a smart consumer?

As I mentioned previously, some health insurance is better than none at all. Although I hate to say it, it is possible that the health insurance plan offered by your employer may be worse than what you could purchase as an individual. It would be wise to compare costs and coverage if at all possible to save some $$. Health insurance was offered to me through my new employer but I decided to decline because of a $10,000 (gasssp) deductible. If you go to the doctor infrequently then you might be o.k. paying all of that out-of-pocket cost. On the contrary, I'll keep my individual insurance, thanks. Here are a few thoughts to consider...

Health Insurance: Pre-existing conditions and risk pools

After I finished graduate school and was kicked off of my university (group) health plan I applied for individual insurance through several major companies. I have a pre-existing medical condition and was determined to be "medically ineligible" for any affordable health insurance. So, what do you do when you've finished school, are unemployed AND have a pre-existing medical condition? A friend of my mother's jokingly said I could either get pregnant (be a single mother and perhaps qualify for medicaid) or get married to someone who has health insurance. Geez. I am here to tell you that you may qualify for health insurance through a state risk pool. I'm not saying that all of these policies are good or even worthwhile. I wanted to provide the link (above) so that you may investigate your options if you fall into this category.

More health insurance posts here !

Health Insurance: Short term plans

Are you out of work and out of health insurance? Have you finished college and been kicked off of your university's or parent's insurance? Short-term medical plan options exist.

Advantages
+If you're healthy (no pre-existing conditions, illnesses, etc.) then you can often be covered very quickly.
+A short-term medical plan may be a good option if you're temporarily unemployed and want to avoid a waiting period.* *

Disadvantages
+Keep in mind that short-term plans or gap plans may not include comprehensive medical coverage.
+And, if you develop a medical condition while on a short-term plan you may have difficulty later when purchasing your own comprehensive medical plan.

**That's right folks: If you are uninsured for more than 63 days you will have a waiting period. This means your health insurance coverage ($$) will not kick-in until after that waiting period...even if you secured a new job and group health insurance. The amount of time you will wait usually depends on your medical history. For those of us with a medical history this is financial death.

Health Insurance: Your plan and all those fancy words

If you have health insurance the last thing you want to think about when you're sick is how your policy works and what all those terms (a.k.a. "fancy words") mean. Even if you do not have health insurance and are considering your plan options it is important to know some terms so that you can be a smart consumer and compare your choices. Here's a glossary of terms for starters and some terms to consider:

1. Do you know the difference between group and individual insurance?
2. What is an E.O.B. (explanation of benefits)?
3. What is a deductible?
4. What is a copayment?
5. What does it mean to be 'out of plan' or 'out of network'?

Health Insurance: Do you need it?

I know many young people who do not have access to group health insurance through an employer and have decided not to purchase individual health insurance because they are unemployed or only working part-time jobs. Sure, paying for health insurance monthly is a drain on the budget, particularly if you're not making much to begin with. Sure, some of us may not get sick very often or never develop any medical conditions. However, most of us aren't that lucky. Even if you do not get sick very often and do not currently have any medical conditions I STRONGLY suggest that you purchase some sort of health insurance because you never know what could happen. A single overnight stay in the hospital could put you in financial ruins. Take it from me: I've had a freak accident before and also developed a medical condition seemingly out-of-the-blue. You need health insurance. Protect yourself. You don't want to be a health insurance loser.

Here's an article which quickly explains why purchasing health insurance is a must.

NEW: Health Insurance Series

If you're new to health insurance, then brace yourself. There's a lot to learn and it is important that you know how health insurance works (and does not work). My mother is employed in the field of health care. When I was much younger she talked with me about health insurance and the information would go in one ear and out the other ear. Now that I have become a slave to my health insurance I can give you some starter advice from the perspective of a young professional. This is the very first post of my Health Insurance Series. I will try to cover topics relevant to young professionals and those new to health insurance. If you have a pertinent question feel free to leave a comment or email me at joblessgenevieve@gmail.com and I will try to steer you in the right direction. Here's food for thought:

Do not forget the recent, jobless graduates and unemployed (or underemployed) young professionals. Many who are healthy will go without insurance. However, some of us do not have that option. What do you do when you finish school, cannot be covered by your parent's health insurance, are no longer covered by your university's group plan, are unemployed, have a preexisting condition, have been determined to be medically ineligible for health insurance and only offered health care plans with HIGH deductibles? My answers coming soon in future posts...


For my international readers: I am not an expert on the health care system in other countries and would love your thoughts and opinions. Please don't feel excluded!