When Jim and I both became self-employed a few years ago, we tried to be good little boys and girls and buy health insurance with an individualized health plan, which seemed the responsible thing to do (responsible for ourselves, our families, society in general). Actually, we bought insurance through two professional organizations, which claimed to give us group rates. This was actually not true. The rates and coverage were approximately the same as buying the plans with a broker or directly from the insurer, which we tried later. In any case, we discovered something very curious—my health plan cost a lot more than Jim’s (even without maternity coverage on mine). And I’m younger than Jim. And we have approximately the same good health and no pre-existing conditions. Mine just cost a lot more. Apparently this is not just our problem: Women Buying Health Policies Pay a Penalty. Could we find a more corrupt little slice of life in the United States than these plans? Honestly. Perhaps in the Mafia.
More from me on the topic here: Individualized Health Care Plans, The Costly and Meager Plan, and Had a C-Section? (because that rules you ineligible for an individualized health care plan)
October 30th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
We don’t have insurance - it is one of the more complicated things I want to ignore. Yes, not the most mature option, but now that I know I will pay more then my husband I am ignoring it even more.
October 30th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
My plan was roughly 40% more than Jim’s.
But we ended up cancelling them after years of being screwed. I’m hoping the next president helps with the individualized health care plan because it’s really a horrible thing to partake in.