Uninsured America

[shelbyquinn03079]

I am having some issues going on with health insurance right now and was wondering on what people do about this these days. My fiance's job does not offer Health Insurance. They were looking at a few plans and even if they did get it the family plan would be $800 a month out of pocket. I asked my old boss that if I could somehow fit in enough hours how much the family plan is currently and was told the same thing $700-$800. I looked into self pay plans and they all have huge deductibles and co pays and the best plan I could find with the least out of pocket was $1295 a month!!!!! In New Hampshire they have plans through the state that if you don't qualify for free care then you can purchase insurance at a premium through the state. We moved to Mass a few months back because of several reasons and I assumed we would qualify for some pay plan like in NH. Well, turns out the Mass guidlines are lower and we may not qualify for anything. This means that 11 days before my C-section my insurance will be cancelled and my daughters will be as well. We are trying to figure out what to do about this.

From what I have read there are now 47 million americans without health insurance because of these exact reasons. I guess employers just aren't paying what they used to because it is too expensive. The only thing I can think is either I can try and find a job with cheap insurance and work nights and weekends after the baby comes or we will have to pay as we go. That's really scary to me because if something big happens.

WE can't be the only ones out there with this problem so I was just curious what goes on in other parts of the country and what people do about it.

[slimndown]

Re: Uninsured America

http://www.masskids.org/kidscount/data_health.html

I'm not sure if you've visited this site or not but I hope it helps. It looks like most of these programs are income based but that one of them can insure kids who are not covered currently and the premium is based on income. I don't know for sure but I hope it can help you with your situation. Otherwise, I've often heard that it is a good strategy to get Catastrophe Health Coverage - which will cover around 60% of the cost if there is an emergency (depending on your plans available). It is the cheapest health insurance out there and doesn't cover everyday stuff but at least it's something. If I find myself in a similar situation, I would probably go the catastrophic coverage route and put the rest of the premium I would have been paying for regular coverage in the bank to save for that medical "rainy day". I almost forgot - I just learned the other day that major medical groups offer coverage discounts and all sorts of stuff for those who are uninsured and don't qualify for state coverage.

And I just found this that might help too:

PUBLIC BENEFIT PROGRAMS

CHILDREN’S MEDICAL SECURITY PLAN: (Massachusetts) (1-800-531-2229). Health Insurance Program that provides children and adolescents with access to primary care and preventive services. Benefits include well child care; family planning and limited dental, emergency, mental health, durable medical equipment and prescription drug coverage. Any child age 18 or younger who lives in Massachusetts, is currently uninsured for primary or preventive health care, and is not eligible for primary or preventive health care coverage through MassHealth is eligible for coverage under CMSP.
http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bfch/mcfh

COMMONHEALTH: (Massachusetts) (1-800-841-2900) A program to purchase MassHealth (Medicaid) coverage for Massachusetts residents with disabilities through a sliding fee based on income and family size. May also serve as a secondary insurer in some cases. http://www.masschec.org/Services/CommonHealth.cfm
Tips for families at web address: http://www.massfamilyvoices.org/resources/dph.html

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE (formerly Welfare): (1-800-249-2007). Food stamps, Transitional Aid for Needy Families (TANF) and other assistance. http://www.state.ma.us/dta/index.htm

F.O.R. FAMILIES: (1-800-531-2229)
A home visiting program and a telephone information and referral Help Line whose primary goal is to help families make the transition from welfare to self-sufficiency. Services are free and participation is voluntary.
http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bfch/for/

HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENT PROGRAM (HIPP): (1-800-462-1120) Reimbursement program for employer sponsored health insurance or a form of group insurance for families with a child with a disability on Mass Health. Family tip sheet: http://www.massfamilyvoices.org/resources/dph.html

HEALTHY START: (Massachusetts) (1-800-992-1895; 1-800-531-6667). A program of prenatal care which offers information, referral, support and advocacy to pregnant women in Massachusetts, and may also cover the cost of obstetrical care for those women who meet eligibility requirements. HOTLINE assists pregnant women to apply for Healthy Start/Medicaid.
http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bfch/mcfh/access/hs.htm

KAILEIGH MULLIGAN: (Massachusetts) (1-800-408-1253). A Medicaid program that does not count parent income for Medicaid eligibility. It is intended to enable children with severe medical conditions that require technological dependence and/or skilled nursing care to be cared for at home. Tip sheet for families on line. http://www.massfamilyvoices.org/resources/dph.html

MASS HEALTH: MEDICAID: (1-800-841-2900). Offers a broad range of health-care services by paying for part or all of a MassHealth member's health insurance, or paying medical providers for services given to MassHealth members. Qualified MassHealth members may be able to get doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital stays, and many other important services. Eligibility: Income eligible families children under 19, children receiving AFDC or SSI, children with Kaileigh Mulligan.
http://www.state.ma.us/dma/

PUBLIC BENEFITS INFORMATION LINE: (1-800-882-1435). Provide information on state programs that help finance health care for children with disabilities and chronic illness. Also provides information and referral for DPH Case Management services and the Infant Hearing Evaluation and Infant/Toddler Hearing Aid Program.
http://www.state.ma.us/dph/shcn/ssi.htm

SSI: (Federal) (1-800-772-1213).
A monthly cash benefit and Massachusetts Medicaid coverage for payment of Medical bills. Eligibility: Child under 18 who is blind or has a serious illness or handicapping condition AND meets income eligibility guidelines. (Infants/children hospitalized for a full calendar month may not need to meet income eligibility guidelines while hospitalized.


I found this info at: http://www.massgeneral.org/mghfc/MGH...d.htm#Prenatal

[softnred]

Re: Uninsured America

It looks like you've got some great links there. I hope you're able to put something together with it.

I'm fortunate in that I have a government job and therefore health insurance. Actually, it used to be GREAT insurance, but as the years passed the premiums and the copays have skyrocketed, to the point where I have to make sure that dr. visits or prescriptions are necessary beforehand. $30 per doctor visit and $30 per prescription is a lot for a single parent. I will be VERY happy when Christopher and I are married and DS and I are on Tricare.

[shelbyquinn03079]

Re: Uninsured America

Thanks so much for all that effort. I did see most of those programs on the Mass Health website but they confuse me because the income limits are all the same. I am not sure what the differences are in that case so I just sent in the app and info and figured we would figure something out once we know. They do have a Blue Cross plan for children that is $150 a kid per month. That is still somewhat high to pay $300 a month and have no insurance for myself or for Josh but at least the kids would be covered. We will have to look into that. I am hoping that when we get the info back and if we don't qualify for anything then they send suggestions of what to do. It will really be too bad if we can make it well enough as me staying home with the kids but I have to go to work just to get insurance. I am just trying to take things one day at a time but its scary with my new baby coming in 5 weeks.

[snowlily]

Re: Uninsured America

Hey there! My children used to be on the state insurance program here in ky. DH was not considered full time at the POst office and didnt receive it. Only our kids were eligible because dh and I were married. but our income was low enough for the 3 kiddos to qualify. That was my biggest concern. dh has VA. So i was the only uninsured in the household. I luckily didnt have any emergencies. I did have to just pay out of pocket a few times for sick/dr appts. and the money for the antibotic. If dh and I hadnt been together or if i was pregnant, i would have qualified for the state program. they dont have the biggest choice for doctors but covers almost everything! Sometimes if you're over income requirements, they have another one where you can pay deductibles. I would say just make an appt and go in to see what they can help with. Sometimes thats the best route because they at times have things or programs you may not know about!