OT: Health Ins. for self-employed video guys

slacy wrote on 8/18/2005, 10:17 AM
Hi all,

I know this is well off-topic, but there are so many wise and thoughtful folks in here that I couldn't help but ask.

If you're a self-employed video professional, how do you handle your health insurance needs? I'm just now finding out that when my group health insurance through Cobra expires and I'm forced to pursue an individual plan, any pre-existing conditions will not be covered.

Question: what solutions/strategies do the self-employed on this board recommend? Is there any way to avail oneself of group coverage through some sort of organization for video professionals? As a one-time member of a writer's union, I seem to recall having access to group health through that union. Is there any such animal in the video world?

Thanks for any insights.

Scott

Comments

BrianStanding wrote on 8/18/2005, 12:01 PM
The Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF) offers discounted health insurance through the nonprofit Working Today to its members, with no application fee. I don't use this benefit, since I have health care through my day job. (That's the major reason I HAVE a day job!) So, I can't personally vouch for the quality of the coverage.

However, AIVF is a great organization, publisher of "The Independent" magazine, good networking and self-distribution tools, and advocate for independent producer access to media outlets. "The Independent" alone is worth the $70 annual membership.

Check 'em out at:
www.aivf.org
BarryGreen wrote on 8/18/2005, 12:35 PM
There are a lot of groups that claim to provide small business owners with group coverage rates, but I looked into it and found that most of them had been identified as fronts for insurance companies. They go by names like "small business alliance" and things like that. Not working for the small businessperson, instead working for the insurance company. So definitely do your homework.

As Brian said, there are groups that are dedicated to businesspeople that may offer better deals: the AIVF, I believe WEVA offers it, etc. And for a direct individual policy, check out Blue Cross' Anthem -- I found their rates far more reasonable than many other insurers.
Billae wrote on 8/18/2005, 12:48 PM
I use N.A.S.E. They are cheap and are very basic. My wife and I pay around $300.00 a month. Here's a link http://www.nase.org/
goshep wrote on 8/18/2005, 5:27 PM
Also, get a letter from your HR dept. or current/former carrier specifying any existing conditions for which you've been treated. There is a specific name for it but it escapes me right now. In California, it is illegal to deny coverage if the pre-existing condition was covered and treated under a previous plan. Hope that helps wherever YOU are.
cheroxy wrote on 8/18/2005, 6:15 PM
I am self employed (dentist) and I did a few searches on the net and went to the web pages for the local big ppo plans. Depending on your circumstances you should find a pretty good deal. I can get maternity, well baby, etc for about 400/month in Washington. Much better than the $1000/month I was originally offered.
Carson
B_JM wrote on 8/18/2005, 8:13 PM
move to canada :)

Dan Sherman wrote on 8/18/2005, 8:28 PM
Yeah,---move to Canda!
Just what I was thinking.
But take good care of yourself.
'cause up here if anything goes wrong, you may be waiting in line for a long time to get the necessary the medical care you need.
Lot of our docs have gone south of the border when the grass is greener and stays that way longer.
And socialized medicine is not free.
Nothing's free,---we pay big time through taxes :{
Coursedesign wrote on 8/18/2005, 9:08 PM
we pay big time through taxes

But the tax payers in Canada pay only 20% far administration, whereas 33% of U.S. medical bills goes to pay for paper pushers.

Lots of pros and cons for both though. In the end it's a choice between being stressed out about money or stressed out about time.
john-beale wrote on 8/19/2005, 1:08 PM
I'm also a photographer and member of the PPA, which offers its members medical insurance through Fortis / Assurant. There is a low premium of $168 but the deductable is $2600 per year so this is really only "catastrophic" insurance, not really a health plan.
DVDeviations wrote on 8/19/2005, 4:41 PM
Costco has small business Insurance for it's executive members. Executive membership is about $100.00 a year. In California, it is a good plan, it is through Pacificare. It does take a couple of months for them to get back to you, though, for the sign up procedure.

When buying your own insurance, it is important to make sure that you have drug coverage, not just hospital coverage. For example, chemotherapy is considered a drug, not a hospital stay, and some insurance companies may not cover this, if (God forbid), you or someone in your family should need it.
Jøran Toresen wrote on 8/19/2005, 5:52 PM
Move to Norway!

Or Sweden, or Denmark, or Finland, or any other country in north Europe.
Free kindergartens, free education, free, health care, free services for the elderly, full salary for workers who are sick, satisfactory pension for persons not able to work, satisfactory pensions for the elderly, and so on.

Joran
FuTz wrote on 8/19/2005, 7:17 PM
Joran : I'll sure keep that in mind forever. : )
FrigidNDEditing wrote on 8/19/2005, 7:59 PM
Mary someone who works for the govt. :)

Dave
Bob Greaves wrote on 8/19/2005, 10:54 PM
In most States, pre-existing conditions do not apply to continuous coverage when going off one plan and starting on another. Double check that fact.