Health Insurance for the Self-Employed?

SharkJumper writes "Looks like this question has been asked before, but might be due for an update. I'm a self-employed programmer who is about to become a father. Previously, my family's insurance has come through my wife's employer, but she is eagerly looking forward to being a stay-at-home mom. We must look for that elusive low-cost insurance in order to enable her to do this. Losing her insurance is not a huge loss as, due to failed negotiations, the hospital in our city (3rd largest city in the state), along with most of the doctors that refer to it, is dumping the network (largest in the state) that our insurance uses. On the individual coverage plan front, my research shows story after story of deception, fraud, and general run-around or obfuscation by most of the major players and nearly all the minors. With all of the bad experiences out there, I've yet to see a good review of an insurance company. What does the Slashdot crowd use and recommend? Company and plan-type? PPO? HMO? HDHP + HSA (High Deductible Health Plan + Health Savings Account)?"

Comments

Baffled

[joshier]

I can never understand the way people have to use insurance.

Here's a tip. Save.
That's right.. Setup a savings account, and put your money into the bank account.
Pretty simple really.

Re:Baffled

[bumptehjambox]

I haven't had insurance in over five years, so I am obviously very naive. But, six-figure medical bill, WTF? do you have AIDS?!

If you do, shit, sorry. Get well soon.

Re:Baffled

[UbuntuDupe]

You negotiate insurance discounts while on a stretcher?

I thought most people negotiated insurance policies while not in critical condition.

Re:Baffled

[UbuntuDupe]

Congratulations, you're the first embarrassingly naive person to respond to this thread. Google health insurance horror stories.

I didn't find any horror stories of people bleeding to death while shopping for a good health insurance policy.

You shop for health insurance before you're in an accident.

Why is this so hard to understand?

Re:Baffled

[UbuntuDupe]

He was talking about the advance negations that insurance companies make with providers that cover payments for a broad range of procedures. Insurance companies (like the hypothetical individual he was talking about) don't negotaite those while in critical condition. Of course, what is more likely is that the individual (again, who is NOT currently in critical condition) would negotiate with an insurance company that already has negotiated discounts.

The little barb about difficulty of negotiating while in critical condition was irrelevant.

Moron.

Re:Baffled

[bumptehjambox]

Dang, you guys are pricks. Heh. I got into a bad car accident, wasn't my fault, and got an out-of-court settlement and they took care of all of the medical bills from day one. Otherwise I wouldn't have been able to think about going to the doctor. I saw the bills their insurance company covered were huge, for basically nothing, but I didn't need any surgery, so I didn't see those six-figure ones. That's my only 'real-world' experience. 'Twas a bit of an eye opener.

Whatever, you guys are assholes though. Or you're totally cool, like 'too cool for school' style. Pathetic. I may have no experience with doctors on my own dime, but atleast I am not an asshole, there ain't no cure for that and if there was medicare wouldn't cover it! :D

I hope you all go through long malpractice suits that don't end up working in your favor. Blam!

Re:Poor Europeans, .. again

[Anonymous Coward]

Tired Old Europe also has double-digit unemployment, etc.

Re:Can't help with specifics

[UbuntuDupe]

Yurrop

I think the correct spelling is Europe, but then again, I'm not as smart as you ....