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Ask Slashdot: IT Contractors, How's Your Health Insurance?
An anonymous reader writes "In the tech industry, as the economy continues its downturn, IT folks in my circles who were either laid off or let go are turning to contract work to pay their bills. Layoffs and a decline in tech jobs has affected older IT workers the most. Many of us find it more lucrative and enjoyable in the long run and leave the world of cubicles forever. However, there is much to be said for working for a large company or corporation, and health insurance is one of the benefits we value most. But what happens to those who find themselves in this position at mid-career or later in life? Hopefully they have accumulated enough savings or have enough money in an HSA to survive a major medical emergency. Unfortunately, many do not and some find themselves in dire straits with their lives depending on others for help. I have been working IT contracts mostly now for the past 11 years and I've done very well. I belong to a group insurance plan and the coverage is decent, but as I get older, premiums and copays go up and coverage goes down. If you work contracts exclusively, what do you think is the best plan for insurance? Any preferences?"
Please subtract Canada and the UK. After reading the various horror stories of patients unable to find a doctor, or being left to die in waiting rooms, or denied basic preventative measures like PAP smears (and then dying when they get cervical cancer that could have been prevented), I wouldn't go anywhere near Canadian and British health. And YES I know you've had nothing but great service in your CA or UK care.
Likewise many Toyota owners drive their cars 200,000 miles with nary a problem. Nevertheless 12.5 million cars were recalled as part of a class-action lawsuit to have their engines repaired or replaced, because Toyota had a high rate of engine failures. Likewise Canada and the UK have unusually high rates of bad healthcare stories. (High enough that both their Parliaments opened investigations to try and fix the problem.)
The latest story I heard is that the UK is cutting doctor salaries (in order to balance the government budget) and it's leading to many doctors quitting, and that is making the waiting the lines even longer. (Imagine the line at the Motor Vehicle Bureau but with tons of sick people.)
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"
100,000 patients per year denied care is not "the exception". It's an ongoing problem which (as I said) caused both the Canadian and UK Parliaments to start investigations to try to find a solution. If Nationwide or Aetna or Kaiser HMO provided such lousy results (~5% failure rate), they would be front page news. But when the government does it, somehow you think it's "okay". Most. Illogical.
My AC stalker: " I personally agree with your posts most of the time, but that won't keep me from modding you troll"