12.16.07
Health Insurance and self employment
In a recent Consumer Reports magazine there appeared an article on the challenge of obtaining health insurance if you are self employed. Self employed professions found it difficult to find insurance companies willing to write insurance for them. If they were able to obtain insurance the coverage was less than they would have been able to get if they were employed by a large company or hospital.
There are significant difference from one state to another. Someone who could get insurance in one state may not be able to get it in a different state due to differences in state regulations. Those who were able to get insurance may not be able to afford the premiums.
Pre-existing conditions can prevent you from being able to obtain insurance at all or this condition, any medications, treatments or complications related to it may be excluded from coverage. Pre-existing conditions can range from diabetes to high blood pressure.
Catastrophic insurance plans may actually have a limit on the number of hospital days covered and total cost of hospitalization per day that is covered. they may not cover at all such expenses as diagnostic tests, medications, biopsies, and other necessary expensive treatment. These limits could make these types of plans worthless.
Carefully examine this issue for yourself before you make the decision to leave your employer.
What challenges have you faced in obtaining insurance?
LeaRae Keyes, RN
www.nurse-entrepreneur-network.com