Dawn,
Different states have different laws for what must be included in plans, thereby greatly affecting the price of premiums (e.g. NY and NJ). I don't know what is available in MI, but in PA we can buy low-premium/high-deductible plans with or without HSAs (health savings accounts). The HSA $ collects interest and we use it to pay for non-covered things (like dental) with pre-tax dollars. It is a handy system. We buy ours through Highmark Blue Shield.
I have been buying my Health Insurance for my family for the past 12 years. Believe it or not, the premiums are actually a lot cheaper than buying it through my husband's firm. Our premiums are $450/ month for a family of 4 - and even if we use up the deductible, it is still cheaper than the alternative high-premium/no or low deductible plans. It is accepted eveywhere and we have had no problems with denials or coverage. As I said, not all states allow these kind of plans and, from what I understand, you cannot purchase from another state.
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Mary Cerrone AIA
Mary Cerrone Architects and Interiors
Pittsburgh PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2011 08:07
From: Eric Rawlings
Subject: Health insurance for sole practitioners
Good luck. When you find affordable health insurance for sole practitioners, let me know. Our Madoff Care ponzi scheme does not help those who don't have 10 employees or more. Too bad we missed out on that one month when the AIA had a group plan for us sorry sole practitioners that still believe there is an American Dream in this country. It's a shame we blew the last Health Care Reform opportunity we'll have in decades. Leading economists have all said that we Americans have been and still are too expensive to hire because of our health care system and the expense to the employers. Just a premonition, but something tells me we'll all be asked to pay our own health insurance soon like we were asked in the 80s to give up our pensions and gamble our retirement away in the stock market instead. I hear the first graduating class is coming up short on those promises they were given. When corporate employees realize how much individuals have to pay, they might get concerned about HC Reform too. The problem is that most people have no idea how much their insurance costs the employer. Although I could be wrong, seeing how the powers that be are giving so much away to the 99%ers these days.
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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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