Self-Employed Health Insurance

BrianTubbs · 11-03-2008, 03:29 PM

If I'm posting this in the wrong area, I apologize. I'm still fairly new to WF and learning my way around.

I'm curious what some of you (esp those of you who are self-employed) do for health insurance.

I'm a pastor (so I'm considered self-employed). And for extra income (small town pastors don't make much), I do some teaching, writing and Internet marketing. Being self-employed, I've had to go with "individual" (non-group) family plans.

My problem is that I can only get healthcare coverage for myself, my wife, and daughter. My son has a preexisting condition (hydrocephalus) and we've been turned down repeatedly because of it.

Was wondering if some of you have some ideas, suggestions, things you've tried, etc.

Thanks.

ss442 · 11-03-2008, 03:58 PM

Brian, there are a number of "supplemental" health providers out there but you have to use their doctors and you only save up to 50% on services and 20% major stuff.

My wife is spending about $460 a month for herself for health insurance. Not sure what a family plan would run but that is down from the $640 she was paying just for herself.

I have a friend that may still be in that industry if you are interested but let's see what other Warriors might have available first. If you don't get any responses shoot me a PM and I'll put you in touch.

Alex Mayo · 11-03-2008, 05:04 PM

If your son is under 18, there might be something you can get from your state. I assume you are in Ohio, so I Googled and found ODJFS Online | Ohio Health Plans

-Alex

moodyresources · 11-03-2008, 05:32 PM

Brian, You don't have to go with an individual program just because you are self-employed. If you set up your business as a corporation, LLC is probably best, you can then get group insurance for your family. At least thats what we did two years ago.

One of our family members had a major pre-existing condition that had a seven year waiting period for individual policies, so we were told if we incorporated we could get a group policy and they could not turn us down.

We used an independant insurance agent to do this and sure enough we had insurance shortly thereafter for all of us.

I recommend an LLC [limited liability company] because they typically have tax benefits and are much easier to manage paper work wise than an S corp or others. Just do your own research.

You can email me if you have any other questions.

moodyresources · 11-03-2008, 05:36 PM

Brian,
Forgot to add that our premium with a deductible of 5k I think was about $400 per month for all 4 of us.

I am looking at a current plan with Blue Cross that has a 10k deductible where we get insured for about $300 per month. We hardly ever go to the dr. so, I really just want coverage in case of a major incident for us.

Nato Guajardo · 11-03-2008, 06:02 PM

I currently pay $550/month for me and my family. I'm with United Health.

blase40 · 11-03-2008, 06:21 PM

You may want to check to see if the state you live in offers a "high risk insurance pool". I am a self employed kidney transplant recipient, so that is the route I have been able to go in my state.

Its not cheap, I pay about $450 for myself and them my family is about $500 for their group plan through another provider, but it beats working somewhere for 40 hours a week just to get insurance.

11-03-2008, 03:29 PM	#1
BrianTubbs HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 254 Thanks: 323 Thanked 29 Times in 23 Posts	Self-Employed Health Insurance If I'm posting this in the wrong area, I apologize. I'm still fairly new to WF and learning my way around. I'm curious what some of you (esp those of you who are self-employed) do for health insurance. I'm a pastor (so I'm considered self-employed). And for extra income (small town pastors don't make much), I do some teaching, writing and Internet marketing. Being self-employed, I've had to go with "individual" (non-group) family plans. My problem is that I can only get healthcare coverage for myself, my wife, and daughter. My son has a preexisting condition (hydrocephalus) and we've been turned down repeatedly because of it. Was wondering if some of you have some ideas, suggestions, things you've tried, etc. Thanks.

11-03-2008, 03:58 PM	#2
ss442 HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Flower Mound, TX Posts: 226 Thanks: 15 Thanked 28 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Self-Employed Health Insurance Brian, there are a number of "supplemental" health providers out there but you have to use their doctors and you only save up to 50% on services and 20% major stuff. My wife is spending about $460 a month for herself for health insurance. Not sure what a family plan would run but that is down from the $640 she was paying just for herself. I have a friend that may still be in that industry if you are interested but let's see what other Warriors might have available first. If you don't get any responses shoot me a PM and I'll put you in touch.
	Ed Sunderland

11-03-2008, 05:04 PM	#3
Alex Mayo That Marketing Chick War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: On Top of The World. Posts: 749 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 37 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Self-Employed Health Insurance If your son is under 18, there might be something you can get from your state. I assume you are in Ohio, so I Googled and found ODJFS Online \| Ohio Health Plans -Alex
	Want Easy CPA Money? Run Your Own GPT Site, Powered By Wordpress - Click Here.

11-03-2008, 05:32 PM	#4
moodyresources HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southwestern United States Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Self-Employed Health Insurance Brian, You don't have to go with an individual program just because you are self-employed. If you set up your business as a corporation, LLC is probably best, you can then get group insurance for your family. At least thats what we did two years ago. One of our family members had a major pre-existing condition that had a seven year waiting period for individual policies, so we were told if we incorporated we could get a group policy and they could not turn us down. We used an independant insurance agent to do this and sure enough we had insurance shortly thereafter for all of us. I recommend an LLC [limited liability company] because they typically have tax benefits and are much easier to manage paper work wise than an S corp or others. Just do your own research. You can email me if you have any other questions.

11-03-2008, 05:36 PM	#5
moodyresources HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southwestern United States Posts: 118 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Self-Employed Health Insurance Brian, Forgot to add that our premium with a deductible of 5k I think was about $400 per month for all 4 of us. I am looking at a current plan with Blue Cross that has a 10k deductible where we get insured for about $300 per month. We hardly ever go to the dr. so, I really just want coverage in case of a major incident for us.

11-03-2008, 06:02 PM	#6
Nato Guajardo HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: TX Posts: 353 Thanks: 5 Thanked 16 Times in 14 Posts Contact Info	Re: Self-Employed Health Insurance I currently pay $550/month for me and my family. I'm with United Health.

11-03-2008, 06:21 PM	#7
blase40 www.justinblase.com War Room Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: South Dakota Posts: 511 Thanks: 16 Thanked 28 Times in 16 Posts Social Networking	Re: Self-Employed Health Insurance You may want to check to see if the state you live in offers a "high risk insurance pool". I am a self employed kidney transplant recipient, so that is the route I have been able to go in my state. Its not cheap, I pay about $450 for myself and them my family is about $500 for their group plan through another provider, but it beats working somewhere for 40 hours a week just to get insurance.