Any places to be an O/O at that have health benefits available?

Talk about timely. We are just in the process of seeing if we can allow independents to have access to the health plan we are putting in place. The old answer was always "no". But health insurance, much like the trucking industry, has changed a lot over the past several years. We should have an answer next week.

 

Out of pocket costs are INSANE. Especially now, with health insurance companies not knowing how bad they're going to get screwed by the current administration.

I'm currently self-insured - my (ex) wife had Aetna HMO though her employer. When she got cut loose, we COBRA'd, and when the COBRA ran out, we "continued" the policy. After we split up, I kept the policy (since she couldn't pay the premiums) and have had my premiums rise, almost $100 a month, for the last 4 years. Last increase (this year) went from $740 per month, to $960 per month. And I'm HEALTHY, on NO MEDS, and basically see my primary & dermatologist 2X a year.

Don't know about anyone else - but I've tried to get a policy from Aetna at a lower cost (turned down for "medical reasons", but they're more than happy to take my $1K a month), and another insurer for the same thing (and unlike a DAC, you have NO RIGHTS to see what the "insurance blacklist" has on you). The last insurance agent I spoke with, examined my yearly "outlay" for health-related costs, and based on what I would spend for the office visits (at "self-pay" rates) and the few prescriptions I do fill once in awhile - that I would be better off NOT HAVING INSURANCE (and the attendant $12K a year outlay) - and just "roll the dice" on potential "catastrophic occurrences".

Now - 3 years ago, when I was over 300lbs., had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, was borderline Type II Diabetic and was on $200 a month worth of meds (that was just co-pay), having coverage was worth it. Losing 130lbs, made all those health conditions "go away" - so now, (as long as I watch what I eat), I'm not seeing the "value" of maintaining coverage. OTOH - I'm also single with no dependents.

Typically, most "group type policies" (guaranteed acceptance, no pre-existing exclusions) are for "full time employees" and not "independent contractors".

I'd be real interested in what you come up with there Bill.

I'm not going to go into a rant about the healthcare/insurance system in the US, nor how the creeps in DC could care less about the "average citizen" (much less the lowly trucker). Since my 1040's show minimal income (thanks to a great accountant) I may join the millions of others on the "government teat", when it comes to getting my healthcare needs. The healthcare industry vultures make FMCSA/DOT officials look like SAINTS. (enough from me, lest this potentially useful thread get moved to the politics forum).

Rick

 

You think the last few years are expensive?

You should have been paying for the coverage all along. It would go up 35 to 48 percent per year since 2003. I had to keep dropping coverage and increasing deductibles in order to afford it.


Finally in the last couple of years the increases stabilized and they offered reasonable plans again. However, still out of the park on premiums.

 

I spoke to someone from Assurance(?) ... They offer major medical for $279 a month $2000 deductible 80/20 .... They had a group plan for $159 a month...I am a 38 y/o non smoker avg weight for my 6'3 frame .... I am still considering because they wont lock my rate and it can go up month to month .... I dont like that

 

Got to watch that "equality clause" now. Group policy everyone pays the same. If the O/O is on the same policy and they pay 100% then everyone else on the policy pays 100%.

Or you can try and get a waiver for a few years.

 

Totally "out of the park" - I mean, a $220 per month rate increase - with 0 claims in the last few years? Aetna tells me, it's "spreading the cost/risk of claims in my region" - sounds kinda like "spreading the wealth" in reverse.

I'm keeping the current policy for another month or two - until I get a couple of "major tests" done while I'm covered (cardiac stress/angiogram & colonoscopy) - so at least I'll know I'm "joining the uninsured masses", with a somewhat clean bill of health, in areas of "particular concern" for an otherwise healthy 52 year old.

I don't want to hijack this thread - back on topic...

There are a number of companies that offer leased-on O/O's health coverage - it's likely not very much cheaper than self-insuring. Most of what I've seen is BC/BS. But all in all, unless you have: existing conditions that require expensive monthly prescriptions, are overly paranoid about future catastrophic occurrences, have dependents (i.e.: kids), or just like the (perceived) "peace of mind" that having health insurance brings - than it is likely less expensive to just pay out of pocket - or create an HSA and allocate funds to it, similar to a "maintenance account".

Depending on how you've structured your business, much of this expense can be written off (though part of the O'Care, passes along a great deal of "company paid health insurance" onto the employee as "W2 compensation"). I pay my current policy, from my corporation. OTOH - you have to HAVE the $$, to SPEND the $$, in order to BE ABLE TO "WRITE IT OFF" (a simple fact that many of the "oh, but you can write that off" folks tend to ignore).

Rick

 

Assurant Health Access
http://www.assuranthealth.com/corp/ah/HealthPlans/assurant-health-plans.htm

I just talked to a guy about the same plan last week. It's going to cost me like $344 for myself and my two daughters. There is no deductible persay on the plan he talked to me about but it works out like a 10-20% co-pay. They also have a "pre-existing" condition clause in it but they will start to cover after 12 months on it.

 

It doesn't hurt to ask prospective insurance providers if they have a group you may qualify for. Various membership associations, credit unions, and the like may be leverage for a lower, group rate.

 

We just started looking at this because we can cover 50% on employ's costs and still be cheaper doing group than getting just our own. But the agent said IL has the ability to have different classes. Effort to offer insurance to more part-time workers. Said it may work for independents.