[New Grad Filter] Is it worth it to pay for one month of interim health insurance? [more inside]
posted on Aug 12, 2008 - 9 answers

I found out I need surgery and I have no health insurance. Should I go back to my former employer and ask to be added for a couple of months more or would that take 3 months again like when I first started out? Has anyone done this before?
posted on Jul 31, 2008 - 9 answers

Is cancelling my health insurance and investing the money instead a good bet, or a foolhardy risk? I'm young, in good health, and have no chronic health conditions. [more inside]
posted on Jul 26, 2008 - 47 answers

Several months after her last visit to physical therapy, my fiancee was informed that her health insurance company won't pay for the last two months of it because they didn't think it was "medically necessary". Even if she upheld all her obligations, including co-pays every visit, is she liable for these charges? (more details inside) [more inside]
posted on Jun 15, 2008 - 10 answers

(USA filter) I just got health insurance, Yeah! But I just got a letter that I have to wait a year before they will pay for something that diagnosis "should have been" received before the effective date of my policy. [more inside]
posted on May 15, 2008 - 9 answers

My job is scheduled for termination at the end of the month. My wife is pregnant and could possibly be placed on bedrest about the same time. If I apply for FMLA before my termination date, would my employer have to honor my claim? My employer is unaware of the pregnancy AND I'm only speculating that bedrest could be ordered. [more inside]
posted on Mar 10, 2008 - 4 answers

What is a good way to manage numerous medical bills and insurance EOBs? [more inside]
posted on Feb 12, 2008 - 5 answers

Can your health insurance company raise your rates when you have a positive STD test? Does this typically happen? [more inside]
posted on Feb 7, 2008 - 15 answers

Cheap, low deductible dental insurance in SW Colorado? [more inside]
posted on Feb 6, 2008 - 1 answers

Why don't insurance companies cover or help cover gym memberships? [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2008 - 24 answers

Recently moved to Boston. Can someone please explain the mandatory health insurance situation to me? [more inside]
posted on Jan 19, 2008 - 2 answers

Risks of forgoing health insurance when one has limited assets? [more inside]
posted on Jan 18, 2008 - 11 answers

How to advocate for and aid a desperately ill, uninsured man in California? [more inside]
posted on Jan 3, 2008 - 9 answers

What is a reasonable amount of debt load for someone with a chronic illness? I come from a family that doesn't accrue debt, which I realize is a luxury many people don't have, so I haven't had a model for managing debt. Specifics about my particular situation follow. [more inside]
posted on Dec 22, 2007 - 13 answers

My individual health insurance premium has more than doubled. It's so crazy expensive that I can't afford to ever go to the doctor. I need to change my plan or find a new one. Advice? [more inside]
posted on Oct 11, 2007 - 23 answers

My wife and I are both employed full-time and are eligible for health insurance from our employer. We decided to go a different route and chose a High Deductible Health Plan paired with a Health Savings Account. I know that HSA contributions are tax-deductible, but are our HDHP premiums deductible as well? [more inside]
posted on Aug 30, 2007 - 4 answers

How can I get health insurance even though I have ulcerative colitis? [more inside]
posted on Aug 1, 2007 - 19 answers

How do I choose a primary care physician? [more inside]
posted on Jul 27, 2007 - 12 answers

Tell me about disability insurance. I am self employed, 31 and would like to protect my income in the event of a disability. What are some pitfalls in the language of contracts that I need to look out for? Is disability insurance as important or more important than health insurance?
posted on Jul 20, 2007 - 6 answers

I'm trying to find out the best option for my uninsured mother-in-law's upcoming visit which will most likely involve some doctor's visits. [more inside]
posted on Jul 19, 2007 - 2 answers

SiCKO follow up: US health care vs Canada/Europe... what are your experiences? [more inside]
posted on Jul 6, 2007 - 40 answers

Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) ... Can they be used as just another tax-free retirement account after you max out your Roth IRA? [more inside]
posted on May 16, 2007 - 6 answers

It feels like the cartilage behind my knee cap is slipping out of place. I don't have health insurance. How serious is this & what's the wisest response? [more inside]
posted on Mar 18, 2007 - 8 answers

I am a healthy 22 year old female living in New York City. I am about to be employed as a "casual" employee-- meaning no health insurance. Any ideas about how I can find affordable health insurance (preferably $200/month or under)? Everything I can find through google doesn't cover New York. [more inside]
posted on Mar 16, 2007 - 13 answers

Switching health insurance - any way to get a prorated reimbusment? [more inside]
posted on Mar 13, 2007 - 6 answers

Help me and my boyfriend find a/multiple doctors in Cambridge, MA. Difficulty: BCBS HMO Blue plan. [more inside]
posted on Feb 20, 2007 - 9 answers

How do I "incorporate under my business" for the purpose of deducting health care costs from my income as a self-employed person? [more inside]
posted on Jan 24, 2007 - 7 answers

Have any tips for living (in the US) without health insurance? [more inside]
posted on Jan 7, 2007 - 25 answers

I need to buy term life insurance ASAP, but I'm out of shape. What's the smart thing to do? [more inside]
posted on Dec 28, 2006 - 5 answers

Are there any laws that pertain to how much time an employee is given to consider their insurance options? [more inside]
posted on Dec 18, 2006 - 9 answers

How do I get affordable personal health insurance? [more inside]
posted on Nov 21, 2006 - 7 answers

Should I take the group health or buy individual health care, given a pre-existing condition? [more inside]
posted on Nov 9, 2006 - 9 answers

My friend hurt himself and ended up with a six-digit hospital bill. The health insurer has denied his claim because he had a couple of drinks that night. What are his options and best strategies for appeal? [more inside]
posted on Nov 7, 2006 - 26 answers

Min-Max Health Insurance for $200 [more inside]
posted on Oct 17, 2006 - 10 answers

Here's the situation: I changed health insurance plans about two years ago ago. I have a good plan, based in Californa, that costs me about $250 a month. Since starting the coverage, my major medical expense - for about a year - have three monthly medications which I take for recently-diagnosed bipolar disorder. I have never claimed these expenses on my insurance, nor have I ever put any of my psychiatric costs on a claim. The reason is that I've been advised not to do this, especially with a bipolar diagnosis, since, in the words of my psychiatrist, "once that's on your record, you'll have a very hard time if you need to change insurance plans." (I should add that the diagnosis, while scary, and the resulting treatment, has changed my life so much for the better that I'd sell pretty much sell a kidney to keep paying for the meds, if I had to.) [more inside]
posted on Oct 16, 2006 - 6 answers

Talk to me about health insurance in Austria for US Citizens (Or useful anecdotes about healthcare in Europe in general) [more inside]
posted on Oct 11, 2006 - 6 answers

Please explain health insurance to me from an employer's point of view!!! [more inside]
posted on Oct 9, 2006 - 7 answers

Question for New Yorkers. I was thinking about switching from Oxford health insurance plan to the mid-level HIP plan. I can save a bundle. Is HIP just terrible though? Anyone have any thoughts, seen any rankings?
posted on Sep 20, 2006 - 4 answers

I need affordable individual health insurance not merely a discount health plan - where do I get it? [more inside]
posted on Sep 18, 2006 - 21 answers

Our doctor is dropping all insurance and Medicare participation but isn’t telling his patients until they show up at his office, or if they just happen to read his web site. Should we do anything about it? [more inside]
posted on Sep 16, 2006 - 16 answers

Are there real, decent options for getting group insurance other than from an employer? I'm mostly thinking about unions, associations, professional organizations, etc. [more inside]
posted on Aug 24, 2006 - 15 answers

Health Insurance question: My father is in his upper 50's and his wife is in her early 50's. They don't have health insurance, but they do have a "health cost sharing plan." I think it's hooey. But they think it's great. I'm worried they are going to get sick and be in alot of trouble without some real health insurance. [more inside]
posted on Aug 23, 2006 - 16 answers

Please help a small business owner find an insurance plan that covers maternity and isn't 700 a month. What have you used? [more inside]
posted on Aug 15, 2006 - 9 answers

Is there a list of employers that provide health insurance to part time employees somewhere on the internet? [more inside]
posted on Jul 23, 2006 - 12 answers

Where do you go for medical care when you have no health insurance? [more inside]
posted on Jun 18, 2006 - 5 answers

Getting Affordable California Insurance with a Pre-Existing Condition? [more inside]
posted on Jun 13, 2006 - 11 answers

Health insurance targeted toward small business owners and their employees? [more inside]
posted on Jun 4, 2006 - 10 answers

Can anyone recommend a good, woman-friendly physician or nurse practitioner at Kaiser-Permanente's Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles facility? [more inside]
posted on May 28, 2006 - 6 answers

Hi. I recently (about six months ago) switched health insurance providers. I filled out the application form honestly, except for one thing: I forgot to note that I'd received a prescription two years ago for an albuterol inhaler (which is an inexpensive inhaler used to relieve asthma attacks while they're occuring.) [more inside]
posted on May 15, 2006 - 13 answers

If someone has a chronic health condition, and accepts a job at a small U.S. company, how likely is it that health insurance premiums will go up for employees at that company?
posted on Apr 17, 2006 - 6 answers

Last minute COBRA coverage. A what-if scenario.. [more inside]
posted on Mar 16, 2006 - 17 answers

Recently went freelance (graphic design). My COBRA coverage ran out and I applied for insurance through a place called "Golden Rule" (my accountant's advice). I received a letter saying that they are unable to provide coverage because my "height and weight do not meet our guidelines". [more inside]
posted on Mar 8, 2006 - 23 answers

I'm about to lose my health insurance. What can I do? [more inside]
posted on Jan 26, 2006 - 10 answers

Self Employed-Health Insurance? Company Inc'ed in better-rate state? [more inside]
posted on Jan 16, 2006 - 2 answers

I currently have an excellent health insurance plan - however, it does not cover a medication my doctor would like to prescribe. It is available on my spouse's plan, however. I don't want to change insurers because my doctor only accepts my exisiting company, and I want to keep her. However, I can get onto my spouse's policy for quite a bit less than the monthly cost of the medication. Is this legal? Ethical? Are there any pitfalls? Would one insurance company be able to share information about my medical history with another? Would there be trouble for me if I became seriously ill? Thanks!
posted on Jan 3, 2006 - 12 answers

So, I was just offered a job. It's a 12 month contract that will be going perm in the next year. So, first order of business is to find health insurance. Help me find the best option for me. [more inside]
posted on Dec 8, 2005 - 5 answers

My mother went to the emergency hospital last year and was billed a hefty amount. She was covered with health insurance from her company (Destiny) and the hospital was "in-network". The insurance company paid the hospital fee (which was the larger amount) but only paid about half the physician fee because the physician was "out-of-network". My mother asked whether or not the physician was in-network or out-of-network when she was in the hospital and the nurse just told her not to worry about it. My questions are, 'How can a hospital be in-network and fully covered but assign her an out-of-network physician which won't be fully covered under the insurance?' and 'Is there anything she can do about this? I don't think it's fair she has to pay for something she didn't have a choice in'.
posted on Nov 23, 2005 - 10 answers

My employer has decided to stop paying any dependent health insurance coverage. How do I respond? [more inside]
posted on Nov 14, 2005 - 13 answers

I'm about to start my first salaried job, and will therefore have health insurance. My girlfriend has none. We'd like a method of birth control that's safer and more effective than condoms, but neither of us can afford birth control pills out of pocket. As a man, is there any way I can use my health insurance to pay for birth control pills? If not, what are my other options? [more inside]
posted on Nov 13, 2005 - 26 answers

I was laid off. COBRA is running out. How do I best acquire new health care coverage for my family when my wife is in much needed therapy and taking expensive medication? [more inside]
posted on Nov 10, 2005 - 13 answers

Going without insurance for a period of time. What happens if disaster strikes? [more inside]
posted on Nov 8, 2005 - 17 answers

COBRA/HIPAA: Help me understand how these health insurance laws might apply in several employer-leaving or life-changing events. [more inside]
posted on Oct 27, 2005 - 7 answers

In Illinois, or nationwide, is there a policy or law that says that if you become uninsured, but resume health coverage within X number of days, you do not need to worry about pre-existing conditions? [more inside]
posted on Oct 20, 2005 - 8 answers

Redundant health insurance policies with the same insurance company: will they use this to screw me? [more inside]
posted on Sep 27, 2005 - 4 answers

I've had to move to florida and for the near future will have no health insurance. Any suggestions on how to go about buying some? [more inside]
posted on Aug 17, 2005 - 12 answers

Having no health insurance, how can we possibly afford to pay for the delivery of our coming child? How do freelance/self-employed American families survive without health insurance? Anyone have any experience with Medicaid? [more inside]
posted on Aug 9, 2005 - 19 answers

I just started working at a company where health insurance kicks in after 90 days, you pay half for a year, and then the company picks up the full cost. Is this normal? [more inside]
posted on Jul 27, 2005 - 21 answers

I'm an IT contractor. My pimp doesn't offer health insurance, so its up to me to get a private policy. My wife has MS, so she's uninsurable. I have an individual BCBS plan for myself + 2 sons. My wife belongs to a state-supported Health Insurance Pool, for people who have been denied coverage. We pay a LOT of money ($360/month) just for her premiums. Its analogous to people with bad credit trying to finance a car - they have to pay extra for the privilege. Do I have alternatives? Are benefits-pooling companies worth it?
posted on Jun 16, 2005 - 11 answers

I'm on vacation in Portland, Oregon and our lame insurance won't pay for any healthcare. Anyway, there's a $200 deductible. I can go to an urgent care for $200, but was wondering if anyone knows of a pediatrician somewhere that will take walk-ins that might cost a little less than Urgent Care. I know there's a free clinic in Vancouver, but we don't really qualify, although I suppose we could go there and make a large donation. [more inside]
posted on May 9, 2005 - 6 answers

My girlfriend is planning to quit her job shortly, but needs to have continual health insurance. [more inside]
posted on Mar 25, 2005 - 15 answers

I'm thinking of quitting my job to start my own business. However, I need to have decent health insurance, mostly for perscription drug coverage. What is the best company to go with, and is there an optimal type of insurance for my needs (occassional doctor visits, perscription coverage with reasonable co-pays)? And what can I expect to pay?
posted on Feb 24, 2005 - 14 answers

My boyfriend wants to have his mother from Morocco come visit us in the US. She has some health problems including Diabetes.

Does anyone have any information about how we can get some health insurance for her while she is here visiting just in case we need for some reason seek medical assistance during her stay?
posted on Feb 3, 2005 - 4 answers

Seven years ago, I was in college and on my parent's insurance, which included mental health coverage. I was diagnosed with ADD and prescribed Adderall which did wonders for my concentration and my grades. When school was through I lost my coverage and my prescription. (MI)
posted on Dec 24, 2004 - 14 answers

I am in search of supplemental mental health insurance (in the US). Does such a thing exist? I'm a full-time grad student about to lose my awesome COBRA benefits from my past job. I'm going on to my husband's plan, which has crappy mental health coverage (only 20 therapist visits a year vs. 45 with my last insurance). I need weekly visits, but there's no way to change the plan. I've googled for supplemental health insurance, but I mostly get sites for those on Medicare. I've checked several major insurance companies, but none have any specifics about their mental health coverage. Has anyone else dealt with this situation? Perhaps someone who works in the insurance industry can point me in the right direction?
posted on Dec 19, 2004 - 4 answers

My boyfriend needs to go to the dentist. He recently chipped a tooth, and hasn't been in ages. The problem is two-fold: One, he's TERRIFIED of going, especially because of his long time away from the dentist, and because of deep-rooted fear of the dentist and two, he has no dental insurance. He's agreed to go if I can find a dentist that will accept him without insurance and I go with him to hold his hand. How do I find a dentist that will see him without insurance and will be accomodating to his fears? 1-800-dentist seems secretive at how they arrive at their recommendations.
posted on Nov 15, 2004 - 21 answers

Double Insurance Coverage: I am now in an interesting situation -- I am covered under my employer's health plan (Regence/Blue Cross Utah), and an individual plan I bought earlier. What kind of rules might exist about how coverage from each applies? [more inside]
posted on Oct 28, 2004 - 7 answers

I'm having trouble getting health insurance in Illinois. I'm 25 years old, 6', 175 pounds, don't smoke, and in pretty good health, but I'm being categorically denied coverage because I've been taking Paxil CR for several months now. It's really changed my life, but now I seem to have been blacklisted. Has anyone else had any experience with this?
posted on Oct 12, 2004 - 9 answers

Catastrophic health insurance (in the US): I've just been laid off and am losing health care benefits. The COBRA premiums are insane--I'm looking for something cheap that will cover near-death experiences. (I will turn to the bottle for any minor ailments.) Anyone have any advice or plan suggestions?
posted on Sep 30, 2004 - 16 answers

I don't understand something about health insurance benefits.
posted on Aug 1, 2004 - 13 answers

I'm looking for advice on dental insurance. My girlfriend's employer does not provide it and she generally doesn't need it because she has magic cavity-preventing saliva. seriously, she's never had a cavity, never goes to the dentist! But now, she can feel one of her wisdom teeth starting to act up and probably needs an extraction. (others should probably be extracted while she's at it.) Should she go with bargain insurance (and can anyone recommend a good dental insurance company), or should she just get the work done without insurance and pay it back over time? If it makes a difference, we're in the Bay Area.
posted on Jul 26, 2004 - 14 answers

Extracting Wisdom: I've been putting it dodging it for years, but it's looking (and feeling) like I'm going to have to get my wisdom teeth pulled. I do have insurance, but I have to go to a specific provider - a provider I've never actually been to before. Any advice on questions I should ask or things I should look for? Is one oral surgeon as good as another or should I shop around and/or pay extra if needed?
posted on Jun 7, 2004 - 24 answers

I'm looking for respectable health insurance while I make a go of self-employment. Recommendations?
posted on Apr 19, 2004 - 10 answers

OK, guys, the smartass has been humbled. Last weekend I experienced what should have been a mildly stressful event for the average person. However, I have fairly advanced heart disease, and the anxiety put me in the emergency room with chest pains and arrhythmia despite my normal meds and my emergency tranquilizers.

The time has come for me to seriously consider disability, as totally distasteful as I find that. Does anyone know of some objective information sites, particularly regarding how to document my condition, beyond the basic primers that Google coughs up? ( Yes, I am pursuing this through my doctor, but I want a 'second opinion'. ;-P )
posted on Feb 23, 2004 - 7 answers

When my insurance (COBRA) ends in March, what can I do? Private insurance is prohibitively expensive, and chances are with my preexisting health problems I may not be able to get insurance at all. Worst part is my monthly prescriptions are extremely expensive-we are talking the price of a car payment here, if not more.
Any suggestions, besides moving to Canada?
posted on Dec 13, 2003 - 14 answers

From the insurance dilemma department.....I'm leaving my [much despised] job this month and have been shopping for an individual health insurance policy. What. A. Jungle. Anyone here ever heard of/know about healthcareadvantageplans.com or this "insurance alternative"? I'm not sure I understand how these beasties work.

Signed, clueless.
posted on Dec 10, 2003 - 11 answers