New Teaching Contract

[OakLeaf]

The one through Blue Cross Blue Shield is the most expensive and actually covers less, yet is the one my husband was told is the one most people opt to use.

I'd hazard a guess that's because most doctors, hospitals and labs are in-network with BCBS. Knowing whether your provider is covered is just as important as knowing whether the service is covered.

I do not pay the same premium as every other 45 year old woman; the insurance company considers more than just age and sex.

Your state allows that. Mine doesn't. When my insurance company raises my premium, I get a form letter with a grid on the back. It's got three columns, "Male," "Female w/o Maternity," and "Female w/Maternity," and ten or twelve columns with (mostly) five-year age ranges. Those are the only criteria they're allowed to use in setting premiums for individual policies.

I do not see how anyone on a normal income could afford that; it's like having 3car loans or an extra mortgage!

They can't. That's why over 18% of all adults in the USA are uninsured, and over 70% of adults under 25..

I just want people to know that there are options. They might be hidden and take a while to uncover, but I was surprised to find out that affordable options do exist.

Again - in your state there are options, and I'm glad that there are. In a few states there are even more options. In most states, there are not, at least not unless and until the ACA goes fully into effect (and we have yet to see what may happen with that, in terms of either implementation or affordability).

My first husband has several family members in the insurance industry, so if anyone is familiar with the options in my state, they are. He is older than I, but his health history at the time was similar. After our divorce and after his COBRA ran out, he couldn't afford premiums. He went bare for a couple of years, longer than the six months it took for him to be eligible for open enrollment. He found a fly-by-night policy that claimed to cover catastrophic conditions, after that company went out of business he went bare for another couple of years, until he was able to get eligibility for VA. If it weren't for the VA he'd still be uninsured.