Sorry to continue such an off topic thread. What Lee described is what I experienced when self employed for a few years. Family health insurance, outside government or employer group coverage is a joke. And what is even worse are the rates health care providers charge for noninsured services. After shelling out $600+ per month for health insurance for a while, my doctor ordered a CTScan to check something out. My insurance denied any payment (they denied I even had a policy) and the hospital sent me a bill for $5000, due immediately. I threw a fit, and the insurance company told the hospital that I did have coverage, it just didn't cover this CTScan. So the hospital decided to reduce the charge to what they would have charged the insurance company for the same CTScan ~ $2400. Even that was beyond my checking account at that time, and the hospital agreed to accept 6 monthly payments. Which I paid. But one day, after about three payments, the hospital turned me over to collections for no obvious reason, and without any notice or warning. It really pissed me off because I take pride in being financially honest and responsible. The whole financial aspect of health care looks pretty greedy and heartless to me.
Indeed- if you are not poor enough to be covered by Medicaid, rich enough to own a Maybach (MB content), or fortunate enough to be under some group plan -- you are screwed! The whole system is structured to induce the self employed, and non-benfit employed to avoid seeking health care. And it is scary how that portion of the population seems to be growing. Ned Kleinhenz
