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| United States health insurance coverage statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation's Web site. |
When I was a student, I had health care coverage, a decent PPO at that, through my university. It wasn't that expensive, either (a little over $100 a month). That coverage runs out at the end of August. Which is in ... *gulp* ... about six weeks. I was hoping that my part-time lab job might, just might, offer health benefits. But I just got the new-hire paperwork e-mailed to me today, and one of the stipulations for the position is that I don't qualify for benefits. None.
So I am left in a quandary. There is absolutely no way I can afford comprehensive (i.e., decent) coverage out of pocket. And as I understand it, the Affordable Care Act health insurance "exchanges" that would make decent insurance more affordable for people like me don't go into effect until 2014. By that time, I will hopefully be starting medical school, and will be again covered under a university policy.
The question remains: What do I do until then?
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| The uninsured rate for children has gone down between 2007 and 2010 (thank god!), but has risen for nonelderly adults from 19.1% to 22.0%, according to this data from the Kaiser Family Foundation's site. |
For kicks, I just now got an online insurance quote from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Out of curiosity, more than anything; mainly I chose BCBS IL because they were my previous insurance carrier and I'm familiar with them. The coverage I was quoted (which is obviously not guaranteed) ranges from about $175 (for a $5,000 deductible plan with 80% coverage after that) to almost $700 (for a $0 deductible plan with 100% coverage). Even for the most basic plan, which would provide me with absolutely no benefits unless something catastrophic happened, I would be paying $60 more than I am paying for my student plan now, which offers excellent benefits. It's a sad situation. For me, and for 49 million other Americans.
While I guess I won't be completely uninsured, I will be practically uninsured, which is scary. If I get sick, I will have to pay to go see the doctor. And those bills can add up really quickly. Well, let's hope they don't, right?
This is something I thought about as I enter adulthood-land. My parents are covering me, but there will be a point when I'll need to figure out my healthcare plan.
ReplyDeleteThanks for frying my brain, like you always do. =)
Hm ... well, if you enjoy frying your brain, then I'm glad I could be of assistance!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is scary, the issue of health insurance, and figuring out your own coverage as you enter "adulthood-land," as you called it. Thankfully, though, the Affordable Care Act should (assuming it stays around) make health insurance an easier and more affordable benefit to procure.
Thanks, as always, for your comments! :-)
That's an interesting pie-chart from Kaiser. I wonder to what extent that simply indicates income classes in the US?
ReplyDeletePrivate non-group, 5%: Upper class;
Employer Sponsored, 49%: Middle Class;
Uninsured, 16%: Mid to Lower Working Class;
Medicaid, 17%: Lower Class;
Medicare, 12%: Retired.