1. 

   phoo
   

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   It looks like I may be without health insurance for awhile, so I am looking to see what I can afford in the Seattle area. It occurs to me with all the self employed folks here that I may be able to get recommendations both for and against providers.

   Ballard - heap your wisdom on me, I am all yours. What self-purchase health plans do you like? I DO need one where I can actually see a doctor and not just an "in case" plan. I have been spoiled by a PPO, but know I will probably have to go back to an HMO in order to get affordable coverage. Uber points for a PPO though. I prefer to be able to use Swedish as my ER, since it is so close. I'd also prefer month-to-month rather than a contract.

   Posted 5 months ago #
2. 

   Norge
   

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   Check out WSHIP -- a friend of mine is on it and she pays about $275 a month and says it's really good. You must apply before you lose your current insurance (to get past pre-existing conditions) and your company doesn't COBRA. I was carrying my own through Regence ($875/mo) but couldn't really switch just to save money so it's something you need to look in to right away--at least start your application.

   Posted 5 months ago #
3. 

   phoo
   

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   The company DOES carry COBRA, but for anyone who hasn't priced COBRA, it is deadly expensive. I will check out WSHIP, but I am not the primary on the current insurance, so we'll see if it applies.

   Looks like WSHIP is pretty specific:
   "You must have been rejected for coverage by an insurance carrier based upon the results of the Standard Health Questionnaire, or live in a Washington state county where individual health benefit plans are not offered;"

   Posted 5 months ago #
4. 

   onederfullone
   

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   Didn't Obama take care of all that worry or expense?

   Posted 5 months ago #
5. 

   Norge
   

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   My friend who got it had not been denied insurance and lives on Vashon.

   Posted 5 months ago #
6. 

   phoo
   

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   Thanks, Norge. I'll keep trying to figure it out.

   Posted 5 months ago #
7. 

   LandsOnTwoFeet
   

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   I was using Lifewise fot a year and a half. Covered my basic needs and meds. Dr. was at Swedish. Cost about $300 month.

   Posted 5 months ago #
8. 

   Mondoman
   

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   Group Health is the HMO that keeps coming up as a shining example in the national debates about health care, but I'm not sure what facilities they have in NW Seattle.

   The WA State Insurance Commish's web site has useful resources, including the premiums charged by all the WA state plans. It sounds like you want to go for a more full-service plan; those who choose high-deductible or other lesser-benefit (but cheaper) plans have to worry about their plan not counting as coverage wrt pre-existing conditions if they later want to get back on a full-coverage plan. However, it sounds like that will be changing within a couple of years anyway with Obamacare's phase-in. Expect prices to continue to rise pretty rapidly from year to year; I think mine went up about 15% last year.

   Posted 5 months ago #
9. 

   Norge
   

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   I got coverage through Regence and paid $875 for credible coverage (coverage that protected for pre-existing conditions). I could have gotten a plan for $271/mo with a $3500 deductible. If you take an expensive medication that is where you get screwed, coverage on both of these plans only paid 50/50 on those medications. The WSHIP plan my friend is on has good prescription coverage. It doesn't hurt to fill out the application form with WSHIP and if you are covered now you don't have to answer all the questions on existing conditions. It took my friend quite a while to get the a-ok from WSHIP but coverage begins the month after you apply.

   Posted 5 months ago #
10. 

    SmartsyArtsy
    

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    Don't necessarily include drug cost in your choice of affordable coverage. For medications, check out Costco. Even without membership, my medications cost one/ fifth to one/eighth their outright cost at local drugstores. Mine happen to be less than at Fred Meyer. Unfortunately they are not on the $4 or $10 lists but yours could be.

    Posted 5 months ago #
11. 

    Mondoman
    

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    Good points about the prescriptions. Also, if you want a doctor at Swedish Ballard, find out in advance if there's one accepting new patients here. There tend to be more options at the newer clinics -- I ended up going with a doctor at the fairly new Swedish clinic in South Lake Union in one of the Amazon buildings, and have been happy with both the doctor and location.

    Posted 5 months ago #
12. 

    BuffaloHawk
    

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    If you are having problems with medical cost and don't have 100% coverage please fill out a Charity Application if they offer it. I know for a fact that Swedish does offer charity. Please make sure you get the name of a representative to make sure it is followed through and stay in contact until you receive a denial or approval letter. I know of so many people that are unaware that medical a decent amount of medical facilities offer a charity program.

    http://www.swedish.org/About/Overview/Mission---Outreach/Charity-Care#axzz2E1v9Wc3T

    A crucial part of serving this mission is Swedish's charity care program. In 2011, Swedish provided more than $35 million in direct charity care alone.

    Swedish's charity care program:

    Offers free or discounted hospital services for those who cannot afford care, many of whom are underinsured of have no insurance at all.

    Provides financial assistance in cases where the yearly family income is between zero percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

    Ensures that financial constraints are not a barrier to the provision of care.

    Posted 5 months ago #
13. 

    JerseyGirl
    

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    The Washington Health Foundation offers free counselling to individuals who need to choose a health care plan. I haven't used their services, but I plan to try them next time I need to choose a plan.
    http://www.myhealthadvocates.org/

    Posted 5 months ago #
14. 

    Ernie
    

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    This is a kick-ass thread. Lots of good info......

    Posted 5 months ago #
15. 

    phoo
    

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    oh wow, jersey girl. I will totally call them and see what I can find out. I had no idea such a thing existed.

    As Ernie says, so much good info in here. I will keep looking at WSHIP. I've got some time and don't want to overlap insurance more than I have to. I just have to figure out the numbers well in advance of purchasing something.

    Posted 5 months ago #

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