Health Insurance

[Guest Jesse Dane]

I've been looking into some options for health and dental insurance and was wondering if any other escorts have any. I've found a couple freelancers/self employed type groups, but I'm trying to find someone who could reccomend a good group to go through.

 

Thankfully I've been quite healthy these past couple years and I had a doctor friend who was able to give me prescriptions when I had pneumonia last year. But I just feel it would be a good thing to have and I also really need to get some dental work done (damn loose fillings!).

 

Any advice would be greatley appreciated!

[kjun]

Getting insurance at a reasonable rate can be difficult unless you are employed by a company and, thus, able to become part of the group insurance. Since I assume that you are self-employed this is not available to you. Try Blue Cross if it is available in your area.

 

the Cajun

[seaboy4hire]

This is a prime example why one should not solely rely on escorting. Health insurance is no laughing matter. Everyone should have it. My advice to you is find a job that offers benies while working 20-30 hrs a week or see if your state offers insurance. My state offers a group plan that have ok plans.

Greg Seattle Wa seaboy4hire@yahoo.com

http://www.male4malescorts.com/reviews/greg_seattle.html

http://seaboy4hire.tripod.com

[guptasa1]

While not an escort, I am currently working with some friends on our own business, so thought maybe I could help since I had a similar dilemma. Currently I have health insurance through NASE, the National Association of the Self Employed (http://www.nase.org), which offers health insurance through MEGA Life & Health. This is going to sound funny, but from what I understand, you don't even truly have to be self-employed to join - anyone can (no, I don't get it either - lol).

 

It's still not real cheap (I pay yearly, but at 25, it's slightly more than $200.00 a month), but it's pretty decent insurance. Covers all the major stuff like hospitalization, doctor visits, check-ups (after 1 year's time), etc. It does have some deductibles and co-pays, and the prescription coverage could be better (generics it does well on, but name brand you end up paying most of). You can also get dental and vision with the plans, and it's quite customizable based on your needs when you set it up. NASE membership has a few nice things too (the equivalent of free AAA service, a couple free hotel discount programs, and other savings offers, etc.).

 

All in all, I'm pretty glad I found it. I've had it since last August and it has covered quite a bit for me.

 

Hope this helps. =o)

 

P.S. I was sad to see ya moved from NYC 'cuz I was considering setting something up with ya, but I hope you enjoy your new locale! I've never even gotten out to that coast yet - lol!

[Guest Jesse Dane]

>While not an escort, I am currently working with some friends

>on our own business, so thought maybe I could help since I had

>a similar dilemma. Currently I have health insurance through

>NASE, the National Association of the Self Employed

>(http://www.nase.org), which offers health insurance through MEGA

>Life & Health. This is going to sound funny, but from what I

>understand, you don't even truly have to be self-employed to

>join - anyone can (no, I don't get it either - lol).

>

>It's still not real cheap (I pay yearly, but at 25, it's

>slightly more than $200.00 a month), but it's pretty decent

>insurance. Covers all the major stuff like hospitalization,

>doctor visits, check-ups (after 1 year's time), etc. It does

>have some deductibles and co-pays, and the prescription

>coverage could be better (generics it does well on, but name

>brand you end up paying most of). You can also get dental and

>vision with the plans, and it's quite customizable based on

>your needs when you set it up. NASE membership has a few nice

>things too (the equivalent of free AAA service, a couple free

>hotel discount programs, and other savings offers, etc.).

>

>All in all, I'm pretty glad I found it. I've had it since

>last August and it has covered quite a bit for me.

>

>Hope this helps. =o)

>

>P.S. I was sad to see ya moved from NYC 'cuz I was

>considering setting something up with ya, but I hope you enjoy

>your new locale! I've never even gotten out to that coast yet

>- lol!

 

Thanks so much! That's the kind of information I was looking for. I will def look into that. I had been looking at insurance through the freelancers union, but had heard some not so great things about them. I'm more than willing to pay $200/month (much better than the $800 or so it can cost just to get regular individual coverage).

 

 

P.S. - I'll be back in NYC for a week at the end of March (sometime around the 23rd) since you missed me before. ;-)

[rickyricardo]

I have fullcoverage health insuranc.. Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life. The way I did it was just type on your browser PPO Insurance for the self employed. It will give you serveral sites where you put in your application next thing you know you getting calls from all these agents. Pick which every one sounds like they offering you the best deal for your needs.. I pay about $90 month for medical dental and vision.. with $15 office visits, you get also a complete overhaul major physical once year. I am glad I am insured, don't use it much, but better safe than sorry.

 

R.M.

http://www.RicardoMilos.net

 

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/26/26_21_5.gif

[OneFinger]

I'm not a escort but hope you don't mind another opinion.

 

Within the past year I tried to help a relative in her 20's get a private policy when she was no longer eligible for coverage under her parents policy. It was impossible to find a company that would take her.

 

Most appllcations ask if you've seen a doctor in the past year and if you're taking any prescriptions. That automatically excluded her even though she's in perfect health except for some mild alergies (hay fever)

 

Many insurance companies don't want to take a risk on individuals and you're better off getting together with a small business/self-employed group for coverage.

 

Another option is a Medical Savings Account (MSA). This is very similar to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). You can deposit pre-tax dollars into a mutual fund that grows tax-free. You then deduct from that account for your medical bills.

 

Combining an MSA with a catistrophic major medical policy (one that kicks in after $5K out-of-pocket per year), may be your best bet. Be sure to talk with your tax guy to make sure you set up your MSA properly.

 

In addition, don't be afraid to talk with your doctor about a cash discount. My group health care company automatically deducts 35% from all bills because they have negotiated payment to doctors/hospitals within 5-working days after submittal. This saves the medical provider a lot in collection and additional billings.

 

Many hospitals, clinics, and individual doctors will offer subtantial discounts for payment in full at time of service.

 

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"We need to have more respect for each other. Things have just gone really crazy, out of control. ... We're on a very weird kind of cycle." Stevie Wonder

[+ deej]

Be VERY careful getting into a HSA/MSA situation. They're relatively new and the IRS hasn't fully dotted the i's and crossed the t's, even as the Bush administration changes the playing field on them.

 

I'm not saying they're bad, just be VERY careful. They're a great concept, but not fully cooked yet.

 

I work in the benefits industry and the entire industry is saying proceed with caution into this one just now. (The banking industry, on the other hand is all gung ho! That's because they get to hold the money. ;-) Probably for a very long time. :-()

[rickyricardo]

I have hayfever , told the insurance company that I take claritin for it in the spring and fall for ragweed.. I had no problem getting issurance. These insurance company pull a Medical report on you, its something like a credit check. I didnt know every has a medical report, basically if you have any history of illnesses doctors report this into this system. So they verify your qualifications for the insurance through this method. I never knew this till I got my insurance, I had no problems getting issured.

[Andre]

If you're young, healthy, non smoker and light drinker you should consider BlueCross & BlueShield. I paid $826 for the whole year. It does not cover dental, but it covers everything else. Look into it, it might be more affordable than what you think http://www.bcbsnc.com

[whipped guy]

Ditto: As noted above if you are a non-smoker and basically healthy BC/BS is usually a good deal. I'm no longer that young and BC/BS is still the best deal I have found. Unfortunately I overpaid quite a bit for health insurance over the years. Just because you belong to a group does not insure that you will be getting the best rates... Believe me!

 

As far as 'dental' is concerned, if you are in good dental health it might not be in your best interest to even bother with dental insurance. The cost of a couple of cleanings, some x-rays, and an occasional filling is usually much less than the cost of the annual premium. If you are laden with dental problems just make sure that the policy covers what you need and does not have a high deductible or a ‘calendar year maximum’ that would make the policy worthless as far as any extensive procedures are concerned. Also, as with medical insurance, make sure you don’t have to change your health care provider to join a particular plan.

 

Just remember that any decision to participate or not participate in any given insurance plan involves risks and must be gauged by your own personal circumstances… Unfortunately there is something called “Murphy’s Law” which can defeat even the best made plans… Just remember that even if you are in excellent dental health you can never predict that unforeseen accident or dental emergency situation... :7