Form A Group Of Us Contractors To Buy Health Insurance Cheaper?

wackman

This might very well be a retarded idea and I'm just about to run out the door to an open house when this idea just hit me.

Is there any way we, the guys on this forum, can form a group that can buy health insurance together at a lower price?

I'm sure there's something like this already but I don't know about it.

If this has already been talked about or is a stupid idea just tell me to shut up, like I said I just thought of it and didn't have time to search the threads.

Wack

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KillerToiletSpider

It's called a trade union.

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KevinA

My dad sells health insurance, life ins, and sets up 401k plans. But I'm still paying $900+ a month for me, wife & 2 kids for a basic health plan. Plus business insurance- comp, liabilty, vehicle, runs another 9k/year. HELP!

Michaeljp86

My dad has health insurence for self employeed but its worthless. Im not sure if you could start a contractor insurence. We need to see if we can.

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alienofwar

Prevention is always the best health insurance out there.

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None

cleveman

You could have a fraternal organization. I would recommend hooking up with a sorority.

Health insurance is just the beginning.

I got a nice letter from my health insurance company last week (pekin). They informed me that my wellness benefit was being increased from $150/year/person to $500. We have a new daughter, and the mother has some costs that can be attributed to wellness, and I might as well get a physical exam, so that is like a 3 x (500-150)=$1050 gift. They deduct from next years premium, but the premium is not increased. This is a good deal for about an $1800/year policy.

fourcornerhome

In Cleveland, we have a group called COSE (counsel of smaller enterprises)that offers small businesses to join a health insurance plan at group rates. I don't sell insurance but,I would guess you would need alot of people to participate in order to demand lower group rates.

HellisLikeNewrk

Depends what State your are in. States like VT, NJ, NY have destroyed their health insurance markets through truly retarded legislation. It is illegal in most States to buy insurance across State lines.

Checkout Goldenrule Insurance (they are owned now by United Healthcare). If you are in a State that is not overly regulated, they will write you a policy. Goldenrule specializes in high deductible plans for individuals.

wackman

Is there something like that for Contractors who own their own companies and aren't one particular "trade"?

Agreed, but I need something for accidents, crashes on my bikes, etc...

I'll hook up with a sorority

I'll check it out, good rates?

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buildenterprise

Does it really matter, if the deductible is sky-high? No sense in even bothering at that point. Just buy catastrophic insurance.

Ed the Roofer

I can tell you from past inquiries, that Golden Rule did offer some tempting rates, but I didn't wind up getting anything after all.

Try with a $ 2,000.00 deductible and see how they work out. Anything, right now, is out of my bidget, so I won't be ready for a while, but please keep us posted with rates.

Ed

stacker

how about "THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF CONTRACTOR TALK DOT COM local number 1"

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wackman

This is what I'm talkin about!

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wackman

That's kinda what I want. I'm only 33, single, no kids and really only need insurance for myself. I do none of the field work unless I really want to.

I do have a few sorta dangerous hobbies though and when I was 19 I got meningicoucal meningitis and should have died. I thought it was just a really bad flu and wouldn't have gone to the doctor except I had good insurance at that job so what the hell. If I hadn't gone I would be dead, no doubt, and if I didn't have insurance then it would have been a $50k bill, instead it was $2k.

Things happen and I want to be prepared, but I think a high deductible is fine for me, for now.

Wack

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"I only bother remembering things that I can't easily look up." Albert Einstein

Chris Johnson

Look into joining your builder exchange, chamber of commerce, etc.

Check out Blue Cross, I am happy with the deal I got

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HellisLikeNewrk

That is what is basically is, catastrophic / emergency care with a little preventative care thrown in. The insurance we have in the USA really isn't insurance. Insurance was never meant to pay every time you go to the doctor. It was meant for major medical, like getting hit by a bus.

However, catastrophic only care is illegal in a number of States. There is a law bouncing around Congress to allow you to but insurance across State lines. It won't make it out of committee, especially after the 2006 election.