List your job ...

[busymom]

and whether or not you are offered health insurance...and whether or not you have options.....

When I was teaching at the university, I was offered 2 different plans...one with co-pays and no annual deductible and one without copays but with an annual deductible. Both were private plans and were not *free* to me. Both I, and my employer paid in. I also had dental coverage that paid ~1000/yr.

I am currently insured through my husband's employer. We have a group plan with a large out-of-pocket family deductible but no co-pays. We are satisfied with our plan.

My brother is an apprentice in a home inspection company. He has both health and dental insurance with a health savings account. His prescriptions plan is hands down better than mine.

My mom is a nurse practitioner. She had 2 choices with a group plan. She is also insured through the VA because she is a vietnam veteran and army vet.

[BlooInBloo]

1. Programmer. Offered two coverage options.

[vaberella]

2. University Research Assistant. No, I'm not offered and make too much to get medicaid.

Added to that, I don't make enough to afford private insurance, it would take about 2/3rds of my paycheck.

[BlooInBloo]

8. My RA/TA-ships always included insurance. Has that ceased?

And what are you studying?

[vaberella]

20. I guess so. I'm with a city University.

No insurance was included since it was a for the Spring and Summer term. I wasn't offered it or given it. I was studying Eco but this was a Public Policy program funded by the Rangel Center.

[Fearless]

52. All UMass campuses still provide, FYI.

Granted pay is one of the worst in the nation.

[jberryhill]

3. Self Employed Attorney

Paying out the wazoo for a policy that probably doesn't cover crap, I dare not actually use, and won't cover a pre-existing condition.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

76. There isn't a bar association group plan available to you?

[tsuki]

80. Depends on if he is in Florida. In Florida, only employers can

negotiate with health care companies. The Jebster made sure of that when he repealed Lawton Chiles regional health care for small business.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I'm sort of retired now,

but back when I was employed as a legal secretary I was covered by my employer -- with ever increasing co-pays and deductibles, of course, and deductions from my paycheck.

Now my husband, who is a retired marine engineer, and I are covered through his benefit plan, but they take $800 a month out of his pension check for it and we have to use "preferred providers" or end up paying quite a bit of co-pay.

In a couple of years we go on Medicare which is going to be a joke because there are only one or two family practitioners in Anchorage who accept new Medicare patients. Lucky for us, we're both pretty healthy, but I do have to get my thyroid levels checked once a year. I'm not sure how that's going to work once I'm off the private insurance.

[JuniperLea]

5. Executive Assistant; Office Manager...

Writer, editor, media trainer, billing clerk, party planner, chief cook and bottle washer...

I have really good insurance, and I pay $50 a month for medical, vision, and dental. Plus, I put $60 a month into an FSA to cover copays and over-the-counter items.

[flvegan]

6. Title Insurance Underwriter.

I do have a health plan, which knock on wood, I've not really had to use. Couple 'scripts here and there. It's very nice knowing that I have it. I think my max deductible/out of pocket is $2k. Limited sight (glasses, etc) and dental comes with it. I think my pay-in is $120/mo. With that also comes $50k worth of life insurance and disability coverage, which I upped substantially at my option and expense. I am worth far more dead than alive at this point.

[elocs]

7. I am self employed, but making very, very little so I have no health insurance.

I have applied for BadgerCare Plus here in WI and I should be eligible for its basic healthcare.

[MercutioATC]

9. Air traffic controller. Federal health benefits. Choice of about 15 different plans.

HMOs, PPOs, PPVs...wide range of different covered procedures, deductibles, premiums and copays.

I have an Aetna HMO. About $1200/month for me and my son (but my compensation package has my employer (the federal government) picking up about 2/3 of the premium, so I pay about $360/month). No deductibles, but $20 copay for doctor visits, $30 for specialist visits, and $15 copays for generic prescriptions ($25 for non-generic). $30 copay for eye exams and $100 credit toward contacts or glasses every 2 years. $5 copay for dental exams with various copays for different procedures.

As with all plans in the FEHBP, no exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

[GoCubsGo]

10. Biologist

Temporary, U.S. Government. No health care offered. I previously worked for a major university. We had three plans to choose from, and we paid into it. I had the "indemnity" plan, which allowed me to choose my own doctor. Annual check-ups and mammograms were included up to $500. The deductible was fairly low, and their was a drug "benefit", that wasn't much of a benefit, IMO. I paid close to $150/month by the time I got laid off. There was also an optional dental plan, but it wasn't worth it for me. I haven't required anything other than a twice-yearly cleaning for the past 20 years, so it definitely was a waste of money for me. I didn't opt into it.

I have to laugh. When the university revamped the health insurance, they sent a person from human resources over to explain the different plans. She claimed kept spouting off that annual check-ups were "free". You can imagine the dirty look I got when she overheard me pointing out to the person sitting next to me that, no, they were not "free". We were paying more for premiums than we were getting back for the "free" annual physicals.

[tammywammy]

11. On the 27th I start with a new company as an admin asst

Health is an HMO, 3 choices on dental, vision, and health spending account.

Both my parents work for the same company I'm going to and it's good insurance, I was covered by my dad growing up.

[SeattleGirl]

12. Vocational Rehab Counselor. I have med insurance provided by

my employer. She pays for my premium, but I pay for my husband's ($480 a month).

No dental or vision, but she is looking into dental. We are a small company, so it's a little more difficult to get dental.

[DesertRat]

13. Elementary school teacher. Insurance paid by the district.

I have 2 choices. The district also provides free dental insurance for employees.

[boppers]

14. Contract programmer.

No health insurance offered, unless I make enough to buy it myself.

[FrenchieCat]

15. Self employed Accountant married to Self employed Accountant.

1 college age child still at home

We have Health Insurance through Large HMO-
we pay approx $1,200 monthly + $75 co-pay per visit.
The $1,200 monthly does include Dental.

Due to our ages, we can't afford not to be covered....
but making the monthly payment is quite difficult
as our income varies depending.....
and the co-pay discourages visits unless necessary.

[waiting for hope]

16. Office Manager - My last job didn't have it - too expensive.

Job before offered it, but where getting ready to dump it before I left - 40% price hikes three years running. The insurance we have now through my husband's company is not bad, but not great either. His company pays 100% for him and he pays for myself and our two kids. They are just getting ready to take co-pays from $15 to $20, deductible from $500 to $1000 and drug prescriptions are going up a bit too. NC BSBC - they called my pregnancy with my second child as a pre-existing condidtion ... like I had been pregnant for over three years ... that was a WTF moment.

[KansasVoter]

17. Programmer. Company Plan.

[Tobin S.]

18. Truck driver

I have medical, prescription, dental, and vision coverage. It's actually a pretty good plan as far as trucking companies go, but when compared to other plans in other fields of work it's not all that great- but at least I do have some coverage. Deductible is $500 a year, plus I have co-pays- $15 for a general practitioner, $30 for a specialist, 20% on hopitalization and surgery, 20% on prescriptions. Dental and vision both pay half. I'm a single guy and that is the best coverage I can get right now through my employer. I pay $120 a month for that. There are worse plans I guess, but I've seen better.

I would really like to become an owner-operator or an independent driver, but I have a pre-existing condition and no one will cover it when I try to get health insurance independently. So, Obama's plan would help me a great deal if it were made law. I understand it falls short of the goal, though.

[RandomKoolzip]

31. "Tobin S." from Dayton? You're not Tobin Sprout, ex-GBV, Airport 5, illustrator, are ya?

Because that'd be awesome.

[Tobin S.]

48. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm a different Tobin S.

I'd never heard of Tobin Sprout before I changed my handle to my real name. You are the third person here to think I might be him.

[Undercurrent]

19. Silversmith

Self employed. Plus SSDI income.

I was an RN, but developed a chronic, life threatening illness that made me 100% disabled. Now I have Medicare (that god!).

[bliss_eternal]

42. So sorry you became disabled...

:hug:

I have so much admiration and respect for RN's. So glad you have Medicare.
take care :hi:

[Undercurrent]

58. Thank you, bliss_eternal.

That was very nice of you.

It was a long time ago. Another life. I miss nursing, but coming to terms with my mortality was the push I needed to allow my stifled creative self to emerge.

[Oregone]

21. Internet Psyops and Misinformation Agent

Best healthcare in the world, I have

[tilsammans]

22. If I had a job, I'd list it, but . . .

. . . at the moment, I'm an unemployed editor. Just signed up for COBRA.

[TahitiNut]

23. Retired - former teacher, programmer, auditor. and management control and operations analyst.

Currently an 'assisted living' caregiver for my mother. :banghead:

[Uzybone]

24. Engineering for a big telecom company

Offered 2 "choices", I am happy with my plan so far. Also have dental, HSA, commuter reimbursement.

[Supply Side Jesus]

25. Sheriff's Deputy, Insurance paid by County

I am glad I have it, but they've hiked our rates over 20% in last 2 years. I swear monkeys are in charge.... and I apologize to monkeys everywhere

[vadawg]

44. sheriffs deputy here too, paid by county, great benefits paid by county

also have coverage throught the VA but i havent used any of the VA facilities yet.

[justiceischeap]

26. Contract Web Designer... No insurance (eom)

[LibDemAlways]

27. Substitute Teacher..No benefits.

[Po_d Mainiac]

28. Former self employed

Paid thru the ass then.

Now retired at 56, pay so hard thru the ass now you can park a bus there.

[jberryhill]

38. ...and paid with your after tax income...

...and have to listen to folks whine about how they might have to pay tax on a non-monetary benefit they receive from their employers.

Look, I'm not in favor of anyone getting a new tax, but it's one I've been paying for a while now, and you'd think it's going to kill them.

[RandomKoolzip]

29. Night-time line cook at a restaurant; full-time college student; part-time reference librarian.

I have insurance thru the restaurant (Humana). However, my co-pay is so large, it's effectively 1/2 of my paycheck. The school I go to offers a shitty insurance plan, and i don't use it.

[proud patriot]

30. I'm a Special Education Assistant , I'm union , Have good Benefits

pay could be better but what else is new?

[Kaleva]

32. Self employed. No health insurance but....

75% of my medical costs are covered by my wife's insurance.

[TankLV]

33. Architect in one of the largest firms in the State - NO CHOICE on health care...

"take it or leave it"

Less and less is covered every year - more out of pocket every year...

Still have over FORTY THOUSAND of MY share to pay for a recent Heart Attack - so far I've paid NOTHING - and they can't do a thing about it - and after seven years it's all OFF THE BOOKS...

[Doremus]

34. Self-employed. $1000/mo. for 3 people. Total yearly cost about $15K out of pocket.

Can't do it much longer as business reeks, but just found out I need a biopsy.

Story of my life. :(

[Cali_Democrat]

35. Contract Systems Analyst

I have to buy my own insurance.

[busymom]

36. This is off topic, but ...

What an interesting bunch of men and women we have gathered here!!!!!

It would be so interesting to compare actual details, costs and providers to figure out what average plans cost, etc. I know that is beyond the scope of this website though. I wonder if there are any studies out there that have done this.

[scheming daemons]

37. Linux administrator... full medical and dental and eye-care coverage (gov't lab)

I actually have awesome insurance. Not too expensive either.


But I realize I'm not the norm.

[riderinthestorm]

39. Self employed farmer, horse trainer, competition barn owner.

My husband is currently in remission for Stage IV, Grade IV lymphoma so having insurance is mandatory for us although it costs a fortune: $1200/month for 4 of us with BCBS. It's a group plan so his condition is covered as long as "I", the company owner (chief ow-er), agree to cover him as my "employee".

While the farm is holding it's own in this recession, I worry every single day about what we would do if clients start dropping off if the economy tanks even more (which I'm fairly certain is going to happen). I tried last fall and winter to find something "off the farm" to diversify our income but no luck (MBA from University of Chicago but my years as a small biz owner, and my age - mid forties ie. "ancient" - means I was SOL on finding something. Too toxic as a potential employee I guess...)

[CakeGrrl]

40. Information Tech; laid off, but I had open enrollment for medical/dental, and

I have a year's worth of coverage as part of the layoff package.

[mwooldri]

41. Customer Care for a big credit card company. Company self-insures.

We are offered two plans, a "basic" coverage and a "premier" coverage.

Basic for a family of four would have a $5,250 deductible, an extra $2,000 on top of that for co-insurance for $7,250 out of pocket (in network) but contributions are $76 a paycheck. If it were an individual, deductible would be $2,650 plus extra $1,000 for coinsurance ($3,650 out of pocket in network) but contributions would be $20/paycheck.

Premier for a family of four would have a $2,300 deductibe, of which the company contributes $1000 into an HSA for you. There's an additional $900 for co-insurance for a total of $3,200 out of pocket... but contributions are $120.60 a paycheck. For an individual, this changes to a $1,150 deductible, with an extra $450 for co-insurance... company puts in $500 to your HSA. Individual contributions are $33.00 a paycheck.

We get paid every other week.

I have the Premier plan for our family. We do have dental through work and vision. Also life insurance including spouse/s.o and child life insurance, long term disability insurance, long term care insurance, pet insurance, legal assistance, and dependent care reimbursement. We can also purchase extra vacation days.

As such, my medical outlays a year for a family of four work out at $5,335.60.

In addition to the basic or premier plan choice, we get to pick the carrier - we have a choice of three: BCBS, Aetna, United Healthcare. Other locations have different choices.

[Doremus]

43. Geesh, that "premiere" plan sounds like a premiere piece of crap.

They offers choices all right, a choice between a turd and a large steaming pile of shit.

When are we proles going to wake up? (rhetorical question not directed at you)

[mwooldri]

49. Well the other choice is a few dumptrucks of horse manure.

My wife *could* get healthcare through her work but it's 4x more expensive than mine and has lots of coverage gaps (does not cover medical supplies like catheters, essential for my son).

I would love NHS style healthcare in the USA. Really. The only way I can get NHS style healthcare is to move back to the UK, and I don't have the job or the money to move the family back there. I came here broke (it was through the support of my wife's family that we could even be together in the first place) and we're still broke!

So if it's between a little turd and a few dumptrucks... regrettably I'll just take the little turd.

Mark.

[donheld]

45. Bus Driver

Yes we have insurance, but really only one option. It also only covers the employee. The cost for dependents is incredibly high.

[LooseWilly]

46. Was a taxi driver.

Absolutely zero benefits.

Worked on a startup for a while. Zero benefits. Ran out of funding and lost the job.

Will probably go back to taxi driving again soon. Cops still describe it as the most dangerous job in the country. Still zero benefits.

[kcass1954]

47. Sales coordinator -

My employer is self-insured, with benefits administered by Aetna. They provide standard option to all employees at a minimal charge. A higher option is available, as is dependent coverage. I'm not impressed with the plan. There's not (in my opinion) sufficient allowance to cover preventative care, and the prescription benefit is pay it all now and submit a claim (not practical if your kid needs an expensive antibiotic 2 days before payday).

I opted out and am covered by my husband's insurance. He's a civil service employee, and we have very good insurance - $300 deductible, $20 co-pay, no referral needed to see a specialist, prescription coverage at 80%.

I used the flex $$ from my job to purchase a decent dental policy.

[Jennicut]

50. Stay at home Mom, have health insurance through my husband

He works for Yankee Gas, a utility here in CT. We have Cigna, we pay small copays on everything. As a diabetic I would say the plan is not that bad as I go to the Dr. frequently for checkups on the diabetes and have to buy lots of medication every month. I wish prescriptions were a bit less...its a crime what they do to us diabetics as far as buying strips to test your blood (outrageous without insurance, $100 a box and expensive with it).
The kids are almost in school full time (they are 4 and 5 and paying for day care is not worth it to work part time) and I will be looking for work as a Preschool teacher as I almost have my CDA but I think no matter what I will stick with Cigna. They are the best insurance I have ever had over the years, least expensive.

[phleshdef]

51. Web Apps Developer, I'm a 1099 and do not have insurance.

[spaceturkey]

53. delivery driver

Im a delivery driver for a restaurant and am offered no insurance.

[pink-o]

54. Airline Ticket Agent at San Francisco Airport. Have HMO

But my costs for premiums have gone up tremendously in the last 10 years!

[davidpdx]

57. Going through SFO in a couple weeks

I'll wave to you...

[pink-o]

74. Well, since you're screen name includes PDX...you're probably either

flying on United or the other airline that services that route. The latter would be the one I work for, so look for the very tall chick with the loud voice! :hi:

[davidpdx]

77. Close, MFD

But am flying to Las Vegas first. Neither flights are on United this time, but flying in on one of their partners.

Tall loud women in an airport. That rules out about 30%. LOL

[CAG]

55. JOB???? I thought us libruls were all lazy godless welfare queens waiting

for the guv't to give us all that good hard workin christian rich peoples money :-)

I'm a pharmacist

[rhiannon55]

56. TAF cash assistance (known as 'welfare') and food stamp caseworker

I work for the state, so I have fairly decent medical and dental coverage.

[Flabbergasted]

59. Self Employed...Property Maintenance...No.

[SoxFan]

60. Self-employed attorney

Eligible for the city's plan as an elected official. Our salary is lower than most comparable cities (Worcester, Allentown.. Scranton, etc), but we can participate in the health plan, which is very reasonable.

My wife is also eligible for coverage through her job with the state.

[styersc]

61. Archaeologist. Insured.

But if the economy does not turn around very quickly, the company that I have worked for 9 years, and that has been in business for 15 will have to shut its doors. More then a dozen of us out of work and no insurance.

[Hansel]

62. Programmer/Business Analyst

4 health insurance options, health savings plan, 2 vision options, and 2 dental options

[LWolf]

63. Teacher.

I have 3 or 4 choices of "plans." My employer and I both pay for all of them. They all have copays and deductibles.

I don't use my plan for much, because the copays and deductibles hurt my budget.

[SoFlaJet]

64. musician....

ha ha ha ha ha yea right

[lojasmo]

65. Nurse

Three options offered.

Wife is political organizer for a labor union. One option.

[slackmaster]

66. Data center systems administrator, I had to choose from 28 different options

Most of which were completely inappropriate for a divorced empty-nester.

[Mrs. Overall]

67. Editor of a literary journal. Insurance options in the arts field? Ha!

My children and I are insured under my husband's plan at his place of employment.

[stranger81]

68. Patent attorney, insured through my employer. No plan options.

Plan has co-pays, no annual deductible. My husband and our daughter are also on my employer's plan (hubby offered insurance through his job -- he's a glassblower at a small business -- but a much less attractive deal). We pay about $500/month in premiums for the three of us.

My parents lost their health insurance when my dad lost his job in 1996 (they couldn't keep up the COBRA payments). Both my parents died while uninsured (my mother of an easily treated illness).

[Jake Stillow]

69. Messenger by foot in Manhattan (fully insured, but no dental) n/t

[Amos Moses]

70. laid off autoworker

I wasn't fortunate enough to work under a union contract so even though I had insurance, it offered lousy coverage and it was prohibitively expensive. I couldn't afford going to the doctor so I would have never considered using it unless I was dying.

[MilesColtrane]

71. Self employed musician.

The last time I had insurance was when I worked at a book store 20 years ago.

My goal is to get some form of catastrophic insurance and a health savings account going before the end of the year.

[RayOfHope]

72. elementary teacher, offered 2 health ins. plans (one at no cost), $75/mo family dental plan n/t

[Crooked Moon]

73. digital media writer and producer

company health plan pays 100% of my premium and 70% of the wife and kids'.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

75. "Regulatory Compliance Manager" and practically unintelligible

I have excellent insurance, I pay no premiums and minimal co-pays but I do pay an extra $142 a year for enhanced dental because I was conned into replacing my old fashioned fillings with porcelain about a decade ago, the replacements have all turned to shit and I am looking at multiple root canals as a result. The $142 raises the annual limit on dental to $2500 from $1500.

I have the option of taking a cash contribution to a medical savings account, but to the best of my knowledge nobody has EVER selected that option.

[ColesCountyDem]

78. Retired deputy sheriff, retired attorney and retail manager.

My company does not offer insurance, per se, but they do offer us a plan that is essentially a pharmaceutical 'buyers club'. I have a disability and accident insurance plan that I pay for, but rely on my local health center's income-adjusted care for any major-medical coverage. Thankfully, their income limits are generous, so I qualify for an 80% discount on almost everything, including primary care and any secondary or tertiary care needed from staff and affiliated physicians and clinics.

[zulchzulu]

79. New Media Director - 2 plans (but employer likes Public Option idea)

Not sure what would happen if we moved into it...

[RichardRay]

81. Database Adminstrator/Developer - Yes, three options

A full coverage plan, a cafeteria plan and a health savings plan. Also an additional payroll deduction into an untaxed account that has to be used up annually but can be used for anything from surgery to aroma therapy.

The full coverage plan works best for me as a 63 year old single person with no dependents (none of the plans cover vet bills, so the dogs are out of luck). I pay $35/month, $1,000 deductible.

One VERY important feature: There are NO restrictions on activities that might cause injury. I've bent myself skiing, climbing and paragliding and the required repairs were all covered. Given the lifestyle of the folks who work where I do (winter resort famous for steep and gnarly skiing) that's pretty much required to get people to work here.