Farm & Ranch Healthcare

[jdechol]

You have to look at the individual's situation. Not everyone can just go out a get a job with benefits or form a two-man group. If the person is in Tennessee, those are the only options. Is it better to have some coverage than none? Or is it major medical or nothing?

I think nothing is better than having the FLEXguard. There is no reason to pay for health insurance if it doesn't do the job. You're better off self insuring IMO. But when you have the state health pool for uninsurable people, there is no room for UA plans except as supplemental to major medical. If you don't have a major medical plan, then you shouldn't have a UA plan. If you are uninsurable and low budget, then get the highest deductible state health pool plan and if you really don't have the money to pay for that then you are low income and if something happens medicaid will be there. (Of course a job with benefits may also be an option.)

My point is simply this... Why spend your hard earned money on crap insurance that doesn't offer real protection??? Do you realize that the FLEX guard pays nothing for cancer? I wonder how many UA agents actually read the policies that they hand deliver...

 

[somarco]

I think nothing is better than having the FLEXguard

That makes no sense.

when you have the state health pool

15 states do not have a risk pool.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I think everyone needs to realize that in some cases people don't have any options.

In MD say you've been laid off and you were making $30,000 a year - company picked up the tab for health insurance. Now Cobra is offered....at $800 a month. Ok, so Cobra is out. The client just had back surgery so it's off to MHIP, right? (state risk pool.) Nope. If Cobra is offered it must be elected and expired before you can go into the risk pool unless you have one of these specific conditions: http://www.marylandhealthinsuranceplan.state.md.us/QualifyingMedConditions.pdf

A: Client doesn't have an eligible condition for MHIP
B: Cobra was offered so they don't qualify for MHIP
C: Client can't get underwritten with anyone
D: Client is not self-employed so they can't write themselves a group plan
E: Client is trying his best to get another job but hasn't found one yet

And this is what needs to be fixed with our healthcare system.

 

[somarco]

laid off and you were making $30,000 a year

In that situation Medicaid is the safety net. You can even apply for Medicaid 3 months retroactively.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

If he needs on-going treatment - medication, doctor visits, etc...he'd be ass-out. You have any idea of the paperwork and approval process for Medicaid?

Let's play devil's advocate and say he's on $300 a month of medication and loses his job on the 1st. His bene's run out in 31 days and if he can't afford Cobra there's not a chance in hell he'll be accepted into Medicaid in that time-frame.

By the way, most applicants who qualify for Medicaid are initially declined. It's the little game the gov't plays. Ever read about people applying for social security disability? Good Lord.

And by the way - income is just one factor for Medicaid eligibility.

 

[arnguy]

With regard to hospitalization costs, a client had an overnight stay for suspected cardiac irregularity, Was admitted through the ER. The hospital stay was basically for observation and was considered a 2 day stay in the CCU because the patient was there for 28 hours. The EOB indicated the total hospital bill was $19,588.67. Wow!! Fortunately the patient had good insurance coverage and ended up paying about $300.00 out-of-pocket

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Wow - there's an insurance plan out there with an OOP of $300?

 

[STIBROKER]

Wow - there's an insurance plan out there with an OOP of $300?

yes john....they are called HMO's......

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

Not the case of HMO's in my state where even though they don't have deductibles still have admission fees and OOP's:

https://www.carefirst.com/eSales/broker_groups.jsp?b=132

Click "view" for "Blue Choice Maryland" which is the HMO. Then note:

*Individual OOP is from $2,000 to $3,600 - still responsible for that amount before the plan pays (barring events covered with a copay)

*$250 to $700 fee for inpatient stays

 

[somarco]

KP has individual plans with $500 OOP for inpatient; small group with $200.