Can't get health coverage? Some states have options

SOME states? Sounds like a lot of screwing around to me. According to Chairman Obamao we were supposed to have affordable healthcare for EVERYONE. Guess someone should have read the bill before they signed it and then lined up for the photo op.

Option 1 - Blue Shield, Blue Cross. Option 2 - Blue Shield, Blue Cross, Option 3 - Blue Cross, Blue Shield. Option 4 - Medicaid. Option 5 - Over the border to Canada. Option 6 - Over the border to Mexico.

All of you on subsidized health insurance, think employer or government, are the real socialists...and the problem.

Do you really thnk that your HC only costs that piddly co-insurance and copays that you have? Try paying 12-1500 per month for your whole family plus deductibles and copays and then you'll be a real American making it on yer own (as the republicans like to say)

 Well obviously, the prime directive is to insure that our health insurance companies make a good profit.  Therefore, if you're poor or middle class, I'd like to suggest that in order to insure their financial solvency, we arrange in our wills to have them continue to suck us dry financially after we all drop dead.  That should be sometime in the next couple of years when we find we simply can't afford American medical care and that no one in power gives a damn.  Also, be sure that you continue to insure that your family send in a check on your behalf every April 15th.  That way the politicians, corporations, and the wealthy can continue their lives undisrupted by "the little people". 

The state pool is controlled by the insurance companies. Our Legislators are sold out to the corporate interest just like the A$$holes in Washington. Corruption in the insurance industry is epic and on going in the great state of Texas.

So If you can't afford your 1200 dollar insurance policy from private insurance you can pay 1600 to get into the state pool. Wow, they are really worried about their citizens aren't they!!!!

Having worked for a hospital for more than 18 yrs with insurances I can say I saw both sides of the coin.  It is amazing how people abuse the insurances for instance using the ER (which I saw) for pain in joints, a simple cold, tooth ache... etc.  Doctors sending patients for unnecessary test (that I saw more than I wanted) I saw a poor lady 94 sent for mammogram then later for biopsy afterward a total mastectomy and 2 rounds of radiation Really? What they really cared for her well being?  Or to suck up Medicare for every penny they could?  Hospitals giving incentives to doctors, good gifts when they refered certain amount of hypochondriacs to the facility.  Now tell me if that is not called abuse. 

I saw poor patients paying an incredible amount of money for an insurance that had such a high deductible that the patient might as well be w/o insurance and save the money for when needed. 

Now there is an alternative pre-paid plan.  No deductibles, cheap, and in their policy is included a well physical exam covering Labs, Xray, medicines, dental, vision....

Having worked for a hospital for more than 18 yrs with insurances I can say I saw both sides of the coin. It is amazing how people abuse the insurances for instance using the ER (which I saw) for pain in joints, a simple cold, tooth ache... etc. Doctors sending patients for unnecessary test (that I saw more than I wanted) I saw a poor lady 94 sent for mammogram then later for biopsy afterward a total mastectomy and 2 rounds of radiation Really? What they really cared for her well being? Or to suck up Medicare for every penny they could? Hospitals giving incentives to doctors, good gifts when they refered certain amount of hypochondriacs to the facility. Now tell me if that is not called abuse.

I saw poor patients paying an incredible amount of money for an insurance that had such a high deductible that the patient might as well be w/o insurance and save the money for when needed.

Now there is an alternative pre-paid plan. No deductibles, cheap, and in their policy is included a well physical exam covering Labs, Xray, medicines, dental, vision....

I am looking for the alternative pre-paid, no deductible, cheap health plan.

I am currently experiencing this process in California. My husband and I are originally from Pennsylvania, where I had an Aetna HMO Individual plan. We moved to California because my husband secured a contract job. However, since it is a contract job, he does not get any health benefits. That's fine, since we've had our own individual health plans for a few years. Unfortunately, Aetna does not have an HMO out here in CA, which is a problem for me, since I am pregnant. Aetna has no maternity coverage at all.

I tried applying for coverage at Kaiser Permanente and Athem, but since I am already pregnant, I can't be accepted (despite the fact that I have had credible coverage for 3+ years). I was told to apply for the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP) here in California. There is also a Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan; however, you cannot have had any insurance coverage for the previous six months. My husband and I make $300 per month too much for me to qualify for (Access for Infants & Mothers) AIM., but we are by no means rich.

What I find really frustrating about the process is that the two companies (Kaiser, Anthem) that denied me because of my being pregnant are the only two companies that I have to choose from in the MRMIP. Also, I have to apply to an insurance company and be denied in order to qualify for the program, in addition to being subjected to a possible waiting list and a waiting period after I am accepted (which means it might be pointless for me since I'm already 20 weeks and will possibly have to pay out-of-pocket anyway).

My question is, why can't Kaiser and Anthem have the application process for MRMIP somehow built into their regular insurance application process? I understand that they're participating in a state-run program and are receiving subsidized funding from California from tobacco tax funds. However, once I get accepted into the program, I deal specifically with the insurance company, not the state of California. I'm sure the insurance companies already have a department that deals with handling MRMIP members, anyway; why make it harder for people that are already in a difficult situation and have them jump through more hoops?

I know the idea of a public option is a tricky situation. However, it would be nice to have some sort of universal plan that was accepted no matter where you were in the country. Or if insurance companies' policies would carry over no matter where you went. I would be okay with paying more in premiums, since I realize the cost of living is different nationwide, but as long as I keep my benefits, I'll be happy. For now, I'll just jump through the hoops and pray that either my husband or I get hired permanently so we can receive company health benefits.

I would like to hear the response from a critic of health reform who suddenly has fork over 30% of his/her net pay for insurance, prescriptions and copays.

My wife became disabled in 2006 and that is what we have to deal with each year. Although the current health reform laws will help, a public insurance option would have been much better. I resent subsidizing insurance executives who contribute nothing to overall care.

what I really like about the new federal plan is no co-pay for preventive test like mammograms etc. for those of us who take responsibility for our health, this is really a good thing. Blue cross is charging us a higher co-pay for office visits so this helps.

Hoping to stay healthy for 9 more months. Then I will qualify for medicare. I took a chance and dropped way overpriced health insurance. Huge premiums with huge deductibles just did not work for me. So far gamble is paying off. My health insurance is crossing my fingers.

I agree, I pay over $1200 month for family of 4 with a $5700 deductible. Can't shop around for better rates because wife is colon cancer survivor (as of now)...I am a sole proprietor of my own graphic design business and I can't get in on any group rates...so my rates keep going up and up... I am a Republican and I'm so freaking mad at those GOP jerks in Washington who think that Health Care is not the number one crisis. We need a not for profit single payer system. The Affordable Care Act is not perfect by any means to even suggest repealing it is a national embarrassment. I'm willing to pay my fair share, just open up the system that our Congress enjoys and I'd love to get in on that group rate. I'd go for the high-risk pool, but they make you take the risk of being with out insurance for 6 months to even qualify. That is a gamble that none of them would take.

I heard that Washington state law will make it easier for sole proprietors and some self-employed individuals to get affordable health insurance coverage. I may have to pack up my bags and head north.

Single payer will eliminate the chaotic fractal system the insurance companies depend on to confuse the masses. Standardization brings innovation.

Health insurance companies provide no medical service. They simply pass the money along and swipe their share for that privilege. We don't need middle men in the process. We had the balls to do it with student loans, where the government accepted all the risk and didn't reap any profits, we can surely do it with a health care payment system. Crap I'll whip one up in excel that would work better than my current plan.

This burden should not be put on the American people. We have the best doctors and hospitals in the world, but the most corrupt payment delivery system ever dreamed up.

In the greatest recession since the great depression, Health Insurance companies racked in record profits. Say hello to corporate death panels. When profit is involved...you're dead.

Hawaii requires employers to provide healthcare at all employee that work 20 hrs or more per week, no matter what pre existing conditions. Employees only pay 1.5% of their gross pay. Employers have prospered for over 30 years with this law.

Well ........ as usual ........ Texas does NOT give a Damn about it's Citizens.

Texas is so Greedy that when they Lost their Black Slaves in the Civil War they simply let it be known that Illegal Aliens should just come on over and work for Near Slave Labor Wages in Texas.

And this my Friends was the Very Beginning of Illegal Immigration in the good old USA !!!

And now 140 plus years later we have Tens of Millions of them all over the USA.

Thanks TEXAS !!!!!!

Now were short on Jobs for Citizens and Texas still does not give a Damn !!!

Governor Perry ....... Go Back to West Texas with the Tumble Weeds. That is Your Red-Neck of the Woods !

It was GREAT seeing Governor Spitzer Chewing Perry up and spitting him out !!! Do that Again Bar Tender !!!

Spitzer might have been a little loose but at least he is Not a Pimp !!!

I think the bottom line here is this. If you don't have coverage through an employer, you're screwed. With all of the "ands', ifs', buts' and have tos'", there obviously are stipulations to prevent most everyone. Toss in a few "must be approved by the state", add a couple "based on health status" and it pretty much seals the deal.

There are so many problems plaguing the health insurance industry not one fix is going to stop the prices from spiraling further out of control. And with so many employers dumping health insurance altogether, the problem will get worse.

Instead of focusing on repealing "Obamacare," politicians need to focus on real solutions so that people can get the health care they deserve. Some of the uninsured, will ultimately end up on disability. Others will file bankruptcy and have their medical bills washed away. Those that have insurance will see their premiums rise even faster then they have. Either way you look at it, everyone is paying for the uninsured and underinsured already.

We instituted public education so that this would not be a nation of uneducated people, and be able to compete in the world. We did a good job at that. Now we are trying to institute public health care to make sure our citizens are kept healthy. But we must do more than that. We must promote healthy living. The government should pursue that idea, and Hollywood should promote it (they already do in a way - when was the last time you saw a gorgeous movie star smoking or eating and drinking like a pig?).

How can $435 per month (lowest plan available for the State of FL) be considered affordable? Why do members of congress not have to have the same health care plan that they want everyone else to use? Why is theirs so much more comprehensive?