Hello guys/gals,

I am self-emplyed and was recently turned down for coverage from Blue Cross because I have only one kidney. The facts that I'm in perfect health otherwise, drink rarely and not to excess, have had less than $1000 in claims over the past ten years, and go to the gym religiously six days a week are apparently not considerations. Go figure. Someone who spends most of the day on his back eating Fritos is a safer bet than I, according to Blue Cross.

Do any of you know of any good companies that offer self employed people like me coverage in the DC area?

Do any of you know about Medical Savings Accounts, if they are worth it, and good companies offering them in the DC area?

Thanks for the advice!

PS: Let's try not to turn this into a debate over nationalized health coverage! That can be a separate thread.

Stefano do you have any employees? If so, have you gone the group route? I don't think you can be turned down for group insurance, though they might charge you huge premiums, up to 1.5x the nominal rate I think.

Then there's open enrollment. Some states require HMO's to offer individual policies to anybody regardless of past medical history. This can be once or twice a year depending on which state you're in. I don't think there are any rules regulating the amount they can charge you for a premium.

Kuan

Thanks, Kuan,

No, I don't have any employees. I work as a freelance television director or technical director for any one of several networks or government agencies in the DC area. For example: last night I directed the news at Comcast SportsNet. Tomorrow I'll technical direct a show over at MSNBC. The next two days I'll direct news programs again at Comcast, and so on with other networks. I absolutely love what I do, it's never the "same o' thing" week after week, and my work usually ends the minute the show does-- no take-home projects over the weekend for a less than appreciative boss. (Seen the movie Office Space??)

I'll look into HMOs, but I hate the idea of some company telling which doctor to go to. I've had the same doctors for many years and would like to keep them.

Thanks again for the advice!!

The best thing you could do is discus your situation with a private, qualified heath insurance agent.

Now for my two cents… if I were you, I would sign up for the low end CareFirst HMO.

CareFirst BlueCross is Maryland’s state-sponsored provider. They are required by law to insure just about anyone who wants coverage. If your average annual cost is really only $100 per year, I would continue to go to and pay your regular doctor out of pocket. Use the HMO only as insurance against something catastrophic. All this assumes you don’t have dependents and rarely go to the doctor… The cost should be about $150 per month. You should be able to deduct the cost from your federal income tax liability.

A medical savings account is not really designed for someone in your situation. It’s for folks, generally with dependents, who have up to $5,000 per year of medical/family expenses that are not covered by medical insurance (like dependent/child care, deductibles, co-payments, over the counter medication, corrective eye stuff, dental stuff…) Again, any agent you talk with can give you the details to help you decide.

__________________
Michael

1988 300 SL (5 Speed)
1994 E320 Wagon
1997 C230

Thanks, Mike

I was trying to get a policy underwritten in DC so that it would transfer to VA, as there's a good chance that I'll be moving back there soon. The MD policy wouldn't transfer if I moved. I do have an agent that advised me of that when I originally inquired about a policy. (I did receive your PM.) I'll check into VA-state policies. That's a good idea about using the HMO only for catostrophic things, while retaining my usual physician for the regular visits. Who knows, maybe he's in the HMO book anyway.