Health Ins for DD?

[CathyA]

DD has to leave our Healthcare insurance plan because of her age. I can't believe she's put off figuring something out, when her 26th birthday is in 2 weeks. She acts like she just has no money to pay for it, so she's not getting it. I don't think she understands what a horrible position she could get herself in by not getting at least catastrophic coverage.
She says anything more than $100/mo is more than she can pay. We could probably help her pay, but she really needs to learn to support herself. She's paying off about $500/mo in student loans. She's a musician........so she's not earning much. She has a second job (non music related) that pays better, but still not enough to pay alot for medical insurance.
She's not a student and nothing is offered through her jobs.

Any suggestions? I told her it might take several weeks just to get insurance in place. I can't believe she's taken this so lightly.
Help!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Well to her credit, at her age the odds *are* overwhelmingly in her favor, the chances of something serious are miniscule, but if she was one of the extremely unlucky one's that get sick young, she'd be screwed I guess. Then again I also read that most medical bankruptcies are declared by those who *HAVE* insurance! I've always been curious how that happens. Does insurance somehow not come through when the chips are down or are their deductables just too high?

So at 26 it probably is more rational even to pursue you dreams rather than get a job just for the health insurance (that's what older people do - sigh >:( ). But yes she really should try to get whatever she can afford. If she's poor enough I guess next year the Obama subsidies start?

[SteveinMN]

I'll grant that I don't know too many people in their mid-20s, but DW's friends have kids that age. I honestly think it's that -- unless they already have some sort of chronic illness -- they think it can't happen to them. It's why so few people that age save for retirement, get disability insurance, etc. They may want jobs with health insurance, but I think it's because it's A Good Thing To Have and one of Those Things You Do, like get married or buy a house. It's nothing they'll need -- just an ace in the hole.

Two ideas: One, does DD or do you or DH belong to any fraternal, social, or professional organizations that might offer some group coverage? It's unlikely to be better than catastrophic coverage, but that may be all that's available right now. Two, contact an independent insurance broker in your area. They have access to several insurance companies -- many more than your State Farm or Allstate agent -- and may be able to get a deal by checking with several of them.

[JaneV2.0]

I would absolutely toss the ball back to her. It's her life and her health and her budget, and she's well into adulthood.

[Float On]

does DD or do you or DH belong to any fraternal, social, or professional organizations that might offer some group coverage? It's unlikely to be better than catastrophic coverage, but that may be all that's available right now. Two, contact an independent insurance broker in your area. They have access to several insurance companies -- many more than your State Farm or Allstate agent -- and may be able to get a deal by checking with several of them.

There are musician guilds that offer group insur that can hold the cost down abit.
Our state art guild worked with an agent to try and get a group policy but it was still so high we couldn't afford it.

[CathyA]

Thanks everyone.......
Jane....if something awful happened to her without insurance, WE would be the ones to step in....... How could we not?

More than an illness, I worry about a bad accident. She still has auto insurance through us, and I'm not sure that is even allowed, at her age??
She was in an auto accident a few years ago (not her fault). She went by ambulance to the hospital, ER, xrays. That was all, but it cost several thousand dollars.
The boy riding with her got it worse. He had a pneumothorax and needed to be in the hospital for 2 weeks. I'm sure it probably cost close to $100,000.00
I know auto insurance insurance has some medical coverage, but what happens if someone needs alot of medical treatment and the person can't pay?
I guess we've always been very lucky to be able to afford coverage. I just can't imagine not having it.

Float On.......thanks for that tip about musician guilds. I'll tell her about that.

Seems like more and more kids go to college in things that might not earn them much money. But you hate guiding them in a way that is ONLY about the money.

[CathyA]

DD has started looking. I guess at Anthem, she can get something for $108/mo with a $6,000 deductible and not much covered. But at least she'll get a bit of a discount for doc visits/tests, because of having Anthem.
Something like this is probably good for young, healthy people.

[pinkytoe]

If memory serves, we purchased some sort of monthly catastrophic coverage for dd for six months when she was no longer on our plan. Seems like it was with BCBS.

[CathyA]

Actually.....she just told me it has a 2,500 deductible....which is alot better than $6,000.......but probably has a higher monthly premium too.

[catherine]

I would absolutely toss the ball back to her. It's her life and her health and her budget, and she's well into adulthood.

+1

[JaneV2.0]

It sounds like she has it under control. Good for her.

[pony mom]

I think your car insurance is supposed to be used first in an auto accident.

I have a very very basic plan, called Basic & Essential plan through BCBS. The rate is based on your age. It covers the basics and is OK for me since I don't really use it. They offer it with and without rx coverage, for a price.

I've always had some sort of coverage since I started working and fear not having it.

[CathyA]

I'll check that out pony mom.
I think we can find one that's about $110/mo, with a deductible of $2,500, but it has a co-insurance of 30%, which would be ALOT to pay out, if you had a bad illness that required alot of treatment. Then it goes up to about $130/mo, to get that coinsurance down to 0%.
I'm not sure she can afford that. DH wants to help her out, but we've helped both our children too much, and I think its led to their not being as financially responsible as possible, so I'm telling DH that we need to let her pay for it all. How else is she going to learn to manage her money? That's a real ongoing conflict between DH and me. Parents need to be teachers, and always bailing your kids out doesn't teach them much, except to continue to overspend...........

[Mrs-M]

I feel very sorry for the people of America.

I don't have a lot to add, CathyA, but I know as a mom, we do whatever it takes when it comes to helping out our children, and I commend you for wanting to extend yourself in doing just that.

Times are tough today... it's not like it used to be 30 years ago, and options in the way of good paying careers aren't there like they used to be, either.

[awakenedsoul]

When I first bought my house I got a catastrophic policy with Blue Cross for $25.00 a month. (I was 33 at the time.) It was very affordable. This way if she gets in an accident, she's covered.

[Zoebird]

She should also go to the state and see if she qualifies for any coverage there, as well. Several of my younger friends in the US qualify for state coverage.