Health Insurance - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Health Insurance

Kathryn · RV-Dreams Family Member

Oops! I just found other posting on the health insurance topic, including Howard's research. It stands to reason that there's a lot of discussion on this already. At any rate, if you have anything to add, don't hesitate to post!

karen and al · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kathryn,
This is a huge nut for us as well. I am so jealous when I see how inexpensive Linda and Howard's plan is! Al and I will be going COBRA on our Empire BCBS for the time being, but we REALLY hope to be able to get coverage through Florida for a bit less. NY, especially Long Island, is flat out larceny for health insurance.

I'd like to ask, if anyone knows or has experience, once I have a mailing address set up in Florida, that's all I would need to get coverage?

Karen
http://wishuponanrvstar.blogspot.com/

Jill_Paul · RV-Dreams Community Member

While we are on the subject again, I would like to bring up the subject of Medicare insurance. My husband will begin Medicare on January 1st and we are so overwhelmed we don't know where to turn. We have signed up for Medicare part A and B but realize that we need a suplimental policy. We have been looking at BCBS and AARP plan F which is what we were told is best. Is it true that all plan Fs have to be the same? We have also looked into Walmart Humana for prescriptions. Have we missed anything? As for health insurance, I have gone with BCBS HSA policy for myself.

Howard · Host

Karen, It's hard to give a blanket answer on your question. An address should be all you need for a private insurer, but some may require more proof of residency. Which standard attorney answer would you prefer - "It depends" or "Maybe" or "I think so, but don't take my word for it. Check with the insurer". smile

Many states have "durational residency requirements" for health insurance/benefits paid or supplemented by the state. I don't think that is what you are talking about here, but I'll throw it out there anyway.

Jill, Medigap Plan F is the most popular of the Medicare supplement policies. It is also the only current Medigap plan that has a "high deductible" option (which can result in a lower premium).

All Medigap plans have to be "standardized" as far as what they cover. However, each insurer may set the premiums and administration, so those aspects will likely be different.

A nice little basic guide is the government's 2010 Choosing A Medigap Policy: A Guide To Health Insurance For People With Medicare.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I found out this year that as a veteran, I was qualified to join USAA. In the past, USAA had been limited to officers, both active and retired, but they have opened up to any veterans now.

They do offer health insurance as well as life, auto, etc. In addition, they also have banking services, and a lot of what can be done with them can be done via phone and internet. Shoot. We even got a loan for our Mobile Suites through them, partly because their interest rates were cheaper.

Also, as an option to AARP there is also a company called Generation America that offers insurance to those over 50 or so. They label themselves as a conservative alternative to AARP.

Good luck with all your research. There are so many options currently available, but they all need to be checked out.

Terry

Lucky Streak · RV-Dreams Community Member

Terry, what does USAA stand for? What veteran service is that... ?

Bill

Serengeti · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jill_Paul wrote:

While we are on the subject again, I would like to bring up the subject of Medicare insurance. My husband will begin Medicare on January 1st and we are so overwhelmed we don't know where to turn. We have signed up for Medicare part A and B but realize that we need a suplimental policy. We have been looking at BCBS and AARP plan F which is what we were told is best. Is it true that all plan Fs have to be the same? We have also looked into Walmart Humana for prescriptions. Have we missed anything? As for health insurance, I have gone with BCBS HSA policy for myself.

While I just went through all of this in the past year, I found out that you need to get the supplement in the state that is you domain. Even though the plan's are the same all over the country, each State has their own rate. Last spring the rate in Fl. was about $175/ mo. New York was over $350 per month, and it was either Tenn and or Ky was somewhat under $100/mo. As we have our domicile in SD. I am paying just a tick over $100/mo. I also found out that TX is a bit higher. What it all comes down to in the beginning to check this out when deciding to set up a domicile. Even in SD the rate with AARP was 50% more than I an currently paying, so look around there are some deals out there.

-- Edited by Serengeti on Thursday 16th of December 2010 06:06:28 AM

Readytogo · RV-Dreams Family Member

USAA stands for United Services Automobile Association. I guess they started in auto insurance. I think they have also opened it to family members of veterans.

wmalefyt · RV-Dreams Family Member

Until recently USAA only insured active or retired military and their families. They have now opened it up to anyone who has served in the military, even if only for 2 years.

Regarding Medigap policies, we have been happy with AARP United Health Care. We had Plan J, but decided to switch to Plan N which has lower premiums, but doesn't pay the Medicare annual deductible. Plan J is no longer offered. However we could have kept it, but wanted to try and save a few $.

-- Edited by wmalefyt on Thursday 16th of December 2010 11:41:07 AM

-- Edited by wmalefyt on Thursday 16th of December 2010 11:43:32 AM

SLIPSLID-N-AWAY · RV-Dreams Family Member

does anybody know if USAA insurance is available to spouses of military personel? also is this guarantee insurance or do you have to go thru underwriting (possibly get excluded due to pre-existing conditions)?

PD CFK · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just looked at my 2011 "Medicare and You 2011" book and can't seem to find USAA as a choice for any Medicare Advantage plans. Does someone know otherwise. Or maybe was someone referring to USAA as an insurance that one can purchase up till the time they have to go on Medicare? tx ck

Howard · Host

Here is the link for who is eligible for USAA membership and products:

USAA Membership & Product Eligibility

Spouses are eligible for some insurance products, but it does not list "Health Insurance" as one of them.

Many USAA products (life insurance, banking, investments) are now open to a wide variety of individuals, even those without military connection.

On the USAA Medicare Solutions page, they list both Medicare Supplement Insurance and Medicare Advantage. Their Medicare Advantage plan is through Humana.

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

PD CFK wrote:
Just looked at my 2011 "Medicare and You 2011" book and can't seem to find USAA as a choice for any Medicare Advantage plans. Does someone know otherwise. Or maybe was someone referring to USAA as an insurance that one can purchase up till the time they have to go on Medicare? tx ck

The Medicare & You book only publishes information on Medicare Advantage (MA) plans and not Medicare supplement (aka Medigap) plans. As Howard stated you would have to look for Humana in that book, not USAA. But that is only if you are looking at the MA plans.

You might be interested in reading an article a I wrote about the best choice for full time RVers: here

Your best bet is to check with an agent or your domicile state's insurance department for Medigap rates.

Country Dancer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just found out about Medica, a company that uses the United Healthcare network, which is national, and is friendly to fulltimers who really don't have residences other than their RVs. Mark Haines, out of Sioux Falls, SD, who was recommended to me by another RV Dreams member, helped me apply for a policy. By my choice it has a very high deductible so that its cost is reasonable. I'll post again when I find out the bottom line, but it's looking good.

TxYellowRose · RV-Dreams Family Member

Our health insurance with AARP/Aetna just went ridiculously high, so we got Dave covered through Assurant (his is the premium that became absurd) and I stayed with Aetna. The Assurant coverage is about half what Aetna was going to charge for him. It is not quite as comprehensive but decent. We are both healthy with no major issues, thank goodness.

My personal opinion is that there should be a cap on both health insurance premiums and fuel prices!

Tim & Robyn · RV-Dreams Family Member

TxYellowRose wrote:
Our health insurance with AARP/Aetna just went ridiculously high, so we got Dave covered through Assurant (his is the premium that became absurd) and I stayed with Aetna. The Assurant coverage is about half what Aetna was going to charge for him. It is not quite as comprehensive but decent. We are both healthy with no major issues, thank goodness.
My personal opinion is that there should be a cap on both health insurance premiums and fuel prices!

I've sent you a PM with my thoughts on this.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have a policy with BCBS that just went up over 100.00 per month. It is getting crazy! I have no health probs and take no medication. Anyone have experience with Medica that is mentioned here?

MNdrifters · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just talked to USAA yesturday to get a quote. Becuase I am a MN resident they go through Assurant. My wife and kids are using Assurant with a High deductable and I have Medica with a high deductable. So I talked to Assurant to get us all on one policy. Just adding me to thier policy would have doubled what I what I was paying Medica.

We pay 270 to assurant and 170 to medica. I have pre-existing conditions, that is why two policies. I am thinking of becoming a Canadian.

As far as Medica goes, it is OK. I don't understand how my rates can go from 120 to 170 in two years if I have never reached my deductable limit. The only thing missing from these insurance companies are the black masks. furious

-- Edited by MNdrifters on Friday 29th of April 2011 04:16:29 PM

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just to give an alternative viewpoint (I promise not to get into a political debate here) on the ideas of capping "health insurance premiums and fuel prices" and "the only thing missing from these insurance companies are the black masks".

In 2009 insurance company profits averaged 3.3%.The top of the list at 26%? Beer biggrin

Should we cap beer prices? Forbid! Heck, RV manufacturers make 4.4%...let's cap them since so many of them under-deliver! Capping any free-market product is a dangerous slippery slope.

Why do we only go after the insurance companies and gas companies? Because media has convinced us that they are the evil culprits. The reality is, government takes a much much larger chunk per gallon than gas companies.

Insurance, like beer, gas, RVs, restaurants, and auto parts, is a product not a right. It is an expensive one, though, I know. I pay 100% of my own insurance premium. It is expensive for many reasons (the cost to deliver quality healthcare, fraud, regulation, etc.)...but insurance company profit is not really one of them.

Health insurance should be used to insure against catastrophic loss...not routine check-ups. Health insurance has become a "medical payment plan" rather than an insurance policy. We do not expect our car insurance to pay for our tune-ups, oil changes, and regular maintenance do we? If it did, those premiums would sky-rocket.

So, if we want to cap anything...let's cap how much the government is allowed to add on to our products for their own wasteful benefit.

So, to contribute to the original posters question of how to keep one's insurance cost down: get a high deductible policy and put a little cash aside each month to pay your deductible should the need to pay it arise.

MNdrifters · RV-Dreams Family Member

thanks , now I hate Beer Companies too.

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

MNdrifters wrote:

thanks , now I hate Beer Companies too.

Surely, you jest!?

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

I am self-employed and so pay 100% of my health insurance premium. I've had Assurant for the past 7 years. I just turned 50 and am in good health. I have a $5000 deductible that is reduced by 10% each year I don't meet it. Prescriptions are included in my deductible. My policy pays 100% of covered expenses after I meet my deductible. Premiums have gone up every year as I get older, but that's it. I've only met my deductible once... After a year of sinus infections and meeting my deductible I had sinus surgery and am doing much better. Insurance pain 100% of the $50K+ surgery. Good news is -- less than 1 sinus infection per year since. I pay for all my own "routine maintenance" and prescriptions.

Guess I'm saying that other than the $4K a year it costs for my policy I don't have any big complaints about Assurant.

WhoSaidYouNeedMillions · RV-Dreams Community Member

Not to get "political" either, I want to comment on The Hensons comment that "In 2009 insurance company profits averaged 3.3%." This may be true as a percentage of revenue, but to compare insurance company profits to the profits of the beer industry or most other industries isn't a fair comparison.

A beer maker makes the beer and sells it. Profits equal its revenues (i.e., what it gets from the sale of beer) minus its costs, rent, electricity and raw materials like hops and barley. It is producing a product that people voluntarily buy (well, most people . . . wink, wink). It can and should charge what the market will pay.

On the other hand, an insurance company collects a billions of dollars in premiums (it's revenues) and then pays claims to doctors, hospitals and pharma companies (it's expenses). What are left are its profits. An insurance company doesn't produce a product. It just performs a service of funneling money from you, the patient, to the health care providers.

Consumers of medical care are not consuming it voluntarily, since people don't get sick voluntarily. So a consumer’s choice as to whether to buy health insurance (and live) or to not buy it (and potentially die) is sort of a Hobson’s choice and thus not the same as that of a beer consumer (ah.. to drink or not to drink).

An insurance company is in essence a middleman (or woman) who skims a little off the top, kind of like a bookie. Insurance companies add little or no value other than processing the claims. There is much less risk in the health insurance business, other than a miscalculation of how sick its customers will get. There is little chance that demand for health care services will suddenly dry up) and experience show that insurance companies rarely miscalculate in favor of patients! Few of them ever go bankrupt. A beer company has lots of risks in the business, i.e., the risk of making a beer that no one likes, the vicissitudes of the market such as recessions, changes in taste (perhaps wine will become all the rage at baseball games), etc.

Thus, to allow insurance companies to profit like a beer company would be unconscionable. Imagine insurance companies skimming 26% of the top!

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jon,

Health Care is a product. It is the care you receive from your medical provider when you become ill.

Health Insurance is also a (separate) product. It is money paid by insurance companies to your provider for a loss. Just because something is not consumable does not mean it is not a product. Transfer of risk (insurance) is a product.

All products can and should charge what the market will bear. Not just beer. That is the essence of a free market economy.

Your use of the words "billions of dollars" for insurance revenues "on the other hand" is meant to do what? As if the beer industry does not make that much? The beer industry is a $100 BILLION annual industry.

You said, "An insurance company doesn't produce a product. It just performs a service of funneling money from you, the patient, to the health care providers." Really? So, in Ckerr's case, he paid the insurance company about $28k in premiums over 7 years. One claim cost the insurance company $50k for a net loss of $22k for the insurance company. I would not call that skimming anymore than I would call Ckerr's gain skimming. Insurance is an agreement to transfer and accept risk. The insurance company agrees to take the big risk of paying out a $50K claim and Ckerr agrees to take the risk of losing his $4k annual investment. It is a mutual and voluntary agreement.

Don't get me wrong, I do not feel sorry for the insurance company for having to pay out a $50k claim. They assumed the risk voluntarily. In the end, their actuaries make sure that there is a net gain for the company, allbeit a slim one.

You said, "Consumers of medical care are not consuming it voluntarily, since people don't get sick voluntarily." Yes we are consuming it voluntarily. We still have a choice to not seek treatment for our illness. Obviously, the right choice is to seek treatment so it is wise to have something in place to assuage that loss when it does occur. With your reasoning, one could also claim that consumers of chicken (or any other edible item) are not consuming it voluntarily, since people don't get hungry voluntarily. With that reasoning we should be regulating prices on every single consumable product on the market...because somebody can't live without it somehwere.

The bottom line is, we either believe in a free market system or we don't. We can't pick and choose which products get to participate in it. That's a dangerous path for a free country.

So, if 3.3% is too much profit...what is enough? 1%? .001? Who gets to set that threshold?

-- Edited by The Hensons on Friday 6th of May 2011 04:43:32 PM

WhoSaidYouNeedMillions · RV-Dreams Community Member

Well, there you have it. I guess I don't believe in the "free market" when it comes to health care.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just as a thought, there are a lot of "service" orientated industries out there. Doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, POLITICIANS, RV repair facilities, house cleaners, etc. While I would love to better "regulate" the POLITICIANS, what is it that is going to regulate all those industries if it isn't competition?

Can we limit each of those service providers to a set percentage of profit without upsetting the markets? Who would want to be a doctor if only a small profit could be made?

Many services are similar in that most people don't really want to have to use those services. They would rather have tangible products. After all, you can't resell your dental work. (Unless someone is interested in my dentures.)

Terry

jcw · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
Just as a thought, there are a lot of "service" orientated industries out there. Doctors, lawyers, insurance companies, POLITICIANS, RV repair facilities, house cleaners, etc. While I would love to better "regulate" the POLITICIANS, what is it that is going to regulate all those industries if it isn't competition?
Can we limit each of those service providers to a set percentage of profit without upsetting the markets? Who would want to be a doctor if only a small profit could be made?
Many services are similar in that most people don't really want to have to use those services. They would rather have tangible products. After all, you can't resell your dental work. (Unless someone is interested in my dentures.)
Terry

Just a thought, how much profit should a fire fighter make? What about a cop? Or a soldier? Doesn't the bible have something to say about profiting off the suffering of others? Health care should be a right, not a privilege of the rich. The 'for profit' healthcare system in this country is a shame.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

jcw wrote:
Just a thought, how much profit should a fire fighter make? What about a cop? Or a soldier? Doesn't the bible have something to say about profiting off the suffering of others? Health care should be a right, not a privilege of the rich. The 'for profit' healthcare system in this country is a shame.

Firemen, cops and soldiers do not make profit. They receive salaries and most of the time are commensurate with qualifications, training and service. I cannot see the correlation between them and an insurance policy? Insurance policy we purchase is an acceptance of risk/replacement of risk issue. I am paying money to someone who is taking the risk that I will not require medical care. If I stay well, I have spent money and received no benefit. If I have medical care, my money has moved my risk to someone else who must pay. I have no expectation that the insurance provider will not make a profit. If they fail to profit, they go out of business, and my money goes away at no benefit to me.

How is this a "right"? It is solely my choice to attempt to absolve myself of risk and find someone willing to accept the risk. If I choose to NOT have insurance, I accept full risk. Our health care system is second to none in the world. Do not confuse health care with insurance. The difference is huge.

-- Edited by 53 Merc on Saturday 7th of May 2011 06:55:48 AM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

jcw wrote:
Just a thought, how much profit should a fire fighter make? What about a cop? Or a soldier? Doesn't the bible have something to say about profiting off the suffering of others? Health care should be a right, not a privilege of the rich. The 'for profit' healthcare system in this country is a shame.

jcw,

Thanks for the questions and comments. However, since they tend to disapprove of topics of religion and politics on the forums, I can't address part above that is in bold and underlined. I'll try to get time in the future to address that on my blog.

I think 53 Merc pretty well answered the rest.

Terry

Tim & Robyn · RV-Dreams Family Member

53 Merc wrote:
jcw wrote:
Just a thought, how much profit should a fire fighter make? What about a cop? Or a soldier? Doesn't the bible have something to say about profiting off the suffering of others? Health care should be a right, not a privilege of the rich. The 'for profit' healthcare system in this country is a shame.

I really hesitate to respond to this, because I don't want to get political... I have crossed that line a time or two before, and gotten rightfully criticized for doing so. And it has ever been thus... in our history members of Congress have literally come to blows in the Capitol over differences of opinion on issues. Believe me, I don't want to be caned... ... especially since I often don't express myself very well.
Another way of looking at and thinking about this is do you really want to be free? Do you really value liberty? If so, then you have to be willing to shoulder as much responsibility as possible for taking care of your own welfare, so that you get to make the decisions, instead of someone else making them for you... with no recourse on your part if you disagree with those decisions by others. More on that below.
As far as the idea of health care being a right is concerned, my personal belief, after taking the Declaration of Independence ('Independence' is the key word) and the Constitution together, is this: none of us has the 'right' to any portion of the life or property of another individual, with one exception - jury duty.
We already have two state-run health care systems in this country - Medicare and Medicaid - and both are going bankrupt. I sure don't want to see rationing as a means of containing costs. I much prefer the free market system and competition to help keep the lid down on prices.
This is where it gets personal for me. My wife passed away in July of 2009 after being hospitalized for serious accidental burns 13 months earlier. After meeting all our deductibles, our free market private health insurance paid for everything, and it was literally in the millions of dollars. She almost made it, but sadly it was not to be. I'm sure our health insurance company took a big hit because of this, but as has been said previously, they assumed the risk... and they came through. I still have that health insurance policy - haven't been cancelled. I still pay the premiums, but the insurance company will never recover their losses in this case from me.
This is where my fear of rationing comes in: during my wife's hospitalization, she was granted Social Security Disability, and Medicare became her primary insurance provider. After that, Medicare began pressuring the hospital to transfer her to a 'lower level' of care, finally saying they weren't going to pay any more. There was no choice then but to have her transferred to a nursing home. She died four days after that transfer.
Medicare would not have paid for the nursing home care, and in order to have qualified her for Medicaid I would literally have had to bankrupt myself. So... where is the compassion from state run health care if you make it a 'right' that has to be paid for by the government (which is us after all from taxes)?
Sorry, I got a little emotional there at the end, and I hope I haven't offended anyone.
But it's clear to me that the free market system gave my wife every chance; it's also clear to me that government run health care would have pulled the plug, and actually did in the end.

Tim

-- Edited by 53 Merc on Saturday 7th of May 2011 06:55:48 AM

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tim and Ken nailed it. No need to say more.

PD CFK · RV-Dreams Family Member

Bless you, Tim.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I will have to say that Tim's comments are excellent and right on the point, as well as Ken's.

Tim,

Ever since we heard of Robyn's injuries from the fire, the two of you were in our thoughts. A lot because you shared the same dream that we do of RV'ing. To hear of her loss was saddening, but my prayers for you continue. Thank you for staying in touch with the RV Dreams family, and may it be that someday we can meet.

May God bless you now and in the future.

Terry

Tim & Robyn · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm going to bail out on this thread, because it seems that some of the comments (mine included) have strayed from the original questions asked.

If anybody wants to continue discussing any of the personal opinions I have expressed, please let's do it through private messages. Having said that, I would urge anyone interested (and it does not apply only to health care) to read 'Basic Economics' by Thomas Sowell. I promise you, it's not a long book, doesn't get into arcane economic-speak, charts, formulas and all that, and it is very readable. It had a lot to do with shaping my opinions related to this and other economic issues.

Back to the heart of the matter... health insurance is probably one of the BIGGEST concerns of anyone contemplating a full-time RV lifestyle. Heck, it's probably one of the biggest concerns for all of us, period.

If you're traveling it has to be portable across state lines, and it will most likely have a great deal to do with your decision as to what state to establish as your official domicile as far as premiums to be paid are concerned.

There are options out there... problem is, as much of a PITA it might be, you have to do your own homework if you want to be in control, instead of ceding the power to make decisions to others who then get to make the rules.

Y'all have computers and internet access, or you wouldn't be here. So it's in your hands.

Tim

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

JCW asked a very good question above regarding what the Bible might say about "profiting on the suffering of others." I mentioned later in that thread that because of the desire to keep politics and religion off the forums as much as possible, I would address it on my blog.

Well, things finally slowed enough here for me to post in regards to that question on my blog. Should anyone be interested in an answer to his question, feel free to check it out. It might surprise some as to what I used as an example to his question.

Be cautioned, both politics and religion is discussed.

http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-does-bible-say.html

Terry

jcw · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:
JCW asked a very good question above regarding what the Bible might say about "profiting on the suffering of others." I mentioned later in that thread that because of the desire to keep politics and religion off the forums as much as possible, I would address it on my blog.
Well, things finally slowed enough here for me to post in regards to that question on my blog. Should anyone be interested in an answer to his question, feel free to check it out. It might surprise some as to what I used as an example to his question.
Be cautioned, both politics and religion is discussed.
http://ignoringthebarkingdogs.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-does-bible-say.html
Terry

I posted a reply over there on your blog. I look forward to your comments about it.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

JC,

Thanks for your comment. It showed me that I needed to be more specific in some comments. I really had intended the post to be only on the Bible aspect, but I delved beyond that intent.

Anyway, I've now responded with (Yaach!!) THREE installments of posts to try to cover all of your points. In reality, I am not TOTALLY against government. After all, I work for government, but at times it really pains me to do so because I see such inefficiency and few will listen to "opposing" views to their beliefs and methods.

I guess I should clarify that last statement. In the past, I have been in numerous supervisory and management positions in various types of businesses. Thus, I see solutions where others don't. I've also seen government employees do their very best to cover their own "...." at the expense of doing the proper thing for the citizens whom they are supposed to be helping. Some of those people have been managers (really questionable on the ability to manage) who were over me in the "organization."

Terry