Do You Have Health Insurance?

A little more than a year ago I shared with you that I no longer had health insurance. The current results of my health insurance poll show that one third of you don't have coverage either.

As an update to my own health care situation, I can tell you I made it through a full year with no coverage. It's not what I'd recommend to anyone, as any money or finance adviser will tell you that it's a careless and very dangerous thing to do. However, reality is very different and makes us do things we'd rather NOT do, but really have no choice.

After losing employer-provided health insurance (and later COBRA) when I got laid off and went into business for myself, I had individual health care coverage for several years. Over the years, my health insurance premiums more than doubled, despite my deductible rising from $250 to $10,000 per calendar year. So there I was, paying more than $600 per month for a $10,000 deductible policy that essentially paid nothing. The real choice for me was, "Do I want to pay my mortgage or pay for health insurance that doesn't pay anything?" With the economy in the dumper as it has been, I opted to go without health care coverage.

The result? In the end, I saved a lot of money. Of course, I saved what I was paying in health insurance premiums. I also noticed that the cost of a doctor's visit dropped from $130 to $95 once I let them know I was uninsured. (I'm not complaining - but does it cost less to treat an uninsured patient?)

Second, when I had insurance, I paid about $12 for my one generic prescription. I don't know how much of that the insurer was paying. However, because my premiums were due monthly, the insurer wouldn't allow me to take advantage of any savings I could have received with a 3-month prescription. Once I dropped the insurance, I became a "health care free agent". When he found out I no longer had health insurance, my Walgreen's pharmacist suggested I consider enrolling in the drug store chain's discount program for a cost of $20 per year. I did. I also got my doctor to write my prescription for a 3-month dosage. My prescription out of pocket cost dropped from $12 per month to just $4 per month (plus $1 and some change if you factor in the membership cost) - without any insurance. And, when I use my membership card I get credits for every Walgreen's store brand product I purchase that give me cash back on a future purchase. I absolutely love the program, which has more than paid for itself and have just renewed my membership for the upcoming year.

Would I like to have health insurance? You bet. Especially if I could get affordable health care coverage with a $250, or even $500 deductible and no pre-existing condition exclusions. I'm working on that regardless of what our elected politicians decide to do or not do.

In the meantime, I still can't see going back to my previous situation and paying more and more to get less and less. And, a year later, our politicians have made health care a political football. People like me (and, according to the poll, as many as 33% of those who participated in the poll) still don't have coverage, while the Senate and Congress continue to bicker like bullies on a playground. At this point, it certainly appears that any agreement that is reached is NOT going to solve our problem. At least not from what's being discussed now. I find the whole thing sickening, but I have to be careful not to get sick.

So, what's your health care/health insurance situation these days?

If you haven't already done so, please take the health insurance poll. If the selections aren't clear to you, I've set up a page that explains what I mean by each choice. (You can vote and see results from that page too.) I'm a bit disappointed that in over a year, only just over 100 of you have participated so far. Maybe you didn't know it was there. Maybe you're just tired of the issue. I'd really be interested in knowing if things have gotten worse during the past year while our politicians (all of whom have great coverage) have been debating health care issues. If you've already taken it, check the current poll results. They may, or may not surprise you.

This is at least the second time I've shared my health care insurance situation with you. Transparently. Here are some ways you can return the favor and share your situation and your thoughts with me - anonymously or out in the open:

• Leave a comment on this blog post. It's easy.
• Share your health care or health insurance story. (Only I and one other reader had done so as of the date this post was written.)
• Discuss health care and health insurance in the Home Business Forum.

PS to my International Friends: I know the debate that's going on right now applies to the U.S. But you don't have to be from the U.S. to participate. In fact, I (and I'm sure many of my U.S. readers) would love to know how health care and health insurance work in other parts of the world. We could learn from you!