Can anyone enlighten me about health insurance?

I got to get my tonsils out and it ain't cheap. I have an appointment with an ENT and the lady that answered the phone wouldn't even give me an estimate. I have been researching health insurances but would like to hear it from some one who has one. I have a few questions like if I sign up with one, do I have to be with them for a certain amount of time or can I quit paying after they have helped me with my bills? Also which one is a nice one to get in to?

I know a guy know who knows a guy who can do that flat fee $100.

[quote8d8daf692d="johnjimjones"]I know a guy know who knows a guy who can do that flat fee $100.[/quote8d8daf692d]

Hook me up then...

its not moe sizlack is it?

No health insurance I know of will cover you for a pre-existing condition that wasn't already covered by another insurer, for at least 1 year.

Your best bet is to work out a payment plan with the doctor/hospital.

[quote3d284c0e26="dmorris68"]No health insurance I know of will cover you for a pre-existing condition that wasn't already covered by another insurer, for at least 1 year.

Your best bet is to work out a payment plan with the doctor/hospital.[/quote3d284c0e26]

Thanks, d D

I wish the lady could give me an estimate but I think it's around $4000. Health care is ridiculous in the US. No wonder why every one want to be a doctor.

I heard not having health insurance is cheaper than actually having it, since the doctor and hospital will cut you a deal, since they know how expensive it is.

[quote43c634a3df="TryinToGetPaid"]I heard not having health insurance is cheaper than actually having it, since the doctor and hospital will cut you a deal, since they know how expensive it is.[/quote43c634a3df]

Lol. I don't think so unless you are friends with them or the doc wants a tax break (not likely bc. what BUSH did evil ). If they cut me a deal it's coming out of their pocket...

[quote39380b6157="TryinToGetPaid"]I heard not having health insurance is cheaper than actually having it, since the doctor and hospital will cut you a deal, since they know how expensive it is.[/quote39380b6157]
Spoken like a true kid inexperienced in life. ) Trust me, you'll find how indespensible good health insurance is when you get sick and need care. And since you have a child on the way, you're REALLY going to discover soon how important it is. My son, now with wife and child, has learned the hard way how crucial it is. He has collection agencies after him still, after an emergency room visit with a severe throat infection about 2 years ago. They wanted him to come back for an operation, but not until he paid his bill, so he has yet to have th operation. All of this happened of course after he left home and was not covered by my health insurance any longer.

Much of the costs we pay in health care are a direct result of people receiving care without paying for it. If you skate by without paying your fair share, the rest of us suffer because of it.

While health costs are ridiculous, it isn't the doctor's fault as much as it is the pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and liability insurance companies that are driving the costs up. A doctor is an extremely skilled professional who spends much of his adult life in school, who works incredibly hard, long hours for little pay when starting out, and ultimately who I entrust with my life, so I have less problem paying him his rates than I do the hospitals that charge $10 for 1 Tylenol tablet, $50 for a disposable paper gown, and $1500 per night for a bed.

the thing to remember is that in this country the uninsured carry the burden of health care costs. why? because they are the ones who can get charged a higher fee for the same procedure that an insurance company pays little for. the insurance companies jip the hospital and the hospital screws the uninsured. therefore those who make too much money to get state or federal aide but too little to afford health insurance are totally screwed.
it is not the doctors fault.
it is the system
i recommend everyone to carry insurance. when u dont have it is when u will get sick and need it. i can tell countless stories.
also, if u have a problem that needs surgery but it is elective surgery, it may not be considered a chronic condition so u may still be able to get it covered by a new insurance

Hm. Guess my girlfriends mom was wrong. That is what I get for listening to adults -)

I saw what dmorris said and you can get insurance with pre exsisting conditions. You need a pre exsisting rider on your insurance which means you are put into a substandard rate which means your policy costs more. But depending if you smoke and your health already the underwritters might not even write the policy with the rider if you have other pre exsisting conditions or you smoke. Atleast that is in NY

[quote9b2cfa042d="hairyferry"]I saw what dmorris said and you can get insurance with pre exsisting conditions. You need a pre exsisting rider on your insurance which means you are put into a substandard rate which means your policy costs more. But depending if you smoke and your health already the underwritters might not even write the policy with the rider if you have other pre exsisting conditions or you smoke. Atleast that is in NY[/quote9b2cfa042d]

this is why its good to get health or life insurance early while your healthy, that way if something DOES come up, your still covered at a good rate

[quoteb71e80cb58="hairyferry"]I saw what dmorris said and you can get insurance with pre exsisting conditions. You need a pre exsisting rider on your insurance which means you are put into a substandard rate which means your policy costs more. But depending if you smoke and your health already the underwritters might not even write the policy with the rider if you have other pre exsisting conditions or you smoke. Atleast that is in NY[/quoteb71e80cb58]

I have no other health problems, don't smoke or drink much. The only health problem I have had is tonsillitis every since I can remember. Never got it taken out as a child bc. parents couldn't afford it so it's up to me to get is taken care off...

Come up North and we'll give you it on the house. lol

Have your parents had insurance anywhere in the last 30 days?

[quoted136f60234="hairyferry"]Have your parents had insurance anywhere in the last 30 days?[/quoted136f60234]

Yes, my dad.

if your dad has insurance now I'm sure you can be covered, if he doesn't have it now then there is a thing called COBRA which means your dad can continue his group health insurance but he has to pay 102% of the total premium, the reason for the extra 2% is the extra hand work they have to do to the policy that his HR department would have done.

O yeah but if you're under 21 it will cover you, if you're under 26 it will only cover you if you're still a student.

For the record, I didn't say you couldn't get insurance with a pre-existing condition, sure you can! I just said that you couldn't get the pre-existing condition covered for a period of time, usually 1 year. At least that's what I've seen here in Georgia with the major carriers, it could certainly be different in other states.

yeah sometimes you can here, it all depends what you want your premium to look like and if the underwritters want to cover you even with a higher premium

One thing I am very very thankful and grateful for is my health.

I've been here for 4 years now and it's still strange to hear about having to pay to see a Doctor, get tests done, bloodwork etc. My wife has had unbelievable trouble trying to get insurance companies to cover her prescriptions, allow her to have certain scans and tests done.

If I became sick, I'd be fucked. No insurance, no money to pay for visits or tests. It would be a choice between taking the hit, or going thousands in to debt and having my health.......probably a no brainer.

In the US it doesn't matter if you don't have money, if you go to the ER they have to take care of you no matter what.

[quotee675541f69="hairyferry"]In the US it doesn't matter if you don't have money, if you go to the ER they have to take care of you no matter what.[/quotee675541f69]
That's true, at least for emergency care (though not for routine care), and is what separates us from a lot of countries, like Mexico for instance, where they expect you to pay [ie675541f69]in advance[/ie675541f69] for ER care, or else die on the front steps.

Of course the downside to that is, when people can't/won't pay, the rest of us will pay for them through higher prices when we have to go. However I still prefer that to the alternative of just letting the poor die.

[quote071e608730="hairyferry"]In the US it doesn't matter if you don't have money, if you go to the ER they have to take care of you no matter what.[/quote071e608730]

I know that, but I meant that I'd be stuck with the bill afterwards, essentially putting me thousands into debtt that I couldn't get out of.

Thought this thread had coincidental timing.....I just got my paperwork for my health insurance at UPS. We get full health, dental, vision for a p/t job wink Most people like working here just for the great benefits.

[quote69039e909f="ajasax"]Thought this thread had coincidental timing.....I just got my paperwork for my health insurance at UPS. We get full health, dental, vision for a p/t job wink Most people like working here just for the great benefits.[/quote69039e909f]

What company is that? Part time and full benefits... I want to get a piece of that.

[quote9fc6cf66e8="ulenie"][quote9fc6cf66e8="ajasax"]Thought this thread had coincidental timing.....I just got my paperwork for my health insurance at [b9fc6cf66e8]UPS[/b9fc6cf66e8]. We get full health, dental, vision for a p/t job wink Most people like working here just for the great benefits.[/quote9fc6cf66e8]

What company is that? Part time and full benefits... I want to get a piece of that.[/quote9fc6cf66e8]
)

I'm very thankful for my health insurance. I pay $10 for an office visit, and $7 for generic prescriptions.

[quote48514a51bf="ajasax"][quote48514a51bf="ulenie"][quote48514a51bf="ajasax"]Thought this thread had coincidental timing.....I just got my paperwork for my health insurance at [b48514a51bf]UPS[/b48514a51bf]. We get full health, dental, vision for a p/t job wink Most people like working here just for the great benefits.[/quote48514a51bf]

What company is that? Part time and full benefits... I want to get a piece of that.[/quote48514a51bf]
)[/quote48514a51bf]

Oh, snap. I thought it said through UPS. Haha, i am dumb lol