Results 1 to 25 of 25

Thread: Healthcare

  1. #1
    Veteran Member NYCjacqueline's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    410
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Healthcare

    Quick question - I'd appreciate all input...

    When I'd started dancing , I had another job, and with it, health benefits. Now, whenever I go to the doctor, dentist, eye-doctor, etc... I pay full which I'm tired of doing. (when I calculate it all up over time, it's a lot of dough :-/) A few girls at the club pay for their own health coverage, but it's a very high monthly rate...which I'd like to stay away from...of course, it will always be higher, being independent, but I'd like to stay within reason

    Are there any health plans that any of you are on where the service & rates are decent? I'm doing my research and doing some compare/contrast....

    Thx,
    "You have no idea what a long-legged gal can do without doing anything." -Claudette Colbert

  2. #2
    Featured Member
    Joined
    May 2002
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    782
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    I cannot say that I have any knowledge about the NYC area - I have not lived in NY in roughly 19 years.

    The thing that I would do is check around for places that offer sliding scale fees for your basics - health department, clinics, Planned Parenthood, etc. If there is a dental school in the area, a lot of times you can get excellent dental care at a reduced rate for being an intern's patient. Now, if you have specialty health issues (for example, I attend physical therapy because of my arthritis), then you are better off getting health coverage.

    On a side note, if you need massages for sore muscles, check with your local massage therapy schools. Many times they offer massages very cheaply if you are willing to let their students work on you.

    McCain

  3. #3
    Veteran Member NYCjacqueline's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    410
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Thanx, McCain - I'll continue my "shopping". Lucky for me, I have a massage therapist of 8 years for a boyfriend!

    If anyone else has any input on this, let me know....
    "You have no idea what a long-legged gal can do without doing anything." -Claudette Colbert

  4. #4
    Member
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Binghamton, NY
    Posts
    30
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    New York has a program called Health Plus (?) It depends on your income and a few other items, but you can be working to enroll in the program. In fact as I understand it, it's for people who are employed but cannot get health insure thru their employment. You may wish to look into it.
    Jackie & Rocky

  5. #5
    Veteran Member
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Posts
    400
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 12 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Pennsylvania dancers can get medical coverage through the PA Cabaret Association if you're a member (membership is cheap), and let's face it, it's not the greatest coverage in the world. but, combining it with a backup coverage plan comes out much cheaper then buying a full policy on your own (especially if you have dependants). NY may have a similar Association you could get into.

    full coverage plans often automatically throw in coverage for medications (with a small co-pay), but it jacks the price of the full plan up a lot. if you went with a membership in an Association (if you can), got backup medical coverage and dealt with prescriptions through an independent company that only provides that service, you'd make out, too. i also have a dental backup coverage plan. it gets a bit confusing having a bunch of different companies involved, but it works out well in your favor financially. and it may be that you wouldn't need the backup medical coverage at all, as the coverage from an Association may be ok for you ...i just got a backup plan cause i'm old and broken.

  6. #6
    God/dess
    Joined
    Sep 2002
    Posts
    8,031
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 143 Times in 42 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    I've been perusing this site in hopes of finding a good plan - it's http://www.ehealthinsurance.com and lets you search for and compare plans. They are marketing themselves to the self-employed. I think that you should consider how much you are likely to spend on doctors' visits and prescriptions in a year and if it's very little, you probably just want to go with some catastrophic coverage in case you have an accident. Otherwise, your monthly premiums may end up costing you more than your out-of-pockets expenses would.
    Also, it's hard to find a plan that includes eye and ental benefits. You usually have to purchase those separately. I don't know why; I consider my eyes and my teeth quite important parts of my body and health.

  7. #7
    Veteran Member NYCjacqueline's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    410
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Collette-
    thanks for this info - it's been the best website i've seen yet, and i'll most likely sign up for at least the perscription card, it's only $15/mo. Also gives 60% discount on dental and eye...
    For some reason, there's only one insurance company avail for medical in my area (and I live in NewYork City, go figure)...so I'll still shop around for that.
    Thanx again sweetie!
    "You have no idea what a long-legged gal can do without doing anything." -Claudette Colbert

  8. #8
    Guest

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Jacqueline,
    Before you fork over some hard earned money to any health plan over the internet, I would suggest that you spend a few minutes and understand the specific language provided in the policies.

    World Law is a great source for free legal advice on most subjects (not just healthcare):


    As an aside a member of my wife's family committed suicide several years ago and his spouse was left without medical coverage. I was able to purchase coverage for her and her children from Aetna as she was not employed at the time.

    She has the PPO with annual dental and eye coverage with a dental sub rider that covers braces and up to $3k per year worth of orthodontic surgery along with free generic drugs.
    Although the policy was quoted and written some time ago I am currently paying $560 per month for her family’s coverage and the dental rider is $700 per annum.

  9. #9
    Guest

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Wow! that medical coverage is about 1/3 of what your average Oregon dancer earns in a month. Do you know of anything in the $100-200 range?

  10. #10
    Featured Member
    Joined
    May 2002
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    782
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Believe it or not, some states are now allowing people within certian income guidelines to BUY INTO state Medicaid coverage. It isn't widespread yet, and basically you have to be above welfare maximums, but below certain other bars. But I hear that if you live in such states, the coverage is inexpensive and reasonable.

    As for inexpensive ($100-$200 / month) coverage, you can occasionally get good deals through Blue Cross, amazingly enough. I know when I was married, the coverage for my husband, both kids, and myself came out to $200/month. That was also through a small business cafeteria-benefits plan, though. At the same time, I cannot imagine them charging any more than that for a private individual.

    McCain

  11. #11
    Veteran Member NYCjacqueline's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    410
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    I've actually taken jrockyb's advice and looked into Healthcare Plus. A lot of red tape to go through, but it's always the case in socialized situations as such, I suppose. You have to make an appointment, and judging from the info on the website, I have all the documents and proof needed to be approved for it. So my appt is on Monday.

    Thanks all for the advice - unfortunately healthcare is one of the biggest hurdles that dancers face. It's very easy to get sick from working in the clubs (smoke, customer contact, being half-dressed, fatigue), and there's no healthcare available that's affordable (especially in New York - good god my rent is high enough!) Unless of course you are a full-time student. It would be wonderful if an affordable health insurance program was created, similar to the one in LA for those in the Adult Industry ( I can't remember the name currently).

    Cheers, all...
    "You have no idea what a long-legged gal can do without doing anything." -Claudette Colbert

  12. #12
    Guest

    Default Re: Healthcare

    A lot of national healthcare plans offer individual plans. Check out the websites for Aetna, Bluecross/Blueshield, Mutual of omaha, Physicians Mutual, etc. Any healthcare company in your area has some type of plan for individuals as well as families.
    I'm lucky enough to still be covered under mommy and daddy, but have helped several friends who are over 18 and not in school, which is the cutoff age if not continuing education, to find reasonable healthcare. Check out the sites I mentioned or look in the phone book in your area and make some calls to request pamphlets or information.

  13. #13
    Veteran Member NYCjacqueline's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    New York, NY
    Posts
    410
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    A lot of national healthcare plans offer individual plans. Check out the websites for Aetna, Bluecross/Blueshield, Mutual of omaha, Physicians Mutual, etc. Any healthcare company in your area has some type of plan for individuals as well as families.
    I'm lucky enough to still be covered under mommy and daddy, but have helped several friends who are over 18 and not in school, which is the cutoff age if not continuing education, to find reasonable healthcare. Check out the sites I mentioned or look in the phone book in your area and make some calls to request pamphlets or information.
    Divyne - this is what we've been discussing earlier. while i'm aware of the individual plans offered by major healthcare companies, the costs are extremely high. I'm talking $400-$600/month, which is basically a car payment!

    The issue at hand isn't so much "healthcare" , as it is "affordable healthcare", while not being represented by an employer. Of course these high rates vary from state to state, however I live in the state (and the city) of new york, so the individual plans are either incredibly high, or are lower (around $300), but are crappy and limited plans. Also - even at these high rates, sometimes that is ONLY for medical coverage - not dental or eye - and who wants to neglect your eyes or teeth! ugh.

    The cutoff of being covered by a parent is actually 21 if one is going to school taking at least 12 credits, which is what i did until 21 - In fact, at 25 years I could still get a highly discounted rate if I were a full time student (though it would still be fairly high) - but my school days are over!

    Thankfully the state of NY has healthcare plus - a very good/diverse program for New Yorkers who can prove minimal income (which for us is easy to do, as our business is cash) I'll let you guys know what happens when I apply next week!

    Bisou! J.
    "You have no idea what a long-legged gal can do without doing anything." -Claudette Colbert

  14. #14
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Every state has different programs, but most also have discount AWIS health plans that cut costs down to Medicare rates. Injury protection is a main need for dancers. If regular visits and family needs require more than occasional attention, then a FamilyCare plan may be useful, too. Neither are insurance; and us month-to-month.

    http://mymoney.awiscard.com/
    http://mymoney.getfamilycare.com/

  15. #15
    Banned
    Joined
    May 2008
    Posts
    4,980
    Thanks
    3,072
    Thanked 3,517 Times in 1,922 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    How is this healthcare? it covers 10,000 accidental benefits? That's not even enough for someone who has to stay say a few days in the hospital for say a knee injury that requires surgery? What about visits to doctors? I only quickly looked over the site becaue I have humanna and pay 260 a month but I'm not seeing anything comparable in anything on that site?

  16. #16
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    There are also those features. Feel free to pm me for a more detailed overview.


    Quote Originally Posted by michele11 View Post
    How is this healthcare? it covers 10,000 accidental benefits? That's not even enough for someone who has to stay say a few days in the hospital for say a knee injury that requires surgery? What about visits to doctors? I only quickly looked over the site becaue I have humanna and pay 260 a month but I'm not seeing anything comparable in anything on that site?

  17. #17
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Reminder Re: Healthcare

    Haven't gotten your pm, yet.

    But, anyone can freely hear an overview explained Mondays thru Thursdays at 12:30 pm (pacific time) at 512-623-5111 with access code 592243#.

    No need to give any contact information.

    Is okay to disconnect after the first twenty minutes (rest of it is hot air salestalk).

  18. #18
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Post Re: Healthcare

    Alrighty. In response to your question, I went through the plans and made a sample summary sheet for California to get a bottom-line birdseye view of which choices have injury protection, doctor visit reimbursements, etc.

    Because each state allows for more or fewer plan options, I can update these, accordingly, for your state; or, you can specify which state you are located at the websites.

    Because these are useful for contractors, and are not insurance, club management has no obligation to be involved for anyone interested to try it on their own.

    What are your other questions?

    Link:
    https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B1k...JiYWI4NjkxMTFi

  19. #19
    Banned
    Joined
    May 2008
    Posts
    4,980
    Thanks
    3,072
    Thanked 3,517 Times in 1,922 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    ^ I have hummana one so I'm not sure if what you're offering will compare but I'm in florida and want a real plan I don't want to have to send in tons of papers and wait to be reinbursed for visits and I think I'm covered for a few million in expenses so if you have something that covers like 4 office visits per year and hospitalization I would take a look.

  20. #20
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Health insurance options in New York suck !

    Yes there is a state subsidized 'Healthy New York' program that provides reasonably priced insurance ... but eligibility is limited to NYers who earn less than ~$27,300 per year ( which rules out dancers )

    New York law also requires health insurance sellers to include coverage for substance abuse treatments, mental illness treatments, and a bunch of other 'non-medical emergency' types of coverage as part of every policy sold in the state. As a result, it's virtually impossible to find ( healthy, non-smoker ) single person health insurance in New York for less than $6-700 a month. And that's for relatively high deductibles / co-pays, and does not include drug, vision, dental etc. coverage !

  21. #21
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    Health insurance options in New York suck !

    Yes there is a state subsidized 'Healthy New York' program that provides reasonably priced insurance ... but eligibility is limited to NYers who earn less than ~$27,300 per year ( which rules out dancers )

    New York law also requires health insurance sellers to include coverage for substance abuse treatments, mental illness treatments, and a bunch of other 'non-medical emergency' types of coverage as part of every policy sold in the state. As a result, it's virtually impossible to find ( healthy, non-smoker ) single person health insurance in New York for less than $6-700 a month. And that's for relatively high deductibles / co-pays, and does not include drug, vision, dental etc. coverage !

    For any government sponsored program, there are typically restrictions. For example, Medicare asks that a person be over 65, even though they since dropped vision, dental, hearing, handfuls of prescriptions and more.

    New York doesn't have any AWIS plans, but there are FamilyCare plans. Specify your state at the site to see some details for comparison:
    http://www.mymoney.getfamilycare.com/healthcareplans

  22. #22
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    Quote Originally Posted by michele11 View Post
    ^ I have hummana one so I'm not sure if what you're offering will compare but I'm in florida and want a real plan I don't want to have to send in tons of papers and wait to be reinbursed for visits and I think I'm covered for a few million in expenses so if you have something that covers like 4 office visits per year and hospitalization I would take a look.

    When figuring what works cost-wise, service-wise and otherwise, it is good to spend plenty of time asking detailed questions. Everyone has their own definition of what really matters, since each person has different circumstances. Although this is not insurance, you can say you do have coverage when in any hospital emergency room, if you subscribed to a plan that includes critical illness, hospitalization and so forth.


    To compare for Florida click here:
    http://www.mymoney.familycareflorida.com/fchome?p=1
    http://www.mymoney.awiscard.com/healthcareprograms

  23. #23
    Banned
    Joined
    May 2008
    Posts
    4,980
    Thanks
    3,072
    Thanked 3,517 Times in 1,922 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    ^ Thanks for the info but for my area this isn't something I'd be interested in. I pay alot but I know if I had to have an operation or broke something it would be covered since a small day hospital stay could cost 10,000 or more also here in my area if you are cash pay and don't have insurance it costs like half of what they bill insurance. If I went in for a check up cash pay at my G.P. It's like 70 cash pay instead of them billing like 140 or more to insurance.

  24. #24
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    ^ Hospitalization and injury protections are different items, but there is a good point made regarding paying cash out of pocket in that some doctors would work with their patients in providing their own discounts directly thereby avoiding the middleman (and the paperwork that goes with it). Although, it depends on the willingness of that practice. Therefore, do make the most of your doctor-patient relationship at least for their advice in estimating costs.

  25. The Following User Says Thank You to Friend2000 For This Useful Post:


  26. #25
    Member Friend2000's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Los Angeles
    Posts
    26
    Thanks
    56
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Healthcare

    FYI -- place of employment does NOT need to be mentioned.

Similar Threads

  1. Healthcare
    By Friend2000 in forum Other Services
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 12-19-2011, 10:30 AM
  2. Let's talk about healthcare
    By Bella21 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 06-12-2008, 01:26 PM
  3. Healthcare and Taxes
    By AudreyLeigh in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-07-2008, 10:05 AM
  4. healthcare?
    By greenidlady1 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 10-06-2007, 09:56 PM
  5. Healthcare solution
    By pixiepower in forum Dollar Den
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 07-09-2003, 06:32 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •