I was wondering if anybody knows of any reputable sites that rate insurance
companies. My husband and I are self-employed and are therefore responsible
for our own health & life insurance. We currently have Blue Cross/Blue
Shield but it is basically a maor medical policy with no physician or drug
coverage (would like to change this). We currently have no life insurance
(definitely looking to change this!). I've checked the S&P and A.M. Best
sites in the past and while knowing the financial strength of the company is
important I'm kind of looking for a different type of information. You hear
these horror stories of people paying their premiums regularly and when the
time comes the company finds some excuse for canceling. Are there any
rating services that detail how often claims are denied and/or complaints
against the company? (Or does anybody have any personal
suggestions/experience to offer?) Low rates would be a plus too


Kathy

"kat" wrote in message
news:lu-dnYyZqPmDOY3VnZ2dnUVZ_qKgnZ2d@localnet...
I was wondering if anybody knows of any reputable sites that rate
insurance
companies. My husband and I are self-employed and are therefore
responsible
for our own health & life insurance. We currently have Blue Cross/Blue
Shield but it is basically a maor medical policy with no physician or
drug
coverage (would like to change this). We currently have no life
insurance
(definitely looking to change this!). I've checked the S&P and A.M. Best
sites in the past and while knowing the financial strength of the company
is
important I'm kind of looking for a different type of information. You
hear
these horror stories of people paying their premiums regularly and when
the
time comes the company finds some excuse for canceling. Are there any
rating services that detail how often claims are denied and/or complaints
against the company? (Or does anybody have any personal
suggestions/experience to offer?) Low rates would be a plus too

I am also self-employed, and after my COBRA from a previous employment ran
out, I applied for BCBS, but was turned down because of some minor health
issues. My insurance agent informed me of MHIP, Maryland Health Insurance
Plan, and I signed up. It is now administered by BCBS, and I have pretty
good coverage for $179 per month. It is $2500 deductible, which sounds
terrible, but I pay that amount into a Health Savings Account (HSA), from
which I draw my medical expenses, and it has some good tax advantages.
Plus, the $2500 annual deductible merely amounts to an additional monthly
expense of $208, so for $387 a month I have the equivalent of $0
deductible, and anything I don't use from my HSA is still mine to keep
after I reach retirement age and Medicare eligibility.

If you don't qualify for this, you could try NASE (National Assn for the
Self Employed). I had insurance through them a while ago, and it was OK.

Paul and Muttley

"Paul E. Schoen" wrote in message
...

"kat" wrote in message
news:lu-dnYyZqPmDOY3VnZ2dnUVZ_qKgnZ2d@localnet...
I was wondering if anybody knows of any reputable sites that rate
insurance
companies. My husband and I are self-employed and are therefore
responsible
for our own health & life insurance. We currently have Blue Cross/Blue
Shield but it is basically a maor medical policy with no physician or
drug
coverage (would like to change this). We currently have no life
insurance
(definitely looking to change this!). I've checked the S&P and A.M.
Best
sites in the past and while knowing the financial strength of the
company
is
important I'm kind of looking for a different type of information. You
hear
these horror stories of people paying their premiums regularly and when
the
time comes the company finds some excuse for canceling. Are there any
rating services that detail how often claims are denied and/or
complaints
against the company? (Or does anybody have any personal
suggestions/experience to offer?) Low rates would be a plus too

I am also self-employed, and after my COBRA from a previous employment ran
out, I applied for BCBS, but was turned down because of some minor health
issues. My insurance agent informed me of MHIP, Maryland Health Insurance
Plan,

Is that a statewide plan that all residents can buy into? Michigan is
attempting to pass legislation to initiate one, we will see how it goes.


and I signed up. It is now administered by BCBS, and I have pretty
good coverage for $179 per month. It is $2500 deductible, which sounds
terrible, but I pay that amount into a Health Savings Account (HSA), from
which I draw my medical expenses, and it has some good tax advantages.


I've heard of those but aren't too familiar with them. What are the tax
advantages?

Plus, the $2500 annual deductible merely amounts to an additional monthly
expense of $208, so for $387 a month I have the equivalent of $0
deductible

Our monthly individual payments are $240 and that is a 70/30 split with a
yearly $1,000 deductible which once it is met it becomes 100% coverage.
That is only for hospitals/tests etc. No doctor or prescription coverage.


, and anything I don't use from my HSA is still mine to keep
after I reach retirement age and Medicare eligibility.

I like that aspect of it.


If you don't qualify for this, you could try NASE (National Assn for the
Self Employed). I had insurance through them a while ago, and it was OK.

I rember checking that when we were originally looking at plans but I don't
recall being that impressed. In the meantime I think I'm going to go with
DH on Monday and ask his doctor which plans he participates in/doesn't have
problems with. I'd have him do it but I know he will never remember!


Kathy

Paul and Muttley