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frugality

Health Insurance While Living Frugaly

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posted 12 years ago

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So glad you agreed to do this, Mark. One question I have, which you've probably answered someplace that I haven't read yet, is what happens when you need to see a doctor? Paying for health insurance is one thing that drives a lot of us to keep working for money. Honestly, I'd be scared to let go of my health insurance. I have no fear of dying, just a fear of becoming a burden to my family, or society as a whole.

Peace,
Chris

Cristian Lavaque

Posts: 14

Location: Taxco, Mexico

posted 12 years ago

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Chris, you may find these helpful:
http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/6145
http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources/

Kim Hill

Posts: 93

posted 12 years ago

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This is my problem completely. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and without insurance, well lets just say, life would not be worth living at times. I need very expensive medications that keep me able to do things like walk, clean myself, feed myself... I really don't think Obamacare is going to be the answer for those of us who really need the health insurance. I would love an alternative. Believe me, I have gone very holistic in everything I do but without the medications, I am quite frankly a burdeon waiting to happen.

Xisca Nicolas

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Posts: 1981

Location: La Palma (Canary island) Zone 11

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posted 12 years ago

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I just do not have health insurance at the moment.
I prefer whatever can happen to me.
I feel responsible for my health and I take care much more.

If you already have an health issue, then keep what you need AT THE MOMENT,
and 1st change your life and diet.

Xisca - pics! Dry subtropical Mediterranean - My project
However loud I tell it, this is never a truth, only my experience...

R Scott

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Posts: 4177

Location: Tennessee 7b

334

posted 12 years ago

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I have had to face this issue for other religious/political convictions.

1. Getting rid of the insurance and .gov overhead greatly reduces the cost of basic healthcare. My Dr. dropped out of insurance and went to an old-fashioned cash-only business because of the obamacare overhead. I can afford office visits again--they aren't much more than the co-pay used to be.
2. There are medical sharing plans--Large groups that self-insure for catastrophic incidents and there are many out there for many religious (and non-religious) groups. Their costs and overheads are pretty good and are exempt from many of the obamacare mandates.
3. Insurance is a racket that runs under casino rules--the house always wins. You are playing your odds that you will or won't get sicker than average.

"You must be the change you want to see in the world." "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." --Mahatma Gandhi
"Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words." --Francis of Assisi.
"Family farms work when the whole family works the farm." -- Adam Klaus

Mark Sundeen

Author

Posts: 9

posted 12 years ago

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Daniel Suelo, the subject of the book, has not had health insurance for those 12 years. He doesn't go to doctors, but has remained healthy, which he attributes to lots of exercise, eating relatively healthy, and most of all, not worrying. He told me that if he spent all his time worrying about how he might get sick, he would likely be out of emotional balance, and would be more likely to become sick! As for me, I hear you about the fear. I personally am afraid to let my insurance go, too, for fear I'd get sick and lose my house, or worse yet, my parents would lose their house to pay my bills. Ultimately what this book is about is that fear: how has this one person managed to live in a scary world without being afraid.

By the way, here's how Suelo himself responds to that question: https://sites.google.com/site/livingwithoutmoney/Home/10--what-happens-if-you-get-sick-or-injured

Rick Roman

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Posts: 442

posted 12 years ago

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Whoa, I just had an epiphanic moment upon reading Mr. Suelo's website. Thank you.

Brenda Groth

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Posts: 4437

Location: North Central Michigan

posted 12 years ago

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i am fortunate to be able to buy "major medical" ins, but it doesn't cover drs or anything like that..when I lacerated my finger badly 2 weeks ago I was directed to an after hours clinic (as emergency room would have cost me about $2,000..) the after hours clinic ended up costing me 1/10 of what I would have paid at emergency room..and they were fast, thorough, and very nice..I suggest people that don't have insurance find an emergency or after hours clinic in their area and have the phone number and address handy..ours was open 10 to 10 7 days a week..what a blessing

Brenda

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Jeff McLeod

Posts: 95

Location: New Hampshire

posted 12 years ago

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We're in the unenviable position that without health insurance my wife would basically die. Sadly we aren't sophisticated enough as a nation to have a functioning national health care system and obamacare is nothing but a gimme/bailout to the medical business. So for the forseeable future I have to be part of the rat race in order to keep my best friend alive.

One thought I did have a while back but this is mostly for folks that want to create an intentional community. Find yourself a GP to join the group. They must be out there - I'm not convinced that all doctors in the US are in it for the money. Another avenue I've often thought of is to 'sponsor' a med school grad or med school intern or for that matter sponsor a foreign med school student and bring them into your community.

Just an out loud thought I suppose

Peace

Jeff

Sherri Lynn

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Posts: 163

Location: Piedmont, NC

posted 11 years ago

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Just a thought. What would be required to form a medishare that is exempt from obamacare? It seems to me that a bunch of people together that only go to the doctor for accidents should have a pretty cheap share. . .

Find me at http://www.powellacres.com/

R Scott

pollinator

Posts: 4177

Location: Tennessee 7b

334

posted 11 years ago

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Sherri Lynn wrote:Just a thought. What would be required to form a medishare that is exempt from obamacare? It seems to me that a bunch of people together that only go to the doctor for accidents should have a pretty cheap share. . .

A few pre existing programs are exempt from the law, but there was a date in the law so you can't form a new one.

Sherri Lynn

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Posts: 163

Location: Piedmont, NC

posted 11 years ago

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Wow, you must have read the whole thing. . .

How about the exemption that if you can't find insurance at less than 8% of your household income? Is that gross?

Find me at http://www.powellacres.com/

R Scott

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Posts: 4177

Location: Tennessee 7b

334

posted 11 years ago

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Sherri Lynn wrote:Wow, you must have read the whole thing. . .

How about the exemption that if you can't find insurance at less than 8% of your household income? Is that gross?

I have read more of it than most congress critters did before they voted on it, but not much of it. Only a few bits around medical sharing programs and other religious exemptions. I haven't looked at the IRS penalty stuff because it is sure to change interpretation several times before it is enforced.

Rick Howd

Posts: 132

Location: McMinnville Oregon

posted 11 years ago

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Sherri Lynn wrote:Wow, you must have read the whole thing. . .

How about the exemption that if you can't find insurance at less than 8% of your household income? Is that gross?

As I read it, gross was the issue as they didn't discuss state issues.

Rick

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