Health Insurance?

I'm just curious about what other self-employed artists are doing about health insurance. I need to do a beginning of the year review of my insurance needs. I'm currently paying Fortis Insurance Company $350 a month with a $1000 deductible for two adults and a child. Does someone else know of a better deal? Has anyone enrolled with the new Medical Savings Accounts? And while I'm on this mundane subject what are other artists doing about studio insurance?

I don't know that this is better than what you have. I was very excited to find it. I was paying $250 only for myself and a very high deductable and this is much lower. The company is called Alliance for Affordable Services. It is an organization that has pulled together independent contractors and small business owners to form an alliance for the purpose of lobbying as well as health insurance. I liked not only the price of Health Insurance but also the concept. I think it is a wonderful idea to get us all together in a large group and try to exert some pressure on the powers that be.

The Insurance Company underwriting this policy is Mid West Life Insurance Company of Tennessee. Alliance for Affordable Services Phone: 800-733-2242 web site http://www.affordableservices.org Check it out. You might like it. Oh by the way I am now paying $289.00 for myself my husband and two 20 yr old sons. Good Luck! and God Bless!

Carole, I have the same insurance you do. They started me out at $147+ just for myself in March, '98. In less than two years, they've raised my rates to $207. I've been through this repeatedly where I am able to find affordable health insurance and within 3 years they've raised my rates to the point where I feel it's unreasonable and I want to get out. My take on it is that companies get into health insurance, harvest the market, and then raise rates so high you can't afford it in the hopes that you will leave because they've now made their money. If in fact, these increases are based on true increases in medical costs, which is what they say...then why am I able to find the same coverage for $147 now that I found in 1990? And, my policy increase is about 41% in the last 19 months. Are medical costs actually increasing at that rate? I doubt it.

I did find in my residence state of Florida that there are laws that offer some protection to the business owner. In order to qualify, I have to show proof of being in business...tax return and/or business bank account. I'm not quite sure if the extra protection is simply that they can't cancel me as easily or that it also protects some from rate increases. But, it might be worth looking into.

Sorry for the wordiness, but this is a real beef of mine.

Darn!! And I was so excited to have found it. I guess I better keep my eyes open for increases and a new program. Phoey! I thought I could put this issue aside for a while.

Listed in Art Calendar's (www.artcalendar.com) latest issue, there are two listings for health insurance resources. Olde Economic Risk Management, 511 State St. Baden PA, no phone. or The Actors Fund www.actorsfund.org. I have no personal experience with either of these companies but Art Calendar frequently lists services like these, and is very hlepful.

[Cynthia Daniel]

I'm now up to just over $300 with them!

There are quite a number of health insurance resources listed at my Resource & Biz Center at www.portraitartist.com/resources/index.html. I can't vouch for any of them however.

[Cynthia Daniel]

I recall that ASOPA at one time mentioned offering group health insurance to members. I wrote and asked why they had dropped this and it seems that a questionnaire was featured in their Journal several times and they received virtually no response from the artists. Their assumption was that there was no interest. If you are strongly recommend you write to them at [email protected] and express your interest. I plan to write, as health insurance is certainly an issue for me as a self-employed person.

[Carole Chalmers]

Well, I hate to even tell you what my premium is at this point! Jim, my husband, and the twins are on the policy. It seems that each time someone goes in for a checkup the premium goes up! I am Definitely interested in some kind of group rate.

When I talked to Jennifer about this a while back, the answer was that ASOPA was not large enough. She told me the professional photographers organization which is many time larger than our portrait groups did have a group rate. I have even thought about affiliating with them for the benefits.

What about disability? Does anyone have comments on that?

[Deborah Chapin]

I had a similar delimma and a friend of mine who is a Doctor told me that as an individual you could obtain a group health insurance rate through your bank. I checked with my local bank but the rates were pretty high. I finally found one which I felt gave me decent coverage with Care First and was with in the realm of reality pricewise.

I went to Bank One's online service and got a quote from them you might be able to find something more reasonable. I live in MD so my rates might be different from those who live in other states.

The link to check this out is:
the small business Bank One insurance page

http://www.bankone.com/business/zips...&CloseWindow=0

It will ask you for your zip code and then you take it from there.

Good Luck
Deborah Chapin