Might be losing my health insurance....

[KBear]

Thanks everyone. I received an envelope from BCBS today; but haven't gotten brave enough to open it yet.

Dave, you are right on the gaps in insurance; but that is only for people with employer insurance. I checked into this; but it doesn't work that way in the self-employed insurance market. Thank you for the money saving ideas.

I am pretty money savy already; but I'm sure I can find more ways to cut back. I clip coupons, shop at stores that offer double and triple coupons, stock up and freeze extras and match my coupons with the item going on sale. I generally get my groceries at 50-70% off. No movies channels; but I do have cable, so I could cut that. I also have a landline and cell phone. We do not use our land line for calling, just for sending and receiving faxes, so it doesn't have any added features on it. Does anyone know if there is any web program that I could send faxes through and do away with my home line?

Thanks all and I will let you know what happens.

[Justin]

Does anyone know if there is any web program that I could send faxes through and do away with my home line?

Kathy, I've been looking into a good fax program. I found MyFax--here's some information:

• Simple: Internet fax. Easy as email.
• Reliable: Always online. Never busy or out of paper.
• Inexpensive: $10/m includes 100 sent & 200 received pages.
• Mobile: Fax by email from work, home, and on the road.

MyFax earned the "TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award" for its simple interface, compatibility with 178 file formats, and easy integration with Microsoft Office and Outlook.

With MyFax you get up to 300 faxed pages per month for $10, without the need for extra hardware or software. You can use Internet Explorer or Firefox and access everything you need online with MyFaxCentral, or just send and receive faxes through email.

MyFax offers three faxing plans for home and small business customers:

* $10 = 300 faxes per month (send 100, receive 200)

* $30 = 400 faxes per month (send 200, receive 200)

* $40 = 800 faxes per month (send 400, receive 400)
____________________________

I hope this helps.

[Cindylou]

Great resource Justin. I may look into that myself. That's why we keep our land line, only for faxes and for our home security alarm system. Don't think there is anything out there yet on cell phones that could address an alarm system, but I still have been wanting to drop the land line to save $$.

And Kathy, you are so cute not opening the envelope yet....that is so me! I would be doing exactly the same thing honey! Sooner or later, of course, we have to face it. I'm thinking about you during this difficult time. Sending lots of support and love your way.

[KBear]

Thanks Justin, I will definitely check into that. Are there added fees on the bill, like on a phone line? My line is $10 a month, but with all the fees my bill is $25! I was reading that they name alot of the fees to make them sound like the goverment mandates them, when in fact they are just padding their pockets.... the American way.

CL- Thanks. I got in bed last night with the envelope and some choclate (I needed moral support, ya know?) The plan is a lower deductible, $1,500 instead of $2,000 and we aren't limited on doctors visits. Currently, we get 4 visits each with a $30 co-pay and then we start working on our deductible. The prescription plan is basically the same, brand is $25, instead of $30, with a $200 deductible. The price though, is about the same, currently it is $980, the new one is $1,000 a month. I am going to call them today and see if I can just put me on that plan and take the rest of the family off and to a different plan. I am crossing my fingers that their won't be some reason that I can't do that.

Thank you guys, you are the best!

[Katie]

I have to admit that this still confuses me, Kathy Can you check into another plan for the family before talking to her about taking them off this one? It would be awful to have someone in an accident and have no coverage on them while waiting for a new plan to kick in. I'm not sure if it would work that way, but by the way everyone describes these guys, I wouldn't trust them at all.

I'm sorry that you are facing this. We're in a bit of a pickle with things now too, like everyone else, so I can empathize. Hang in there sweetie.

Off to update my other thread about insurance companies....

[KBear]

Katie, We are going to stay on our current plan through the end of the year, Dec. 31 will be our last day of coverage on it. I will start on BCBS (hopefully) on Dec. 31 and my husband and kids will start their new plan on Dec. 31, so there will be no lapse in coverage.

I did get some good news today. A guy called me about insurance, per an online request I made, and he talked with me for about an hour and a half about all the different policies and what I needed. He found a plan for my husband and children, that is exactly what we need and it is only $350 a month! So, now I just have to see if I can be on the new plan alone and drop hubby and kids and what it will cost per month. I am hoping no more than $250, which would put us at $600 a month, a savings of $400 a month. I looked over the new plan last night and it does have better coverage than we have now, which would really help with all my back issues and doctors visits, so we would save money that way too.

Thanks for brainstorming with me and caring, I really appreciate it!
Kathy

[ajj1001]

Sorry I have had no suggestions to make but glad that you are finding a way forward through this situation. (In the UK we have a very good e-mail each weeks with a round up of savings to made on stuff and as I have the time I spend a while shopping around online for deals for anything we need.)

[Terry Newton]

This is such a difficult position for many Americans today. The insurance companies are spending record monies in lobbying against the potential break up of their monopoly with providing health care at great profit. It's so sad to see corporate interests win out time and time again against people. I am eager when; "We the people......" will remember what those words stood for and realize that we do not need term limits to have our elected representatives represent us. If they sell us out, kick them out. Disincentivize the desire to sell us out.

Hang in there.

[KBear]

I am eager when; "We the people......" will remember what those words stood for and realize that we do not need term limits to have our elected representatives represent us. If they sell us out, kick them out. Disincentivize the desire to sell us out.

I couldn't agree more with the above. Why do we keep putting the same people in charge, they keep doing the same things, and we are surprised that nothing changes? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results! When nothing changes... nothing changes!

I hope we can get a bill passed that will put regulations on the insurance industry. Such as they have to accept pre-existing and can't charge more for it. That they can't raise your rates because you get sick. That they have to pay for ANY and ALL FDA approved treatments that are reccommended for a patient (as long as it is being used for the purpose it was intended). I could go on; but you get the picture. Everytime they come out with a bill with pork, healtcare or otherwise, we need to blow their phones up, fill their email and mailbox full of letters letting them no that if they vote for it, they are out.... that we are sick and tired of our taxpayer money being pissed away! If we cut out pork and all the bs that they pass, we probably could pay for healthcare for everyone and have money left over! We need to send them back to the drawing board everytime a bill comes out that has pork, or anything we don't agree with, too many of them have forgotten who they represent.

Also, I read on Senator Joe Wilson's page (the one who yelled "You Lie" during Obama's speech), that he has proposed an ammendment to the bill that would make it where every House & Senate Represenative would automatically go to the new goverment option too. I think this is totally fair, what's good for the goose is gander. Of course, it will never pass, because they know they are giving us just the ok/average stuff and they have the superior plan.

[Justin]

Kathy, I know you mentioned somewhere that you were able to get a great plan for your husband and kids. If I remember correctly, you were also able to get a plan and the total on both plans was $400 in savings.

I hope this is the case!