Most of what little computer time I have available to lately, has been taken up with researching Health Insurance Plans. This is a task I undertake yearly, since the cost of Health Insurance only increases each year. I rank this task right up there with getting my finances in order to file my taxes.
In Massachusetts, effective January 1, 2009,
individuals must be enrolled in plans that meet the minimum creditable
requirements or be hit with fines that can exceed $900. Added to the minimum creditable requirements is mandatory prescription drug coverage. The cost of my health insurance is almost as much as my monthly mortgage payment. With this mandatory prescription coverage my monthly premium will be increased by $40. This is enough to make me endure hours of researching new health coverage and several phone calls to help me navigate the confusion on all of these websites. I have a headache just thinking about it all. The kicker is, once you actually figure out the website and get to the correct page, none of them will list any prices for the various plans offered. For actual pricing, you then have to get on the phone and sift through their complex phone systems! I was able to get a very helpful woman on the phone last week, from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, who immediately sent me several PDF’s to open, all with pricing information. I’m afraid to open them, so am waiting another day or so when hope I will feel more up for all of this. All of the insurance companies want to price out coverage two ways, one as an individual seeking coverage and the other as a business owner. So, great… double the amount of reading to sift through.
On a happier note, I begin a new job today and am also meeting a new client for a quick consult. More on both tomorrow.