Any suggestions for getting affordable medical insurance for an individual too young for Medicare? So I can't be the only one who can't find affordable health insurance for individuals/sole practitioner/business owner.
So what is "affordable"...up <g class="gr_ gr_19191 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="19191" data-gr-id="19191">until</g> Jan 2018, I was paying about $325. Searched healthcare.gov and even the marketplace indicate for my State of TN there is not an affordable healthcare carrier. It was over $1200/mth for an individual. 4x my budget with <g class="gr_ gr_25413 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar only-ins doubleReplace replaceWithoutSep" id="25413" data-gr-id="25413">high</g> deductible is not affordable when I never go to the Doctor.
I have been a sole practitioner since 2008 and had what I called "catastrophic" insurance. Being a fairly healthy individual I was comfortable self-insuring but wanted to have coverage in case of a healthcare crisis. It seems I got grandfathered in after AHCA/<g class="gr_ gr_1014 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="1014" data-gr-id="1014">obamacare</g> took effect and was able to keep being covered with the same policy until 2018 when Humana decided or was forced to not carry non-compliant individual coverage. Since discovering I no longer had a medical health care policy, I have been on a search for the holy grail of affordable insurance for a healthy individual who is too young for Medicare.
Here are the facts and where I have looked so far without success
-<g class="gr_ gr_2068 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="2068" data-gr-id="2068">LIve</g> in TN, just me no family, no spouse to be on their insurance plan, no employees, age 55+, female, non-smoker. Do not take meds and no pre-existing conditions.
-My other insurance carriers do not carry medical insurance.
-On the healthcare.gov marketplace website....if I could not find affordable health insurance on their website they suggested einsurance.com.
-On the <g class="gr_ gr_4112 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="4112" data-gr-id="4112">einsurance</g> website I fill out a request for quotes. I will never again fill out a form online to get health insurance quotes. I was harassed night and day every day of the week from "US health advisor" agents. Agent claims to be <g class="gr_ gr_21957 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="21957" data-gr-id="21957">CIgna</g> but it is not. It is Freedom. Reviews are mixed on US health advisor insurance.
-I can't seem to find a broker to do a search for me. They only do group plans.
-I was surprised aia/<g class="gr_ gr_2538 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="2538" data-gr-id="2538">aiatrust</g> does not have something available to provide members a group rate.
-I called Small Business Association and they laughed at me and basically said good luck finding insurance.
-AARP only has supplement Medicare options
-suggestions from friends lead me to more US Healthcare agents
-Found State Farm has something that is AHCA non-compliant for less than $200. This sounds too good to be true. It requires a physical for my age to get the preferred rate. It is not a known carrier. I have some warning signs so I keep looking.
-the non-complaint insurance like us healthcare advisors give me warning flags when I research reviews of their customer care and claim denials
-I even saw a commercial for a health insurance helpline for healthy individuals who are not on Medicare. When I called I got an "agent" was told the carrier was simple health insurance. While the "agent", I could tell it was a call center, asked me some questions for a quote, I googled the name and found their BBB rating was a C-. The complaints were being sold something then getting the policy it was not what they were told. He gave me a quote and benefits. I asked to be sent something in writing and he indicated they don't send out packages and brochures that is while the cost is low for their policies. I said I don't do anything without first reviewing something in writing. He said if I gave him my credit card info he could send something. I said no thanks and hung up.
-I came to this forum and the search came up with the last discussion from 2011 where suggestions were things I had already tried with dead ends. The original poster did not indicate what they finally found for coverage.
Sorry for long post but wanted to indicate the journey so you knew what I had already tried.
------------------------------
Elaine Bright, aia LEED AP
Owner
Bright Ventures Architectural Consulting
Nashville, TN
------------------------------