Is anyone else frustrated with the whole health insurance thing? I am so upset. I work full time as an Administrative Assistant for a Missile Defense company and by night I teach Ballroom dance (which is what my degree from college is in). I make more money teaching dance 10 to 15 hours a week than I do sitting at that desk for 40 but I have to sit there for the blasted health insurance! I could make a living teaching but have to suck my life away doing something else for insurance.

Will I have to work until I die for health insurance?! No one wants to cover me with my pre-existing condition and 11 surgery history. Even if I have enough money to retire will I have to continue to work to be covered?!!

I really want to teach full time but fear the private health insurance racket.

What does everyone else do for insurance?

I was so frustrated with my insurance company last week - that I was about to write a RANT posting.

I had my surgery over 6 months ago and still have claims either in process or being re-processed due to errors and mistakes. There is so much going back and force between the doctor's billing office and the insurance company - and each one usually says that I need to speak with the other to get the problem fixed. (grr!)

Also, it seems that when I speak with a phone rep and they say they are going to do something, very often I will call back a week later to follow up and of coarse, there are no notes in their system of that conversation.

GRR!!!!!

Keith

Okay, I called up my insurance company, I have Oxford Freedom Select, which is excellent coverage and this is what they told (although this is for NY, you would have to call what covers where you are). If you are in a plan with over 50 people there is no such thing as preexisiting conditions (so you may be stuck in that job)or if you change insurance companies in less than 63 there should also not be a preexisipreexisting condition. The point is there are companies out there willing to cover, you just have to make some calls. If you leave your job and get insurance quickly, it seems that you shouldn't have a problem. Good Luck

Just to clarify a few things...The HIPPA laws that you've probably been bombarded with privacy statements from also addresses pre-existing conditions (the law is the Health Insurance Privacy and PORTABILITY Act).

If you have had continuous coverage for 1 year or more (and the condition has been covered) you cannot be denied coverage for that condition provided there is NO BREAK IN COVERAGE. This is why it is so important to maintain your insurance coverage.

There are loopholes though. If you are moving from a group plan to an individual plan, they may not have to cover the condition. However, if you move from one group plan to another, they have to cover the condition. So, you may have to be stuck at A job you don't like , but it doesn't necessarily have to be the one you have right now

I think that the key is that, as Jill says, you do not have a break in coverage (I think you can have up to two months between coverage). Insurance companies are required to cover you, however, depending on what state you are in, they can adjust the rates based on your risk. So, you can get the coverage, you just have to pay a higher rate for it.

The smart thing to do is when you change jobs is to go to an employer that offers group coverage. Some independent type jobs operate in a co-op type situation by belonging to an organization and can get group coverage that way. You need to be creative in your thinking. Plus, once you are over 65, you will qualify for Medicare and can get supplemental insurance that works with medicare.

After just a few minutes searching, I found this link to Alabama Dance Council. Membership makes you eligible for their group health and dental insurance if you are working as a professional dance instructor. Perhaps you should give them a call and get your life going where you want it to go.
http://alabamadancecouncil.org/membership.htm

Jan

Thank you everyone for the info. Jan, thank you sooooooo much for sending me that link; I have an email out to them asking about the qualifications for health insurance.
I have always maintained my coverage and am actually paying COBRA insurance right now as I've recently switched jobs. I've never had a break in coverage so I know the larger companies have to cover me; it's just that my dream is to teach dance full time and not bother with the other jobs. If I can make the money, why not? I don't want my health, or in this case, my health insurance hold me back.
Hopefully the dance council will have some good news for me

I was going to mention what Jan provided. Look into other organizations that have group coverage. I belonged to the Builder's Exchange as an 'associate' - i.e., I wasn't a builder but in a complementary profession. The coverage was fantastic. I hope you can become a member of the Alabama Dance Council. That would be perfect, wouldn't it? You have to pay yearly dues, but they're tax deductible I believe.

That Jan babe is such a huge resource, isn't she? She's also a smart cookie.

kathy

I contacted the Alabama Dance Council and I would definitely qualify to be a member and get their insurance. And as long as I maintain continuous coverage I wouldn't be hit with the pre-existing condition garbage. It costs $300 for an individual and $777 a month for family but it's good coverage and would be worth it.

I plan on making this leap and droping the 40 hour a week job in about a year. I want to pay off my car so the only debt I'll have is my mortgage...just in case I have a slow week teaching every now and then
I'm just so excited that my dreams can be realized. Thanks again for the info, Jan.

I'm so happy for you Olive! And to think that just complaining and "thinking out loud" here got the collective mind all thinking for you. It is seldom as bleak as we think, especially when we think together!!

Jan