Yet another newbie question - health insurance?

[ISellRiverview]

I know that you are an independant contractor as a realtor...but do brokerages ever offer health insurance as part of a group policy that you can pay for 100% that the employer just doesn't contribute to? Or do most of you buy your own private health insurance, or are you on your spouse's insurance?

I am just curious...I am currently on my spouse's health insurance which is okay but he may may eventually start his own small business too, and then we'd both be independant contractors...and I wanted to explore what other options I'll have once I'm an agent. Also I had lymphoma (a form of cancer) 5 years ago and it would be extremely difficult for me to get health insurance on my own without being part of a group enrollment type plan.

[judyo]

This is a sad part of real estate. As individual contractors it's one of the worst parts of the business. Luckily, I am on my husband's insurance. I remember times as a single Mom of 3 in a bad market when I couldn't afford health insurance.

I believe NAR or maybe it's our local association works with a company that offers health insurance but it's very expensive (all health insurance is today). And with a pre-existing health problem it's difficult to get insured.

My husband works in a small family business and they keep shopping around for less expensive insurance since only 3 people use it. But he now has a pre-existing condition and they're stuck. We even checked out Blue Cross/Blue Shield and I was accepted but he wasn't.

Problem is, because it's a family business run by his eldest sister he doesn't know what will happen when she decides to retire. I keep telling him to join me in real estate but the insurance would be a problem. By then, I might have some pre-existing condition. Very scary.

[OCTeam]

Our brokerage has open enrollment group health insurance you can pay 100% for..but, it's expensive. Our brokerage is part of HomeServices America and they are owned by Berkshire Hathaway who also have insurance companies. We are happy to have it as a group plan. Basically, it is for catastrophic medical needs rather than daily BS. Once you leave, you are out of the plan.

The Ca Assoc of Realtors is sueing Blue Cross to prevent them from cancelling 8,000 realtor policies on May 31. A serious problem for many with such short notice.

Pre-conditions and age make getting insurance a real problem. As Judy said, very scary the older you get...and the more expensive it gets. At some point, I may go homeless or give up citizenship as I can then get healthcare for free in our state!

[drewnick]

At some point, I may go homeless or give up citizenship as I can then get healthcare for free in our state!

Better act fast - those loopholes are going to get sewed up fast at the rate things are going. Something's got to be done and everyone knows it.

[Saodavi]

Tell your spouse to keep his day job and keep you on his insurance. That's how we're doing it.

Otherwise ... you are on your own. (sounds like de ja vu)

[ISellRiverview]

Tell your spouse to keep his day job and keep you on his insurance. That's how we're doing it.

Otherwise ... you are on your own. (sounds like de ja vu)

Yeah I know, but at some point that may not be an option. It's sad when we are the richest country in the world yet we don't take care of our people's health as well as some of the smaller, poorer countries.

[drewnick]

What sucks the most is that it's only going to get worse and worse. On the bright side, our profession can make enough money that insurance is not a concern.

[Saodavi]

I don't think it's that bad. I have some friends who are self-employed and they get insurance for under $200 per month. They have a $2000 annual deductible per year. You're on your own for routine checkups and the like.

So it's not really that bad. It's insurance for _emergencies_ which is what insurance is for. If you're looking for someone who will pay for your annual physical and stuff, you probably won't find it in the self-employed segment.

[judyo]

What is the hard part is if you have any kind of pre-existing condition like Liane has. My husband has some kind of arthritis like thing called polymyalgia rheumatica. Basically, his joints freeze up (I called him the tin man). He was supposed to have taken steroids for a year & then be fine but it's going on 3 yrs. now. He is uninsurable for any kind of new policy.

An agent friend of mine was uninsured after her husband died in an explosion at work. You'd think the company would keep the family insured for the rest of their lives but they didn't. When she went to apply they refused on the basis that her children were "mentally ill" because it was on record that they visited a psychiatrist (after their father's death for counseling). She was one that got into Blue Cross/Blue Shield's open enrollment.

[drewnick]

I agree that having the catastrophic insurance makes sense for us. My deductible is $5k but my insurance is $48/mo.