Health Insurance

soxydun · Mar 28, 2009

I don't know that I've seen this subject brought up here before. We would like to find decent medical/health coverage and want to find which ones others are using and how well they like it.
We've never worked without it being provided by the employer as a payroll deduction or co-pay sort of deal. Most of the Tractor Trailer outfits provide insurance to the driver, but we've not seen this in expediting.

Thanks!

chefdennis · Mar 28, 2009

There are alot of comanies that offer coverage for independent business people, and that is what you are, you are not an employee so the owner of a truck isn't going to offer a benefit such as insurance, for the most part.

Insurance needs are different for one person or family then wat another would need, so your best bet would be to figure out just what you think you need, set your limits on coverage and then do the research with as many companies as you can.

My carrier is Mid-west life, but they only have my health and cancer coverage, not my life insurance. They are a nationl company, and they have been pretty good for the last 4-5 yrs that i have had them.

When looking at hospitalization coverage, one thing that no company ever told me , i was told by an insurance agent to ask (he didn't sell hospitalization coverage) is that alot of companies will only cover you if you are in your home state!! It is a cost savings thing they fail to mention, make sure you ask and make sure you get it.....

soxydun · Mar 28, 2009

I might have mis-stated about employee/employer. Yes, we're independent etc. but every company my husband drove for, before we switched to expediting, offered free insurance to the driver and then spouse/family coverage. Since this is a whole 'nuther ballgame, we are flying without that net, so we are looking for good companies for health/medical insurance.

TeamCaffee · Mar 29, 2009

What company are you with?

FedEx Custom Critical offers a huge group plan with many different insurance companies you can compare with. You might also check with OOIDA on health insurance if you are a member. We have found for us that a high deductable insurance is what works best. Most insurance companies have these anymore coupled with a health savings account.

usafk9 · Mar 29, 2009

That's news to us, Bob & Linda. When we were at orientation, we specifically asked that (as we were told the same thing you just stated), and were given a brochure for NASE, which anyone can get.

If I am missing something, please guide me. I am in a similar boat. We have to satisfy the better half's ex, or it's no go. In other words, we have to find a plan that's equal to the one he has for my stepson now, or continue paying the BC/BS plan he has.

If there are others, please steer me.

TeamCaffee · Mar 29, 2009

I sent you a PM on the link to the insurance we were sent information on through FCC.

We like what we have all ready with the high deductable and MSA.

layoutshooter · Mar 29, 2009

I have not seen that either Linda, is there anything on the extra-net? We too have a high deducable HSA program that we like. We like the control it gives us over our health care. Layoutshooter

greg334 · Mar 29, 2009

If you are offered free anything in regards to benefits, then you are an employee.

nightcreacher · Mar 29, 2009

gregg glad to see you around.my puters both laptop and pc are ill,in fact this im on is the motels,here in dallas.
oh,and gregg is right,ifyou get offered anything for free,you become an employee

layoutshooter · Mar 29, 2009

Even our free Breakfast at the Petro? And my nice new green hat? NAW, those are perks for being so cool!!

Layoutshooter

soxydun · Mar 29, 2009

We aren't members of ooida yet, but I plan to look into that too. It is scary, that for the first time in our lives, we don't have health/medical. I'll look into some with higher deductables too.

greg334 · Mar 30, 2009

Why is it scary?

Having health insurance doesn't mean you don't have health access, two different things.

I been without health insurance a lot of times, I have to keep myself in check when I don't have it but I never had a problem getting treated or get scripts filled....ever....

TeamCaffee · Mar 30, 2009

We have also been without health insurance often and it was a HUGE problem and took many years to recover from. We were lucky as when I had my girls we did not have insurance and luckily there were no complications. It took many years to pay off the hospital and at time I worried that the girls would graduate from high school before I could write paid in full on my check. Another huge worry when you do not have insurance is that is when you will find out you have some horrible disease and then no one wants to cover you and no one wants to hire you as you will mess up their group plan. I have seen this happen where a person did not get hired over the health problems with their family that of course was not the reason given but it was the underlying reason. If you go without insurance you now have to show why there is a gap in the insurance coverage and they many things are not covered till you have passed a probation period.

So in my mind going without insurance is flirting with danger. I also know that at times it cannot be helped been there done it and we were lucky we made it through.

Yesteryear · Mar 30, 2009

soxydun said:
I might have mis-stated about employee/employer. Yes, we're independent etc. but every company my husband drove for, before we switched to expediting, offered free insurance to the driver and then spouse/family coverage. Since this is a whole 'nuther ballgame, we are flying without that net, so we are looking for good companies for health/medical insurance.

Hmmmm, usually an employee has to pay part of the premium with most companys. 25+ years ago when my hubby first started out in law enforcement we were paying around $400 dollars a month as our premium for family health insurance. That was with the Key West Police Department. Excellent coverage only 250 deductible and then paid 80%. Over 20 years later we were offered free coverage but it had a $3000 deductible and then paid 70%. I guess it is called castrophy insurance.
Anywho, just recently found out Tri-State does offer insurance (pretty good thing to find out after 2 years lol) Some friends of ours just started with T-State and took the insurance. Said they pay 89.00 a month for the two of them. Has a $500 deductible, then they pay 30%, insurance pays 70%. They also have life insurance of 250,000. I pay 83.00 a month just for our life insurance. I have 250,000 and my hubby has 200,000. So as you can see Tri-State has very competitive health and life insurance. Just wish I has known about it earlier. Going to see about getting it ourselves next time we get into the Toledo area.

ladygrumpy · Apr 5, 2009

Who do you talk to about the health and life insurance at Tri-State? I have been without any medical/health coverage for some time now and am having trouble finding someone to cover me. Any info will be appreciated.

nightcreacher · Apr 5, 2009

Join OOIDA,they have group insurance plans,or just google health insurance for the self employed.I have insurance now,its called medicare,and the supplement costs me 104 bucks a month.Total expenses for my cateract surgery was 135 bucks.saved me thousands

Yesteryear · Apr 6, 2009

ladygrumpy said:
Who do you talk to about the health and life insurance at Tri-State? I have been without any medical/health coverage for some time now and am having trouble finding someone to cover me. Any info will be appreciated.

The insurance is called TrueChoice. 1-866-667-8415. There are pamplets lying on the table that is in-between the couches against the wall by the black and glass dinner table in the drivers lounge (the one that has the sign 'no eating or drinking"

) at Tri-State.