As I predicted, two little envelopes arrived from Blue Cross this week, announcing what the health insurance rates would be for me and Branden this year: a whopping $1200 more than they were last year! Costs have increased every year since I’ve been self-insured, but this jump is particularly phenomenal, especially since my coverage is so minimal. Branden and I together have a collective deductible of $14,000–in other words this is catastrophic insurance only, a privilege for which we must pay more than $4000 each year. My Oregon senator, Ron Wyden, has a pretty good health care initiative, which I’m praying the health care lobbyists don’t send to oblivion. I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford my health insurance premiums when they increase again next year.
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…unfortunately dana, blue cross/blue shielf or ‘regence’ as it’s called in washington state…is notorious for huge yearly increases, little or no explanation and is reviled by most health care providers. that triple whammie was enough to get us to change carriers. indeed, none are great but some are better than others!
Congratulations to you for having the wherewithal to pay these outrageous premiums for the most minimal of coverage. Business must be brisk! Like many Americans, I face the same problem, and have determined that I would rather use those premium dollars to buy things like vitamins and other medicines designed to keep me well, than forsake them in order to have enough money to pay those ridiculous premiums. Yes,we are without catastrophic coverage and if something terrible happens (God forbid) I suppose I will wind up on welfare.