RE: small business med insurance

[Guest guest]

Carol:

Hi, my husband is in the insurance business so maybe

we can give you some advice. What state are you in?

He says with businesses under 50 people - any health

insurance carrier is obligated to issue a policy

regardless of the health condition of the individuals

to be covered in the plan. For PPO; blue cross, blue

shield, employer's choice, healthnet - these are some

of the carriers which write both HMO and PPO. Unlike

Kaiser, these plans usually don't have their own

hospitals, but some do have employee doctors called

EPOs. Therefore, most of the time they refer you

mostly to hospitals which are in the plan and most of

the time you can keep your own doctors and use the

hospitals they belong to. This is just general

information, but if you need more specific

information, we would need to more know. The best

thing is for you to find a good agent to find you

these plans instead of trying to do it on your own -

find a reputable insurance agent where you are for

this. Maybe ask around to other small businesses and

see who they use. Many times the agent who supplies

your workers comp insurance would be helpful to you -

if you were in CA my husband would take care of you!

Hope this helps -

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Oh, Kathe, thank you so much for the info! We're a long way away, in

Florida. Right now we would only want between 2 and 5 people covered. But

I didn't know they have to issue a policy, regardless of preexisting

conditions. I had called Blue Cross about an individual plan, and they said

they would not cover me unless I was RA medication free for 5 years. We all

know that's not going to happen. I will try to find an agent. My husband

has balked at the idea of health insurance, saying he wants to self-insure.

We pay a lot in insurance for all the business vehicles, and he just doesn't

want to pay any more. I think, though, that he will be able to see that it'

s a money saver in comparison to the cost of Enbrel or Remicade.

Thanks so much for the info, and thank your husband.

I hope you're having a great weekend..

Love and hugs,

Carol

Re: [ ] small business med insurance

Carol:

Hi, my husband is in the insurance business so maybe

we can give you some advice. What state are you in?

He says with businesses under 50 people - any health

insurance carrier is obligated to issue a policy

regardless of the health condition of the individuals

to be covered in the plan. For PPO; blue cross, blue

shield, employer's choice, healthnet - these are some

of the carriers which write both HMO and PPO. Unlike

Kaiser, these plans usually don't have their own

hospitals, but some do have employee doctors called

EPOs. Therefore, most of the time they refer you

mostly to hospitals which are in the plan and most of

the time you can keep your own doctors and use the

hospitals they belong to. This is just general

information, but if you need more specific

information, we would need to more know. The best

thing is for you to find a good agent to find you

these plans instead of trying to do it on your own -

find a reputable insurance agent where you are for

this. Maybe ask around to other small businesses and

see who they use. Many times the agent who supplies

your workers comp insurance would be helpful to you -

if you were in CA my husband would take care of you!

Hope this helps -

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Carol:

A friend of ours and her husband own a plumbing

business with about 10 full time employees. She was

having trouble getting covered by Blue Cross on an

individual basis because of some pre-existing

conditions, nothing like RA, and they are now going

through getting the Blue Cross through the group

business medical insurance - they may have to pay a

bit more depending on what Blue Cross says, but they

will be able to get full coverage regardless of any

pre-existing condition. They must take everyone in

the business who is eligible and wants the coverage.

They have just started this process but we don't think

there will be any problem. The whole bit about not

taking any RA medications for 5 years is a laugh - you

have a chronic medical condition requiring medication

to control and minimize the disease as much as

possible and they ask you to put your life and health

at risk just to get medical coverage??!! Weird. Good

luck with getting the insurance through the business -

let me know what happens.

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathe,

I just spoke to an insurance agent about business medical insurance. He

said we would qualify and that with Aetna, the company he most often works

with, there would be a maximum of 6 months exclusion for a pre-existing

condition. He's faxing me a form, and is going to give me a quote. Now I

just have to sell my husband on the idea.

Thank you SO much for the great information. I can't tell you how much I

appreciate it.

Love and hugs,

Carol

RE: [ ] small business med insurance

Hi Carol:

A friend of ours and her husband own a plumbing

business with about 10 full time employees. She was

having trouble getting covered by Blue Cross on an

individual basis because of some pre-existing

conditions, nothing like RA, and they are now going

through getting the Blue Cross through the group

business medical insurance - they may have to pay a

bit more depending on what Blue Cross says, but they

will be able to get full coverage regardless of any

pre-existing condition. They must take everyone in

the business who is eligible and wants the coverage.

They have just started this process but we don't think

there will be any problem. The whole bit about not

taking any RA medications for 5 years is a laugh - you

have a chronic medical condition requiring medication

to control and minimize the disease as much as

possible and they ask you to put your life and health

at risk just to get medical coverage??!! Weird. Good

luck with getting the insurance through the business -

let me know what happens.

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Carol,

There was a time when my husband was self employed and we had to get our own

insurance. We were told to form a company, which only had to be 2 people,

and we would be eligible for insurance with group rates. Even though I am

disabled, I am still allowed to ³own² a company. We got it through Blue

Cross. Good luck. Hope you get it!

Hugs,

a

> Hi Kathe,

>

> I just spoke to an insurance agent about business medical insurance. He

> said we would qualify and that with Aetna, the company he most often works

> with, there would be a maximum of 6 months exclusion for a pre-existing

> condition. He's faxing me a form, and is going to give me a quote. Now I

> just have to sell my husband on the idea.

>

> Thank you SO much for the great information. I can't tell you how much I

> appreciate it.

>

> Love and hugs,

> Carol