Health insurance for PRN/PT/1099

[Backpack234]

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lately I’ve even thinking about cutting my shift numbers below FT. But that would mean finding another source for health insurance for myself and my kids. I can’t imagine I’m the first one to consider this though. What do other docs do for health insurance when it’s not through a w2 gig?

 

[Porfirio]

I go directly to the insurance company to get the rates they offer. You can also look on healthcare.gov

 

[AlmostAnMD]

Spouse

If you don't have one adopt a nurse imo

(Although for real that did save me between jobs, if it's not an option bummer)

 

[Backpack234]

Spouse

If you don't have one adopt a nurse imo

(Although for real that did save me between jobs, if it's not an option bummer)

Have a spouse! But their job only offers insurance to them. Could add us to the plan but that would cost about 1500/mo?

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

Have a spouse! But their job only offers insurance to them. Could add us to the plan but that would cost about 1500/mo?

Seems steep to just add a spouse but depends on the plan and state.

Second the above, options are your state health exchange or directly buy from major insurers in your area. You can get "non-ACA" compliant plans buying individual insurance from insurers too which may come with more limitations or less coverage but can be somewhat cheaper.

 

[Tenk]

Have you checked that you can’t buy insurance at 0.5 fte? This is usually an option it just costs a bit more.

 

[Tiger26]

Army National Guard--Tricare is amazing insurance (except for the hospital)

 

[emergentmd]

I have been through this and since the ACA, the choices are slim to none. The ACA website options are essentially worthless. I ended up going to a healthshare which overall was better than what was available.

If there were other good traditional insurance options, I never found one.

 

[Apollyon]

I have been through this and since the ACA, the choices are slim to none. The ACA website options are essentially worthless. I ended up going to a healthshare which overall was better than what was available.

If there were other good traditional insurance options, I never found one.

That might also be state-dependent.

 

[Brigade4Radiant]

It depends what health insurance HSA plan maybe 1500-2000 a month if you have a family. lower may mean a high dedictible plan but your options are state dependent

 

[gruemd]

I am going through this presently. Will be about 1k/mo for my family of 4 for the one HSA eligible option in the whole state, but with a deductible of 16k. Could be worse I suppose.

 

[ERMudPhud]

I have been through this and since the ACA, the choices are slim to none. The ACA website options are essentially worthless. I ended up going to a healthshare which overall was better than what was available.

If there were other good traditional insurance options, I never found one.

My experience is the opposite. Prior to ACA I had multiple partners where we did everything we could to create bogus hours for them just so they could continue to get insurance through our group. They had enough money to retire but they all had pre-existing conditions like htn and cholesterol and couldn't buy private insurance at any price. This included creating a second call list with the understanding it would never be used just so they could rack up 48 to 72 hours of call per month. Our lawyers told us those hours counted toward the ERISA minimum to be considered for benefits and allowed them to participate in our group plan. We charged them back what it cost the group and they worked a few easy shifts on top of their "call shift" to pay for it. They all used to stay working until they could COBRA their way into medicare.

After ACA they all retired and bought insurance on the exchanges until they qualified for medicare.

By the time I quit USACS my high deductible plan family plan was costing me close to $2k a month through them. I got a similar plan through the exchange. Only difference was it was post-tax dollars instead of pre-tax. Last year I started getting some 1099 locums income and discovered I could write off the premiums against that income so it was back to being pre-tax. If it weren't for the ACA though I'd probably still be stuck working for USACS just to get group health insurance. I have high cholesterol and my wife had cancer so we couldn't have bought private insurance at any price pre ACA.

 

[MechEDoc]

I buy my insurance on the market just for myself. I saved >7k a year just by moving from one state to another. 🙂

 

[Emapp20177]

Spend 1700 mo for fan of 4
Garbage insurance, huge deductible
But at least I get an extra Roth acct (HSA)