“When I began having to look for health insurance myself, I saw how difficult it is, and just how much in control these insurance companies are,” Thompson says. “Even when you pay money, they call the shots. They have so much control over their member. The whole thing stunk because just about anything counted as a pre-existing condition. It limited my options a great deal.”
There are several last resorts for those who aren’t offered insurance by their jobs, and want to go out on their own. Working Today is an independent health plan provided by the Freelancer’s Union, a national non-profit organization for freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed. Members can choose from five group-rate health insurance plans through HIP Health Plan of New York and The PerfectHealth Insurance Company.
If you want to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) can be used in conjunction with a high-deductible HSA-eligible health insurance plan to make healthcare more affordable and save for retirement. However, a 2005 survey from the Commonwealth Fund found that, “people enrolled in HSA-eligible HDHPs were much less satisfied with many aspects of their health care than adults in more comprehensive plans” and allocated substantial amounts of income to their health care.
Graduate schools sometimes offer a more lenient health care policy if you take a minimum number of course credits. Ibrahim says, however, that she will be switching off of Hunter’s plan to join NY’s Care Plus Health Plan. “I am hoping that it will cover what I need, basic checkups and other necessary things.”
Thompson was able to regain his occupational insurance when his old job was able to take him on full-time. He says that his preparedness and research helped him to understand and improve a dire situation.
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