Self Employed

July 17, 2006 by bob.

Q. I decided to enroll with a large association for the self employed and take their health insurance plan. Our current Blue Cross plan was so expensive and the plans you suggested would not take my wife. You suggested leaving her with Blue Cross and moving the rest of us to a new plan to save money. The association is willing to take all of us so we don’t have two different plans. Why is this bad?

A. The plan you picked is a limited benefit plan with caps on everything. A major claim will leave you owing as much as half the bill.

By leaving your wife with Blue Cross, she had full coverage for everything, including her pre-existing condtion. The new plan will not only limit benefits for everyone but will not cover her pre-ex condition. Also, the benefits she needs the most are severely limited compared to what she had under the Blue plan.

By dropping your Blue plan you have dug a hole that you may not have an escape. Your best bet is that Blue will take your wife back under a separate policy. Otherwise there is nothing I can do for her but wish you the best.

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