No joke: My wife needs to get insurance after not having any for the last couple of years.

[cliffordu]

any suggestions as to a decent company?

She's looking to get catastrophic coverage with a high deductable so we don't lose everything if she gets crushed on her bicycle.

[Greyhound]

1. Be very careful. Catastrophic coverage often sounds great, until you need it.

Then you find out the truth.

[sui generis]

2. bwah ha ha hahahahas silly human

What state? Different companies are better and worse in different states, depending on what they can get away with.

[cliffordu]

4. Washington state.

[Oregone]

7. For about 3 grand, you get unlimited lifetime full coverage near there...

After you immigrate to Canada

[sui generis]

15. yes Washington had a problem with healthcare coops

if I recall correctly. My partner's little brother died in an electrocution accident while playing, when he got grounded through a tree to a power line while playing underneath. The coop said they wouldn't even pay for the final ambulance ride since the parents couldn't prove he hadn't intentionally electrocuted himself. It was some real sickness and this was 20 years ago.

If you want health insurance after not being insured for a while, be prepared for extensive questionnaires and physicals. Also catastrophic addendums usually require disclosing all sports and recreation activities you routinely engage in, including periodic ski trips, and those can then be ruled out as high risk or used as an excuse to jack your premiums.

Check with your state insurance board and also google complaints and consumer ratings for the particular kind of insurance coverage you are looking for in Washington state; then make an informed decision.

[cliffordu]

16. Thank you!!

[cliffordu]

27. Yep - we've talked about it.......

[quiller4]

18. There are several good electronic sites where you can look

at options in Washington. My spouse and I found our best options with Lifewise of Washington after using such a site to make comparisons. We are both not quite old enough for Medicare, retired and in the private insurance market. We chose policies with a $3,500 deductible and reasonable annual out of pocket maximums.

[cliffordu]

19. Thanks....!!

[Captain Hilts]

3. Buying insurance as an individual is prohibitively expensive under most circumstances.

And, as the Ins. Companies know you have no corporate human resources dept. backing you up, you're more likely to get screwed over by them.

[LisaM]

5. Pemco

They are actually a very good company. We had an incident with our car, and they paid the claim right away, no problems. In fact, I have a cousin who works there, and she said one of the first days she was there, the president of the company spoke to the whole company, and stressed that their job was to pay claims, not to deny them. Highly recommended.

[cliffordu]

10. Excellent, thanks.

[LisaM]

11. Of course, I don't know what kind of insurance you're looking for

I hope they offer whatever it is!

[NYC_SKP]

6. I would look for something in WA like this program, available in NY only.

This is an organization of freelancers.

http://www.freelancersunion.org//benefits/index.html

I've seen similar organizations for actors' groups, temps, part-timers.

I'll bet there is something in Washington state.

She might have to register as a worker of some sort, artisan or craftsperson or writer actor...

Good luck, cliffordu!

[cliffordu]

12. Thanks, good buddy!!

She can sign up as a butthead wrangler...there's a certain art to that, i guess......

[NYC_SKP]

21. Check this out: NASRO CO-OP for Washington State

I have no idea, just a result of a search.

" NASRO's Affordable Washington State & Oregon Health Insurance for Non Profits, Individuals & Families, Freelancers, the Self Employed and Small Business"

http://www.nasro-co-op.com/health/state/wa/index.shtml

Edited: I'd written "DO-OP" in subject line, which was wrong, unless she also sings. :P

[cliffordu]

24. Actually, she does sing - she's doing the musical about scrooge this winter

in the local yokel theater....

THANKS, skippy!!

[old mark]

8. C: I had a bypass operation in '03 and found that NO ONE but Blue Cross

would insure me. Blue Cross was more than I could afford, $800 per month.
I finally did find an obscure program backed by the state of PA that insures me for a very reasonable rate, and eventually will be cost free till I am elegible for medicare.I had been without insurance-thus health care- for nearly 2 years, and I'm diabetic with hypertension and high cholesterol and a pacemaker.
I know you are in a terrible situation, and I can offer you no help,only suggest you investigate EVERY possiblilty including SSDI or some state program.

That is the sad state of healthcare in this country.
Again, I'm sorry and I hope it works out for you.

mark

[cliffordu]

13. Thanks, Mark -

She hs a pre-existing condition too, and that'll make it difficult - so we'll see....

[peace13]

9. Is there a biking organization that may offer group coverage?

Check out biking sites or magazines. There may be something there.

[cliffordu]

14. D'oh - I should have thought of that first....

:dunce:

[peace13]

17. Try this for a start.

http://www.examiner.com/x-7060-Insurance-Industry-Examiner~y2009m8d11-Insurance101-Where-to-buy-bicycle-insurance



I am glad you are looking into insurance. The Pizza delivery guy hit me in 2000 and it was no fun. Good luck to you.

[cliffordu]

20. The Pizza guy??

I'll bet he had GREAT coverage!!!


Hope you're alright now -

[peace13]

23. 26 year old male driving his dad's car. Daddy had insurance.

I am doing fine now, thanks to the helmet. The inside styrofoam of my helmet was cracked from the base of my neck to the crown of my head. The ambulance people told my riding partner that it would have been a Life-flight without the helmet. I was going straight and the pizza guy came up from behind and decided to make a right turn in front of me. I don't remember anything but the dark shadow to my left. I must have pulled back because my tail bone and finger were broken and my jaw had some trauma from the helmet strap and of course the concussion. Mostly good now, and we have gone to riding a tandem. Bigger target but it seems to get a little more respect on the road. Best wishes to you and your wife. Be safe! Peace, Kim

[cliffordu]

25. Those speed-past-hard-right-turns almost get me three or four times a year.

No kidding - and I live in a bike-centric town......

[librechik]

22. "Group Rates" are much cheaper--see if you can get her into a "group" of some kind

I would start out searching google for how to do it--I've only heard of this gambit, so don't know how to do it exactly. Certain insurance exchanges will find a group for you, so I hear.

[cliffordu]

26. thanks, librechik

i'll spend the next week or so getting into all these things.

makes me feel so....unclean,.....