Average Annual Individual Health Insurance Cost Forum

[Renne Walker]

Since most law schools mandate having individual health insurance, what do you pay for your individual health plan (not covered by parent or spouse)? If you can add details, please do.

[lawgod]

This is a poll where we all say what we think the average is?

I say just go no insurance. Tell the school you have, and just don't have. My school didn't ask for any proof. (I do actually have insurance, my parents plan still covers me.)

[Renne Walker]

This is a poll where we all say what we think the average is?

No. Perhaps the title should have been, "what do you pay for health insurance," if you are not covered by parents or spouse.

[Renzo]

My school mandates insurance. But I live in New York, and I have no income, so I told them to go screw and hooked up the Medicaid.

[Kendi]

I indicated my insurance should cost around $1000-$1500, but my law school's plan is over $2,500. Hopefully, I will find a plan that the school will accept, even though it will be cheaper than theirs.

[cinephile]

My individually purchased insurance is roughly $1,000 a year. But it doesn't actually cover anything worth covering -- it's basically just catastrophic insurance. Even though the school's plan is twice that, I think I'm taking it. Maybe I'll actually see a doctor for the first time in two years.

[applejacks]

probably going to be a little over 2 grand.

[TTH]

My insurance is around 700 bucks and the coverage is actually decent if you stay within the University's medical system, and since it's fucking huge, it has most anything I need

[drs36]

My school mandates insurance. But I live in New York, and I have no income, so I told them to go screw and hooked up the Medicaid.

It surprises me that more people don't do this. I would have done the same if my parents' insurance didn't cover me 'til 26.

[03121202698008]

I do not use the school's insurance. I have a similar, albeit slightly worse, plan from the same carrier (Aetna) for $80/month. It covers major medical and some office visits. I can use my school's clinic (do everything up to x-rays) for free so its coverage is adequate.

The school's plan is like $170/month...

[Bill Cosby]

My school mandates insurance. But I live in New York, and I have no income, so I told them to go screw and hooked up the Medicaid.

It surprises me that more people don't do this. I would have done the same if my parents' insurance didn't cover me 'til 26.

They don't because you can't in most states.

[drs36]

My school mandates insurance. But I live in New York, and I have no income, so I told them to go screw and hooked up the Medicaid.

It surprises me that more people don't do this. I would have done the same if my parents' insurance didn't cover me 'til 26.

They don't because you can't in most states.

Interesting. Feel free to disagree, but I just understand that. The program is designed to help the low-income and who better to help than a student trying to better his/herself all the while having a net-worth of, likely, negative $'s. But what the hell, just deny them and add a few thousand $ more onto his/her debt pile.

[Ersatz Haderach]

1320, and I need to read my statements more carefully.

[Kendi]

800. Man, some of you are getting ripped.

That works for me! Can you say who the carrier is? Is the coverage descent, meaning are we talking a five figure deductible?

[BoriquaEsquire]

My school's basic program is $1,614/year. It's a little pricey, but I'm disabled and see a lot of doctors so I end up saving more than I spend on the annual premium.

My parents also pay for health insurance on their plan because my school's catastrophic is only $250,000 and the prescription benefits expire after $1,500. Last year, I went through the prescription benefits in a month and a half and had to pay out of pocket for the rest of the year. As you can imagine, my disbursement was stretched pretty thin because of that.

[cranberry]

I pay $3000 but I have the like, prescription plus plan because I'm a medhead. The real deal is dental insurance... $300 for the year, and I've had a root canal, a crown, crown replacement, and three cleanings, all on their tab.

[Renne Walker]

In the early going, it is roughly 46% for those paying over $2K and 54% for those paying under $2K. Interesting to see that 16% are paying over $2.5K and 17% are paying under $1K.

The largest cell [30%] pays between $2,000-$2,500.

[Ersatz Haderach]

800. Man, some of you are getting ripped.

That works for me! Can you say who the carrier is? Is the coverage descent, meaning are we talking a five figure deductible?

I'm an idiot. It's actually 1320.

Still, it's not awful, and is 80/20 coverage with max out of pocket of 5k if you use the local hospitals (good ones), and a lot of things are 100% after the 20 dollar co-pay. It's Aetna, with some special provisions since my school has a huge hospital system throughout the city/region.

[smittytron3k]

I think mine is either 1400/year or 1400/semester...I know I'm paying 1400 in the fall but can't remember what I paid in the spring.

Anyways, pro-tip for the cheapskates: typically you are ineligible for a state's medicaid program if you are eligible for coverage through another source, including your law school.

[Ele]

Columbia provides a basic $1,935 plan, this is probably the one I'll choose. We have the option to supersize it to $2,816, which includes enhanced benefits for prescription drugs and physical therapy. We can opt for an outside carrier, if it meets certain rigid standards.

[dudders]

My school mandates insurance. But I live in New York, and I have no income, so I told them to go screw and hooked up the Medicaid.

It surprises me that more people don't do this. I would have done the same if my parents' insurance didn't cover me 'til 26.

They don't because you can't in most states.

Yeah my state would seem to require that I be over 65, blind, disabled, or pregnant, and that my bank account never exceed $2600 at any point during any month.

[Kendi]

Does anyone have coverage they are happy with in the $1,500 annual price range? Would you please identify the carrier.

[NorielleL]

I think some of you will agree that most people can ill-afford to pay for things they do not need in these difficult times.

[Slobberson]

My school mandates insurance. But I live in New York, and I have no income, so I told them to go screw and hooked up the Medicaid.

It surprises me that more people don't do this. I would have done the same if my parents' insurance didn't cover me 'til 26.

They don't because you can't in most states.

Interesting. Feel free to disagree, but I just understand that. The program is designed to help the low-income and who better to help than a student trying to better his/herself all the while having a net-worth of, likely, negative $'s. But what the hell, just deny them and add a few thousand $ more onto his/her debt pile.

That guy chose to "better himself" at a super expensive law school in one of the most expensive cities on the planet. Why should we pay for that?

[Renzo]

That guy chose to "better himself" at a super expensive law school in one of the most expensive cities on the planet. Why should we pay for that?

Because I am now in the highest tax bracket in one of the highest tax states, and I don't complain about it because I know the money is going to good uses like providing health insurance to people who need it.