Health Insurance: Can’t Afford It, Can’t Live Without It.

hospital-health-careI knew this was coming.

This summer when I lost my job, my former employer gave me a severance package that included paying my family’s health insurance premiums for the rest of the year.  Our current health insurance premium for our family of four is $1192.30 paid quarterly ($664.10 every month).

I knew this was coming.

It was due to this looming expense that I had doubts about whether or not going back to school was the best idea for me.  Back then there was an opening for a city garbageman. I grabbed the application but instead of filling it out, I registered for classes.

I knew this was coming.

This has been in the back of my mind constantly.  It’s a big reason why we decided that we needed to sell the van. It also played a major contributing factor in the decision to take out a student loan.

I knew this was coming.

So now that it’s here what am I going to do about it?

Pay it!

I know that it’s the simple answer, but I also know that it’s easier said than done.

I could choose to be like one of the millions of families who don’t have any coverage.  But that’s a risk I don’t feel like taking.  If it ever comes to that, then so be it.  But right now we’re not in that place yet. Plus with my family medical history, I need to do whatever I can to make sure we don’t get to that place.

We think we can get by until I get a teaching job (hopefully 2 years).  We’ve been very fortunate that at the same time that I lost my job that my wife’s business has started doing better.  So that is why we’ll try to do our best at controlling our other expenses then take advantage of employer heath care when I get a job.

It’s amazing how easily we took that benefit for granted.

Hopefully President Obama with the help of Health Sec. Tom Daschle (former South Dakotan) will be able actually introduce some “positive” reforms to our health care system.  But I’m not going to hold my breath.

I know I’m not the only one out there who has been in this boat.  So Happy Rock readers I turn to you once again. What did you do when presented with this situation?  Have any of you went without Health Insurance before? Any thoughts on Health Insurance in general?

Keep in mind that this is a family friendly environment 🙂

Until next time,

-DD

16 Comments

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *