Then suddenly God says – I've got it covered
Friday November 30th 2007
by Paul Armstrong
Life has been, well, shit lately. There isn't many words to mince when I look back and say out loud the stuff our family has endured the past few months -- or even year. I'm not complaining or attempting to elicit sympathy, there are far more people with far greater problems and I'm thankful for every aspect of my life -- I just wish it wasn't like walking through a rug of broken glass.
But good things are coming. We've been dealing with the nightmare that is individual health insurance. If you're not associated with a large "entity" (i.e., business, government, school), health insurance companies don't care about you. Essentially the insurance is there for only the perfectly healthy -- even visiting the doctor for a cold is a demerit or something. Every year our rates go up, but changing plans is like moving; its messy, tiring, time consuming and something is always left behind. After paying more than $750 a month, I thought it might be time to mosey on. After wrangling and digging, answer the same entrapment questioning (mainly, anything that might in the future signal to the insurance company that they might have to pay for something for you -- like say, you go for a diagnostic test to see if, just IF, your child might have learning disability, which the doctors conclude; no, they do not -- the insurance company reads that as "there is the potential possibly, maybe, since you went to the doctor, that your child might get something that we'll have to pay for, and medication, and visits and we just don't want to "insure" you, we want to get your money for you health). Anyway, we got a plan, and that huge expense has been reduced by 1/3. I ranted, I know; but it felt good.
Adding further to the spiral downward to good things (which, another aside, makes me wary; I always get nervous when things go well, that I won't be grateful enough, that I won't be humble enough, that I won't appreciate the blessings, and that in turn God will heap curses and plagues upon me and the family through me; I have no idea where this inbred pessimism comes from **cough**dad**cough**, but it makes enjoyment of good things nearly impossible) I've been delving more and more into photography and more work is coming my way. I'm two handshakes away from a contract with a large and reputable Stock Photo Agency to resale rights managed photos (in which I'd get a commission). Great stuff.
Also, I found out the other day (well, really just a few hours ago) that a few of my pictures are featured (a few fairly predominantly) in a new book, focusing on the area of Cincinnati, called Capture Cincinnati. Remember when I asked you all to vote awhile back? Yeah? Well, thank you! It seems to have worked. I'm officially published.
Also also; I was interviewed a few days ago (literally, I was) for the local magazine Our Town, about being a home based business. Yeah, me -- interviewed about anything with the world "business" seems odd. They also want to send a photographer out to get my picture -- meaning I have to clean my office up, and look respectable (even though I have a 30 day beard, that makes me look like a uncommitted hobo).
Also also also; Sideshow Coffee will be launching tomorrow - with much fanfare, rejoicing and caffeine intake. I had to postpone my original launch date of November for several reasons -- mostly supplies (the bags to store the beans in didn't come in time; plus figuring out all the shipping costs and the best and least, yet still time effecient, shipping methods). All told, we're stocked up on beans, bags, labels, business cards, boxes, bio-degradable packing peanuts, tape, and a website that (should) function. I have high hopes for this venture, and its future.
That's quite a bit of great news, and I'm glad to finally be bringing good news; now let's hope I can squash that pessimism.
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As always...we are praying for ya...You big.......well, I won't say what I want to. God always provides....I know it is crazy....but he really does.
Love ya guys!
by Trent
∞ Friday, November 30th, 2007
Oh by the way....where are frackin distractions....lol.
by Trent
∞ Friday, November 30th, 2007
Sorry about all the health insurance stuff. That sounds like a big pain in the tuckus. That is so cool you are starting to get paid and recognized for your work. B/c you got skillz.
by Jeff Krieger
∞ Friday, November 30th, 2007
If you're paying $500 a month for health insurance for your family, then you're doing pretty well, by and large.
Health insurance for individuals or families not part of some other group is really difficult. The problem is that the model used by health insurance companies does not work for very small groups. It's a load/risk-balancing strategy, so if the group is small, then there is no way for the company to maintain profitability in the case of a large medical cost incurred. So their solution is to 1. Charge extremely high rates. 2. Don't cover as many things as possible. 3. Decline as many claims as possible as many times as possible in hopes that the insured will give up and stop demanding recompense. 4. Increase premiums drastically whenever claims have been granted during a given enrollment period. I watched my business partner deal with these issues repeatedly. He paid about the same as you for his family, and his insurance only covered catastrophic claims up to a huge deductible. Far as I can tell, the only ways around this aren't really even ways around . I'm sure you've looked into HSAs, group insurance (u through organizations and affiliations), and collectives.
I wonder which states have the best health care options. It would be interesting if the group health approach could be applied to regions so that everyone in a particular county, for example, could be covered as if they were a corporate group. It would still be expensive for participants, but the benefits of group insurance would be available to the participants. I imagine that health insurance companies would get more clients and the risk and cost could be more evenly distributed than it is through the individual/family approach.
by Mike
∞ Friday, November 30th, 2007
I know that Ohio is messed up in terms of health coverage laws and policies. My old broker even told me so. We were about to do an HSA; but then declined to cover Abigail (for that above stated "diagnostic" issue -- she went in for a test, at the schools request, to see if she had a learning disablity; which the Dr. said she did not.) When I called to ask why she was declined; they said because of her condition; to which I said "What condition is that?", "Her learning disabilities", "Um, she doesn't have any", "Did she go for a test?", "Yes ... but", "Then in our books, she has a condition" ... click.
I actually did use a "group" to get the new insurance -- eHealthInsurance. We're actually only paying $325 or so; this year. I figure I'll have this for about 4 years till it gets too expensive. Pretty low deductible, and a co-pay. I think our next move; barring any strange pre-existing conditions, will be to an HSA; they make the most sense.
by Paul
∞ Friday, November 30th, 2007
Hey, you just listed 4 pretty awesome things that are happening RIGHT NOW. Drag your melancholy ass out of the dirt pal. Live for the day.
by luke
∞ Saturday, December 1st, 2007
(that was me talking to myself too - btw)
by luke
∞ Saturday, December 1st, 2007
I understand your fearful tendencies there, bro. ;-) Fight them! I could preach too (as I've done to myself), but I won't. We can chat in person over Christmas and commisserate.
Congrats on the photo ops! Well-deserved and quite awesome. WOO!
by the sis
∞ Saturday, December 1st, 2007