I mentioned in an open thread earlier today that I was told point-blank that despite my willingness to pay extra premiums, I was going to be denied individual coverage by
QualChoice's IQ plan because I am a Type 1 Diabetic.
I have been covered by QualChoice through various group plans for the last 14 years. But I was laid off last month, and rather than going COBRA -- which would cost me close to $400 a month -- I thought I would investigate QualChoice's "IQ" (Individual QualChoice) option. I had heard it advertised on the radio frequently, and it sounded like a much better alternative to the costly COBRA plans.
So I call IQ, and am told by the screener that I would be categorically denied coverage due to my diabetes. I was "too much of a risk."
More on the other side
My fiancé's is a temp, so I contacted the insurance broker who recently sold her a decent, $100/month short-term plan. As soon as he heard I was diabetic, he said, "Oh. You're screwed."
He informed me that according to Ohio law, insurance providers and employers may not discriminate against employees for health care coverage. That is, as a member of a group, you cannot be denied insurance.
This is okay for the insurance folks, because they are taking the calculated risk that even if you get sick, everyone else in your group who is paying for insurance will more than cover the costs you might accrue. It's a gamble, but a pretty safe one. They also cover themselves by adjusting the group rate depending on the demographics of the group. You have more than one person with medical problems like diabetes, hypertension, history of cancer, etc.? Your entire group pays more per person per month.
But individuals get no such guarantees.
The only plan that my broker could find me would have cost $660 a month. There's a $750 deductable, with a $4,250 annual cap. It goes on from there, but the point was that it was even more expensive than COBRA -- which I currently can't afford.
What's worse is that the $150 or so I spend a month on prescriptions will now rise to nearly $350 a month without any prescription plan. and if I can't afford the $400 COBRA plan, how in the world am I supposed to afford $350 for the Insulin, Glucophage, Lisinopril and other medications I need to take upwards of three times a day in order to keep myself out of the hospital?
So. Anyone out there in Northeast Ohio who would be willing to hire me for 1 hour a week plus health coverage? I'll do that in exchange for any graphic design, print or rudimentary web design work your firm might need. It'll probably screw up my unemployment benefits, but I can freelance until I find something permanent...
... unless, of course, you own a graphic design, advertising, or marketing firm. Then you should just hire me full-time. I'm asking $50K, but would be willing to settle for $40K for the right position. I have 17 years experience and am master-level in Adobe Photoshop and Acrobat, Quark XPress and Macromedia Freehand. I have a kick-ass portfolio, and am available immediately. Email me if you can help.
**Another option is to pair up with another independent designer and start our own company. At that point, insurance providers would be unable to deny us coverage since we'd be buying as a two-person "group." Email me me if you're interested.