Is anyone here in health insurance? Or does anyone here have an individual health insurance plan (as opposed to being part of a group plan through an employer)?

I'm wondering what the premium costs would be for an individual plan to cover myself only? I know it depends on all kinds of things, such as age and health conditions, but I just want a sense of the range.

For what it's worth, I'm middle aged and do have health conditions, and I do want a decent plan (not an HMO, no impossibly high deductibles).

I'm just looking for an in general amount or people's experiences. Also, if you're happy with your insurance, I'd like to know what company it is.

Well, I have years of experience with this - my husband is self employed and we have paid for years - we keep increasing our deductible because the prices keep going up. I am in my late 40's - my hubby is early 50's - we have some issues but not anything - mostly the aches and pains of getting older - we pay (sit down) over $ 600 per month - with a high deductible - its outrageous how much it keeps going up - I am afraid we are going to be priced out of it soon. Good luck and stick with a solid company like Blue Cross/ Blue Shield or whatever you have locally.

Otis, this is what I am afraid of finding out soon. I want to semi-retire next year, but won't be eligible for MediCare until 5 years from now, so I am a little afraid of what I'm going to have to pay for insurance. However, I don't have expensive meds or medical treatments needed routinely, so maybe I can find cheaper.

Rates as of 3 yrs ago, I was mid 40's moderate health issues wt/ht approptiate/ non smoker/light drinker.

for just myself , $1500 deductable , PPO. I paid @$1400 per Qtr. It paid off fairly quickly. 75/25 ( they paid 75 % and I paid 25 % of bill....)

DH and I are on Medicare and have supplemental group insurance through his former employer. Just been notified by that they will no longer have the group plan info to choose from but with a phone call they will help guide us to a new plan for 2012. Don't care how nicely they word it, their Human Resources will have nothing to do with any problems and will be unavailable for any assistance and we'll be out a lot of dollars for our new insurance.

I'm now on Medicare & doing a happy dance.

I had a $5000.00 deductible and paid $829.54 every two months. As far as I was concerned since I had to pay for everything, I wasn't insured - just catastrophic insurance.

We too have always been self-employed and right now we have BCBS and pay $1200 month with a $3500 ded and then pay 20% untill we reach $5000, then it kicks in 100%. The only good is that medical is deductable if you itemize and the premiums are deductible on the business side and we own a business. But, I have already paid out almost $10,000 this year in medical plus the premiums. OUCH

My 61 y.o. cousin just said she's paying $500 a month in Atlanta, Ga, but I'm not really sure who or what deductible. At the moment we are very, very lucky that we have Medicare and BC/BS thru DH's retirement.

May, I'm scared spitless, they are trying to do us the same way, it's that company that is in big financial trouble NOT, Verizon, the one that can afford to pay it's CEO and President both mega bucks, but resents paying health care premiums for both employees and retirees.

Glassquilt, please pay attention to what is going on in Congress these days. There are proposals to give Medicare recipients a 'voucher' to purchase health insurance - voucher amount poposed as $5,000 - which seems like a lot of money, until you try to buy a decent health insurance policy with it.

I'm watching that issue closely as will be 65 in 3 years. I don't see vouchers helping anyone but insurance companies.

So far I haven't heard one word about what MUST be included in a health insurance policy that could be purchased with a voucher, nor have I seen whether the proposed voucher would have to be paid up front by us (and then refunded as a tax credit or something when we file federal taxes) or whether it will be automatically paid by the federal government. If it has to be paid up front, how many of us will have the $$$ to do that?

I wonder if insurance companies will be allowed to refuse treatment for 'pre-existing' conditions - most of us over 65 do have at least one pre-existing conditions - a very important question.

What happens when insurance company raises prices or cuts benefits or both?

This particular issue is a very important one for people approaching retirement. Many of us count on having medicare plans to help us with medical expenses as we age. I think Medicare 'vouchers' have a great potential to wind up costing us much more money, providing fewer benefits us more than current Medicare costs, giving fewer benefits and/or just plain price us out of the health insurance market altogether.

"May, I'm scared spitless, they are trying to do us the same way, it's that company that is in big financial trouble NOT, Verizon, the one that can afford to pay it's CEO and President both mega bucks, but resents paying health care premiums for both employees and retirees"

Yes, Me too. Also watching what's happening in Congress but fear we have little influence on decision making. Decisions are being made that will only benefit big business, namely insurance compaines,and those decisions will be putting a heavy burden upon the average person.