Kicked off Basic Health: Needing affordable private health insurance in WA

[SweetSilver]

We got kicked off of Basic Health and DSHS because of what I inherited after my dad's death.  We are currently enrolled in WA Health, but the premiums are over $400/mo, and we still need to add the girls to it!  We are both self employed and homeschooling our girls, which makes making money difficult.

I need to know if there are alternatives to WA Health.  I can't change those premiums by upping the deductible.  

If you use private insurance (not through your employer) what do you pay?  What advice can you give?  I would like to keep our own doctors, if we can.

[zebra15]

If you are self employed can you join the BBB or small business chamber and see what type of insurance plans they offer?  Some times several small business can go in together on a plan.

Have you priced out a catastrophe plan only and called your DR's office the cash rate for office visits?

[Mulvah]

If you are both self-employed, have you looked into group insurance for your business?  I believe WA requires that two people obtain the insurance; it may be worth looking into.  There are also tax laws, that, if applicable to you, may make that option more appealing.

[SweetSilver]

@zebra15  The BBB is a good idea.  I never thought about trying to find insurance for a business, I've always just assumed that it would be too expensive, since we are just ourselves with no employees.  Good place to start!

@Mulvah  Where would I start looking?  With the insurance companies?  I need to call them anyway and find out about plans with high deductibles.  

Right now I can put the girls on WA Health for not much more, I think, but these premiums are killing us.  We both have seasonal work, and January I made $270!  Aak!  I need to get myself out there to find more work.  In some ways it is freeing to be off subsidized insurance.  It has always been a stress for me to always be skimming the top of the income bracket.  

[zebra15]

Call you local chamber of commerce, see if you can join-

Also call the BBB,  See what you need to do to get listed or approved with them

Call the 'small business bureau' or something like that, probably the chamber of commerce will have the proper name for your area, and again see what you need to do to join and get listed.

Many times just having the listing with the above is enough to join in on the 'group' plans.

Also if there are any professional associations for your line of work, start calling them to see if you can join etc.  The more places you are listed the better your chance.  ya know?