Richard:
I feel compelled to respond to your post. I share the same contempt for IHC as for nearly every insurance carrier. I try to keep things in perspective by simply remembering the insurance company's position: Sign up lots of subscribers, collect lots of premiums, and bet the farm that no one gets sicks, dies or needs any care. If they do then we'll stall till the cows come home and only pay the most fit and most diligent in the crowd. Insurers are in the business of collecting premiums and NOT paying claims. Otherwise they lose money. Pure and Simple.
I have private health insurance from IHC. I am not very happy with it, but it covers the doctors my wife uses. I also looked at Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Altius. I found them all to be overpriced, undervalued, and generally dehumanizing.Not sure what your stand is on chiropractic, but if you value natural healthcare insist on asking and knowing whether the plan you choose will cover treatment with your chiropractor. As well when purchasing or renewing your auto insurance policy, instead of opting for the mandatory $3000 PIP coverage, spend just a few bucks more per years and get $25k or even $100k for the PIP coverage. Then if (God forbid) you do get injured while driving, you can get the care you really need, instead of being summarily cut off at the $3000 limit.
A non-traditional way to fund health expenses is to get a Health Savings Account (HSA), as signed into law by President Bush in 2003 and just now widely available. The idea is to have a high-deductible insurance plan for catastrophic coverage, and then to put tax-free money aside for day-to-day medical expenses. Unlike previous options, any unused money is available after retirement like an IRA.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield offers an online introduction about HSA's here: http://www.ut.regence.com/agent/webinar/
IHC offers an HSA plan called HealthSave: http://www.ihc.com/xp/ihc/insurance/needinsurance/se/semedical/
I haven't tried it yet, but I'd rather spend a little more on occassion than pay as much as I am currently paying to the health insurance industry and their minions.
For what it's worth...
Dr. Jones chiropractor
p.s. IHC doesn't like chiropractic or anything else that wrests power from the pharmaceutical and medical establishment. Be educated in buying insurance!
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