Simple living healthcare options

Doctors After reading my post last week about simple living housing options, Andy wrote in to say:

This post reminds me of a question I had when I first started reading regarding what you do for health insurance. I feel that health insurance, not housing is the biggest factor tying most people to their traditional jobs. The options you mention for housing in this post seem reasonable for someone seriously wanting to switch to a microbusiness model from the traditional 9-to-5 but the lack of health insurance seems like the gordian knot, especially if you have a spouse and small child. I'd be very interested to see a post (posts?) on this topic.

Several other people have asked me the healthcare question, so I thought I'd run through some of the tricks we've come up with. I'd love hear from other folks who might have solved the healthcare problem in another way as well.

If you're eligible for a government program, take advantage of it. There are a surprising number of free or reduced cost healthcare options out there which you may be eligible for. When you're in the government system, you'll have to spend a bit more time advocating for your own needs, but not nearly as much time as you would otherwise be spending at that desk job! Here are a few options to get you started:

Mark served in the Navy for a few years, so it was a breeze to get him into the Veteran's Affairs healthcare system. They pay for nearly everything (including most of your medicine costs) for ex-military employees who make less than around $30,000 per year, and still pay for a lot when your income is higher.
If you're age 65 or older, you should clearly be in the Medicare system.
Regardless of your age, if your health is very bad, you should check into the disability system, which will pay for most of your healthcare needs.
Your local health department offers a lot of free or cheap services such as immunizations and women's health checkups, and most areas have clinics that will provide other kinds of health care on a sliding scale if your income is low enough.

Sign up for a high deductible, catastrophic health insurance policy. If you're not eligible for coverage through any of the government programs, you should sign up for a private health insurance policy. I'm assuming your health is good --- if it's not, you should be looking into one of the government programs listed above (especially disability.) Since you're pretty healthy, your primary needs for healthcare are twofold: relatively low cost preventative care and the unlikely but very possible chance of getting hit by a car or suddenly developing cancer. With a high deductible health insurance policy, you cover the former category out of your own pocket, but are secure in the knowledge that you won't be bankrupted by the latter possibility. Of course, you need to have at least a few thousand dollars in savings so that you can pay up to the deductible. This type of policy is relatively inexpensive, although the cost will, of course, depend on your age, gender, and health. You may spend somewhere between $100 and $200 per month.

Consider alternatives to the doctor's office. Many people who are used to being covered by health insurance rush to the doctor when they stub their toe or come down with a cold. Your doctor really can't do much about problems like that, and you'd be better off staying home and putting your feet up for a day instead. You may also discover that your recurring maladies can be solved through yoga or talking your problems out with a friend. If you do have an ailment that needs the input of Western medicine, a nurse should be your first line of defense rather than a doctor. Many grocery stores and pharmacies now have a nurse on staff who can help you with minor to moderate ailments, often for $50 or less. I've had really good luck with these nurses, and have often found that they listened better than the overworked doctors I spent top dollar to visit.

Barter with a doctor (or, better, a nurse.) Chances are that you have a doctor or nurse in your circle of friends and family. Remember that they are overworked and are probably sick of being stopped by sick people in the grocery store who want to show them their stubbed toes. That said, these friends will often be willing to barter their services for your skills. Can you trade a good meal or some plumbing work in exchange for that second opinion you'd like but can't afford?

Be healthy. Okay, I know you're sneering at me here, but there are so many things we can each do in our own lives to make sure we don't get sick. Chances are that the flu you came down with is due to stress from dealing with your annoying boss, or from trying to juggle Christmas visits to four family members. When you follow our plan in Microbusiness Independence, chances are that you'll become much healthier simply due to being happy and to having more time to eat right and exercise. Taking time to relax and finding a good balance between working your mind and your body will go a long way toward keeping you healthy, as will eating lots of fruits and vegetables. You might be surprised by how seldom you feel the need to visit a doctor after you quit your job!

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Wetknee home Microbusiness ebook Appalachian ecology ebook Chicken ebooks News Recent comments Blog archive Tags Contact us Links Our sister sites: Homestead blog Deer deterrent Chicken waterer Cosmic cookout Nature art	Simple living healthcare options After reading my post last week about simple living housing options, Andy wrote in to say: This post reminds me of a question I had when I first started reading regarding what you do for health insurance. I feel that health insurance, not housing is the biggest factor tying most people to their traditional jobs. The options you mention for housing in this post seem reasonable for someone seriously wanting to switch to a microbusiness model from the traditional 9-to-5 but the lack of health insurance seems like the gordian knot, especially if you have a spouse and small child. I'd be very interested to see a post (posts?) on this topic. Several other people have asked me the healthcare question, so I thought I'd run through some of the tricks we've come up with. I'd love hear from other folks who might have solved the healthcare problem in another way as well. If you're eligible for a government program, take advantage of it. There are a surprising number of free or reduced cost healthcare options out there which you may be eligible for. When you're in the government system, you'll have to spend a bit more time advocating for your own needs, but not nearly as much time as you would otherwise be spending at that desk job! Here are a few options to get you started: Mark served in the Navy for a few years, so it was a breeze to get him into the Veteran's Affairs healthcare system. They pay for nearly everything (including most of your medicine costs) for ex-military employees who make less than around $30,000 per year, and still pay for a lot when your income is higher. If you're age 65 or older, you should clearly be in the Medicare system. Regardless of your age, if your health is very bad, you should check into the disability system, which will pay for most of your healthcare needs. Your local health department offers a lot of free or cheap services such as immunizations and women's health checkups, and most areas have clinics that will provide other kinds of health care on a sliding scale if your income is low enough. Sign up for a high deductible, catastrophic health insurance policy. If you're not eligible for coverage through any of the government programs, you should sign up for a private health insurance policy. I'm assuming your health is good --- if it's not, you should be looking into one of the government programs listed above (especially disability.) Since you're pretty healthy, your primary needs for healthcare are twofold: relatively low cost preventative care and the unlikely but very possible chance of getting hit by a car or suddenly developing cancer. With a high deductible health insurance policy, you cover the former category out of your own pocket, but are secure in the knowledge that you won't be bankrupted by the latter possibility. Of course, you need to have at least a few thousand dollars in savings so that you can pay up to the deductible. This type of policy is relatively inexpensive, although the cost will, of course, depend on your age, gender, and health. You may spend somewhere between $100 and $200 per month. Consider alternatives to the doctor's office. Many people who are used to being covered by health insurance rush to the doctor when they stub their toe or come down with a cold. Your doctor really can't do much about problems like that, and you'd be better off staying home and putting your feet up for a day instead. You may also discover that your recurring maladies can be solved through yoga or talking your problems out with a friend. If you do have an ailment that needs the input of Western medicine, a nurse should be your first line of defense rather than a doctor. Many grocery stores and pharmacies now have a nurse on staff who can help you with minor to moderate ailments, often for $50 or less. I've had really good luck with these nurses, and have often found that they listened better than the overworked doctors I spent top dollar to visit. Barter with a doctor (or, better, a nurse.) Chances are that you have a doctor or nurse in your circle of friends and family. Remember that they are overworked and are probably sick of being stopped by sick people in the grocery store who want to show them their stubbed toes. That said, these friends will often be willing to barter their services for your skills. Can you trade a good meal or some plumbing work in exchange for that second opinion you'd like but can't afford? Be healthy. Okay, I know you're sneering at me here, but there are so many things we can each do in our own lives to make sure we don't get sick. Chances are that the flu you came down with is due to stress from dealing with your annoying boss, or from trying to juggle Christmas visits to four family members. When you follow our plan in Microbusiness Independence, chances are that you'll become much healthier simply due to being happy and to having more time to eat right and exercise. Taking time to relax and finding a good balance between working your mind and your body will go a long way toward keeping you healthy, as will eating lots of fruits and vegetables. You might be surprised by how seldom you feel the need to visit a doctor after you quit your job! 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