# Looking for independent health insurance **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 10, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856 "2006-03-10T17:58:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/1 "2006-03-10T17:58:07Z")
So for the first time in a very long time, I’m in a position where work does not also provide health coverage. I’ve been doing the COBRA thing, keeping my health coverage from my old job for $350/month, and I want to look for something cheaper. I think I should be able to find some less expensive coverage, and pretty much all I need it for are regular checkups and emergencies should something I don’t know about come up. Any suggestions on where I should look and how much I can expect to pay? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/2 "2006-03-10T18:37:51Z")
There was a thread on medical insurance a couple of months ago, but I don’t remember if it was in GQ or the Pit (or went from one to the other). I was in your position a couple of years ago. I went to my independent agent, and the cheapest she could find for me was $550 a month with Blue Cross. I’m a 60-year-old smoker but my medical history is good, no chronic conditions or hospitalizations. Start with an independent agent. They should have info on all the major carriers. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2006, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/3 "2006-03-10T23:07:56Z")
_So_ many variables, not the least of which is where you live. I’m self employed, carry my own insurance. [Unicare](http://www.unicare.com/) was the best, most comprehensive-for-the-premium plan I have found. I’m in Michigan, no health problems, 48, nonsmoker. Mind you, I haven’t put it to the test yet! The online comparison sites got me nowhere except masses of spam. Blue Cross was terribly expensive. I called around several local providers & didn’t find anything affordable or comprehensive enough. My best resource was the independent agent who sells me home & auto insurance; he set me up with the Unicare 2000, which seemed both perfectly suitable and quite affordable. ($160/month, though a potentially high annual deductible should I need lots of expensive care.) ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/4 "2006-03-11T17:19:28Z")
I may be able to help, health insurance for the self employed is what I do after all. Email’s in my profile, drop me a line, I can probably get you in touch with someone local to you, depending on where you live. ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/5 "2006-03-15T15:40:09Z")
I’ll drop you a note, thanks very much! ---
**Author:** ![cherry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/6 "2006-03-15T16:06:05Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > I may be able to help, health insurance for the self employed is what I do after all. Email’s in my profile, drop me a line, I can probably get you in touch with someone local to you, depending on where you live. Is the health insurance you offer through the National Association for the Self Employed (NASE)? We have it through them and are currently looking at alternatives such as a HSA. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/7 "2006-03-15T16:32:29Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > I may be able to help, health insurance for the self employed is what I do after all. Email’s in my profile, drop me a line, I can probably get you in touch with someone local to you, depending on where you live. May I as well, if you don’t mind. I live just south of you in No.Va. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/8 "2006-03-15T19:21:59Z")
Dave’s happy to help. He can’t sell anywhere but in our home state, but he knows agents all over the mid-atlantic region, and can pass you along to an agent in any state you happen to reside. He does NOT get any sort of fee for this, or compensation of any kind. This isn’t any sort of solicitation. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-independent-health-insurance/347856/9 "2006-03-15T19:34:47Z")
> [@cherry](#): > > Is the health insurance you offer through the National Association for the Self Employed (NASE)? We have it through them and are currently looking at alternatives such as a HSA. Yes, that’s my organization. Did you have any specific issues with your coverage? One of the real strengths of our plans is that we allow the client to completely customize what they want, designing their individual plan to their specific needs, but it’s also a potential weakness if you get an agent who isn’t willing or able to really listen to what the client wants and comply, meaning some people wind up with coverage that is not exactly what they wanted/expected/needed. Many of these issues can be fixed by tweaking the plan post issue, feel free to drop me a line and I’ll answer any questions you might have, I may even be able to steer you towards fixing the plan. Also, there was a thread on HSAs a few months back, here’s the [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=356707), some good information is available there, although if you qualify an HRA will save you a lot more than an HSA, we can set one up for you. > [@GingerOfTheNorth](#): > > He does NOT get any sort of fee for this, or compensation of any kind. This isn’t any sort of solicitation. She’s right, damn it. _grumble grumble_😛