# What does your health insurance cost? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2007, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570 "2007-10-30T14:06:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/41 "2007-10-31T07:38:36Z")
Nothing. We’re both state employees, which means our health coverage is free. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/42 "2007-10-31T10:29:26Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Nothing. We’re both state employees, which means our health coverage is free. [/QUOTE] Ok then, how much does your health insurance cost _me?_ Mine costs about $1350 a year, half of which is paid by my employer, and from which I can receive a $500 rebate if I don’t file any claims during the previous year. It covers 100% of my expenses, including prescriptions and dental. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/43 "2007-10-31T10:31:27Z")
I pay 104$ a month, 10$ co-pays, tiered prescription plan. > [@](#): > > **tonedef** said: > In the USA do you need health insurance to see a doctor? Like a regular GP for a check up for example? You can always pay the doctor directly. It’s not cheap but the option does exist. I think my doctor charges $67 for an office visit. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/44 "2007-10-31T11:37:18Z")
Hmmm… as I am looking at returning to the US, but am uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition, I have been researching a group plan for my company (both my wife and I are the only employees). For the 2 of us, it’d be $4500/mo or so. Obviously we can’t afford this, so it looks like we will be uninsured. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/45 "2007-10-31T11:46:40Z")
[QUOTE=Desert Nomad] Hmmm… as I am looking at returning to the US, but am uninsurable due to a pre-existing condition, I have been researching a group plan for my company (both my wife and I are the only employees). For the 2 of us, it’d be $4500/mo or so. Obviously we can’t afford this, so it looks like we will be uninsured. [/QUOTE] **Desert Nomad** Much the same case here. I don’t have any pre-existing conditions I’m aware of but I’m over 50 so it’s just a matter of time. What do y’all do, if that’s not too nosy? Regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/46 "2007-10-31T13:02:26Z")
[QUOTE=Testy] **Desert Nomad** Much the same case here. I don’t have any pre-existing conditions I’m aware of but I’m over 50 so it’s just a matter of time. What do y’all do, if that’s not too nosy? Regards Testy [/QUOTE] I own a small software company, based in the US, but moved overseas as I could not get any health insurance in the US. That was 5 years ago and I’d lke to come home… but no way can I come up with $4500/mo. I’d take a huge pay cut to get a regular job so not sure what I will do. I am looking at keeping my foreign residency and buying a travel plan… for anything major, I’d get treatment overseas but for emergencies, well… I guess I’d have a big problem. I hate the American health care “system”. PS: Where in Saudi are you? We’re hoping to arrange a visit to Jeddah but the tourist rules are pretty strict there… been everywhere else in the Gulf, so looking for someplace new. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/47 "2007-10-31T13:32:12Z")
[QUOTE=Sublight] Ok then, how much does your health insurance cost _me?_ [/QUOTE] Seeing as how you are in another country, my health insurance costs you, on the best of days and on the worst of days, absolutely nothing. What on earth kind of question was that? ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/48 "2007-10-31T13:41:44Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] Seeing as how you are in another country, my health insurance costs you, on the best of days and on the worst of days, absolutely nothing. What on earth kind of question was that? [/QUOTE] IIRC US citizens abroad still have to pay US taxes. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/49 "2007-10-31T13:52:45Z")
[QUOTE=Szlater] IIRC US citizens abroad still have to pay US taxes. [/QUOTE] Well then, if he’s not a Florida resident, he’s still not paying for my healthcare. And if he is a Florida resident, he’s only paying federal income tax. I suspect not a cent of this has paid for my health care, either. ---
**Author:** ![Testy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@Testy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Testy)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/50 "2007-10-31T13:54:38Z")
[QUOTE=Desert Nomad] I own a small software company, based in the US, but moved overseas as I could not get any health insurance in the US. That was 5 years ago and I’d lke to come home… but no way can I come up with $4500/mo. I’d take a huge pay cut to get a regular job so not sure what I will do. I am looking at keeping my foreign residency and buying a travel plan… for anything major, I’d get treatment overseas but for emergencies, well… I guess I’d have a big problem. I hate the American health care “system”. PS: Where in Saudi are you? We’re hoping to arrange a visit to Jeddah but the tourist rules are pretty strict there… been everywhere else in the Gulf, so looking for someplace new. [/QUOTE] **Desert Nomad** I also have a SW company, one of those snaky things out of Ras Al-Khaimah. _S_ My daughter is back in the US right now and her health care insurance is amazingly expensive. This is for a 19 year old girl in good health, no pre-existing, no nothing. She chipped a tooth a few months ago and it was US $1,600 to fix it. I could have had it done here, by an American dentist, for less than half that. Yeah, the tourist regulations for Saudi are a bit weird. Despite this, they really want to push tourism. I know that’s pretty contradictory. We actually had a flight full of American tourists land in Jeddah a few years back. They were met at the plane with abayas for the ladies. _S_ If you get the chance, give Riyadh a try. I used to live in Bahrain so I know Riyadh has a horrible reputation but it’s not actually that bad and there are a hell of a lot of interesting things to see. If you’re into scenery and camping there is the escarpment a few miles from here that is beautiful, especially at sunset. Old Diriyah (ancient mud-hut city) and tons of things. People who live here and claim that they are bored aren’t trying! This time of year it’s beautiful here, bone dry with cool, clear nights. I’ve always been kind of blah about Jeddah. The Red Sea is nice but you can go to Egypt and see/enjoy it more. Aside from that there isn’t a great deal in Jeddah that I really enjoy. I don’t know if I’ll ever go back home. I love the place dearly but no longer have much in common with most people and feel like a bit of an alien. If you mention that someone in another country does something better you’re considered some kind of raving communist or unpatriotic. My email is in my profile so send me a quick message and we can look for ways and means of getting you out here. Best regards Testy ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2007, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570/51 "2007-10-31T15:57:09Z")
[QUOTE=Desert Nomad] I own a small software company, based in the US, but moved overseas as I could not get any health insurance in the US. That was 5 years ago and I’d lke to come home… but no way can I come up with $4500/mo. I’d take a huge pay cut to get a regular job so not sure what I will do. I am looking at keeping my foreign residency and buying a travel plan… for anything major, I’d get treatment overseas but for emergencies, well… I guess I’d have a big problem. I hate the American health care “system”. [/QUOTE] Where in the US would you be living if you moved back? That is a rediculous amount for a business plan for 2 people. I sell business insurance in California and the most expensive plan I’ve seen for 2 people in a business is not even half of that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-your-health-insurance-cost/424570.md?page=2)