The symbolism of blue throughout this post is very real in a tangible and all the feels type of space. Health insurance is a major discussion these days in light of the changes on the national level. I find myself in my feels because while I so desperately agree with the need for all people to have healthcare, as a result of some of the changes we, as in my family and especially my children are without healthcare because our premium doubled from $500+ to nearly $1k a MONTH
My husband and I are both self employed and while making money to support a family off the work of your own hand and sweat of your own brow is commendable, the problem arises when your hard work disqualifies you from a subsidy and you get stuck with a bill you can’t pay, and children who need health insurance. Those children that I so desperately want to be healthy, insured and able to thrive and grow without fear of the unknown.
ISO 1600/ 60mm/ f2.8/1/80
So I’ve been “blue” about this situation for the past few weeks as open enrollment looms to a close and we have to make a decision about whether one of us has to go back to work for coverage or if we will keep the faith and pay the premium. Spoke to Kaiser and while their rate was under $1k for a month it might as well been….for the few dollars it was short. Also spoke to Blue Cross Blue Shield and they seem like the most viable option with a still hefty bill but one that is manageable with some spending changes so the decision is back to work….or grind harder.
Tip: If you have a DSLR and want to focus on one particular element of a photo while blurring out other aspects drop your aperture/ f stop to the lowest number and set your focus point on where you want the focus to be. To get really good bokeh (blur) chose a lens with an f stop of 2.8 or lower. FYI the lower the f stop goes the more expensive the lens gets!
Thank you again for linking up. Make sure you are being social and making new friends!! Link will remain open for one week. Be sure to visit Lashawn to see what her tip of the week is and what is blue in her world.
16 Comments
LaShawn
January 29, 2015 at 8:46 amHealth insurance premiums are no joke. And I can say that and I WORK for an insurance company. Healthcare costs are really my number one concern after food and shelter. Hope you guys figure out a solution soon.
BlitzAndGlam
January 29, 2015 at 10:12 amMine went up about $50 and I’m singing the blues. And it’s just me. I can’t even imagine a whole family. Good luck!
Tori | Glasses and Glitter
January 29, 2015 at 10:55 amUmm yea.. my bill went up $25 and it’s already high as a giraffe’s booty! Supremely mad and I feel you!
Daenel T @ Living Outside the Stacks
January 29, 2015 at 12:54 pmWow! This is the kind of thing that hurts my heart. When The Hubs and I got out of the military we were uninsured, had 4 kids, and a 5th on the way. We qualified for Medical Assistance but the way we were treated… You never know why people don’t have insurance or why they need assistance, everyone should be treated with respect. The day before our last baby was born, The Hubs was hired by P&G and they covered all of our bills from the beginning of my pregnancy til now (18 years later).
Now I’ve had cancer, so getting insurance is hard for me but I wonder about people who can’t afford insurance or get bad care because they’re on assistance… There has to be a better way.
Andrea @ MouseInMyPocket.com
January 29, 2015 at 12:55 pmSorry to hear about your insurance issues. I seem to be hearing this story a lot from my self-employed friends. I hope that you are able to get everything worked out and that everyone in your family can have a happy and healthy year.
Michellette "Mimi" Green
January 29, 2015 at 3:39 pmHealthcare is so expensive in the US; it sucks that so many have to decide if they can swing the high price or just go without.
Baby Teems
January 29, 2015 at 6:03 pmBlue mood here as well. I was laid off when I was pregnant. I was so glad that we were under my husband’s insurance. I have been without for many years and I know the pain. Then again…I feel like these doctors charge and get away with more when you have coverage. I go go in network and still get ridiculous bills because premium wasn’t met or all wasn’t covered. I love that word Bokeh by the way. I always have. lol I hope the insurance woes go away soon.
Mimi
February 5, 2015 at 12:16 amInsurance is so important. I choose to spend the money than have them not covered. It’s not worth the risk to me.
MJ
January 30, 2015 at 3:45 pmMimi, I am sitting here with tears in my eyes! Seriously. I can not imagine how hard this feels. Thankfully we are covered under the Hubs but the post bills after insurance covers their part is crazy so I just can’t imagine having no insurance. I can not understand why this is so hard to fix in our country. There has to be a better way and health should not be considered a gold mine for insurances companies, doctors or the government. Praying for you and your family.
Mimi
February 5, 2015 at 12:17 amI agree. There has to be a way where the middle class isn’t always squeezed with such changes. We really are feeling it.
Camesha
January 30, 2015 at 11:14 pmThis hurts. There’s no reason it should be this hard to be healthy. My husband switched companies last year. We definitely feel the difference in our pockets where insurance is concerned. There’s a lot more coming out of our pockets. The insurance companies get away with whatever they want because they know people need them. It’s sad and it’s wrong.
Mimi
February 5, 2015 at 12:18 amNone at all. I just don’t understand why it’s so hard and with the changes so get it and others have to lose it. It’s just hard to really grasp the goodness of it when you find your self on the short end of the stick.
Tia
February 1, 2015 at 10:06 amThis makes me sad. One of the things that scares me the most is not being insured. Whenever my husband talks about getting out of the military I always think to myself that the one thing I’d miss most is our health insurance. It’s crazy that our country can’t come up with a system that makes it easy for everyone to get covered at a reasonable cost.
Mimi
February 5, 2015 at 12:18 amIt really is. I’m trying to remain optimistic but it is so hard to get on board with the agenda when you are holding the short end of the stick.
Sonya
February 1, 2015 at 1:39 pmThat sucks that your rates are so high. I grew up with a self-employed single mom. So I didn’t have health insurance growing up after my father died. It’s a scary situation for a parent to know that all of the medical charges are their responsibility. I hope you guys are able to find the best solution for your family.
Mimi
February 5, 2015 at 12:19 amIt really does suck. I’m hopeful that we’ll find a resolution soon.