Recommend dental/medical insurance provider for self employed?

[Union Thug]

Well, it looks like I'm joining the ranks of the self-employed (read contractor).

Can anyone recommend a good insurance provider for medical and dental care? Need to cover the family and I have about 10K/year budgeted. I have never done this before (always had employer provided), so I have no idea what to expect...

[flamingyouth]

1. I have never found decent dental coverage.

I go without and hope for the best, which sucks when I need a root canal, like I did this year.

I have medical coverage with Regence with a $750 annual deductible. I have quite a few major health issues and the policy has been relatively decent, although I could use more prescription drug coverage. After my mortgage, health care is my biggest expense.

[Union Thug]

5. Yeah, a quick search yielded some really crappy dental coverage!

I'll keep looking around and see what I can find.. Thx!

[barb162]

14. check post 9; there's dental and medical on that site

Dental is hard to get I think because many people won't go to dentists for years and then when they need dental work, they want to buy insurance.

[Drum]

2. I am lucky my employer provides, but

you may want to check here:
http://www.freelancersunion.org/

[Union Thug]

6. thanks for the tip! n/t

[Nicole]

3. Contact your state insurance commissioner's office

They can be a good source of info.

Are you a member of any work related associations? You can get insurance through them sometimes. My brother enrolled in the Chamber of Commerce's group insurance policy.

[Union Thug]

4. I'm an ISPI member, but I can't recall seeing

anything related to insurance on their website... But I haven't looked, either! Thanks for tip on the insurance commissioner's office

[Nicole]

7. I hope you find the info you need

Another thing you might check with is the credit union, if you're a member of one. Group insurance is the way to go if you can, IMHO.

[Union Thug]

8. Thanks, Nicole...

Appreciate the help!

[barb162]

9. try this link

https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/Alliance?allid=Goo18811&sid=MED+INSURANCE+QUOTES

it has several major insurers on the board. Also with companies like Blue Cross, give them a call as they have several plans with different coverages and deductibles. You might get a break with calling some of them direct after you get quotes off this site as they should be free of commission if you go direct.

[Union Thug]

11. thx for the tip. Willl check the link n/t

[Control-Z]

10. We have a policy through

NASE - National Association for the Self Employed

I can't say the health and dental benefits are great but the premium is half that of anything else we've had with more to offer and some of the other benefits are great - roadside and towing, legal, entertainment....

[Union Thug]

12. Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out n/t

[bleedingheart]

13. I recommend that you do the following

If you are going to be working in a certain field, like construction...find out if they have a Construction Group or Council in your area or state... Why? Because if you join the council, you may have access to their benefit programs at a much more reduced rate. Why? Because typically groups have more negotiating power than an individual.
My husband did this in Pittsburgh with the High Tech Council and their insurance rates were far better than if you went on your own.

Second, if you can't join a trade group then I would recommend even a trade society membership. Sometimes they have really good rates as well for all types of insurance.

Third, look around at what is available in your region for the major carriers as well as the smaller ones. You will want to look at both pharmacy and non-pharmacy plans too.