Health Insurance ANYONE???

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

I am at the point where I am just going to ask the skydiving community for advice/help here. I am so frustrated with the whole health/life insurance situation as a skydiver.

I have tried to get 3 different coverages with 3 different compaines. One of them has already taken it upon themselves to take $400 of my money after telling me I would be covered for skydiving only to send me something in writing later saying they would cover me but not for anything related to skydiving which is my only purpose for paying to have insurance to begin with .

The problem is that I am still a student (so I don't have a real job yet with benefits) and I am a full time AFF-I, vidiet and rigger during our busy season which is now. I can rig without health insurance but do not feel comfortable skydiving without it.

It seems like everything goes fine with the underwriters until we get to the question: Do you engage in any hazardous activities like skydiving, motorcycle riding, etc.

It's like YEAH ... I do it all.

So is there anyone out there who is in the same boat as me? Does anyone know where I can find decent coverage in case something happens to me while skydiving?

I am also looking for a decent life insurance plan if anyone has any information it would be greatly appreciated.

I cannot and will not skydive without insurance and I am hoping to not have to pay more than $150 a month $200 max. I'm 30, non-smoker in excellent health, no prior or pre-existing problems/hospitalizations anything except for pregnancy and labor.

Thanks and blue skies.

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[argon 0]

You are kidding right? Just skydiving,you don't think you could ever need coverage for anything else. 200/month max. Not a chance. Decent coverage figure 600+ month. What about chillin' during the off season and having a bout of kidney stones or some other benign malady. I don't care how old you are,get anything that requires a surgical procedure or more than a routine hospital visit and you'll lose everything. At this point in the game skydiving is the least of your worries. Remember-never,ever,ever volunteer ANY information unless SPECIFICALLY asked. JUst remember you can't get blood from a rock....

***********
Freedom isn't free. Don't forget: Mother Earth is waiting for you--there is a debt you have to pay...... POPS #9329 Commercial Pilot,Instrument MEL

[riddler 0]

Quote

Do you engage in any hazardous activities like skydiving, motorcycle riding, etc.

I went through this too. You will have to keep trying different companies until you find one. I was routinely asked if I was an instructor for any of the "hazardous activities" I engage in. At the time, I wasn't, so it didn't affect my premium. You will have a harder time being an AFFI, but I suspect the motorcycle is more of an issue than the skydiving. Insurance companies seem to hate motorcycles.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[argon 0]

In New Jersey,motorcycle insurance pays NO PIP person injury protection-better hope it's clearly somebody elses fault if an accident happens. WHat kills me is the average street person(not politically correct-I know) can go into a grocery store-perform an armed robbery-get blasted by the cops-get all his med costs covered and then get to sue the cop. (Please don't ask me how i know this.)Tort reform,medical coverage for all americans-come on people write your politicians-if everybody did-we wouldn't be having tis discusion. Blue skys to all.

***********
Freedom isn't free. Don't forget: Mother Earth is waiting for you--there is a debt you have to pay...... POPS #9329 Commercial Pilot,Instrument MEL

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

Quote

You are kidding right? Just skydiving,you don't think you could ever need coverage for anything else. 200/month max. Not a chance. Decent coverage figure 600+ month. What about chillin' during the off season and having a bout of kidney stones or some other benign malady. I don't care how old you are,get anything that requires a surgical procedure or more than a routine hospital visit and you'll lose everything. At this point in the game skydiving is the least of your worries. Remember-never,ever,ever volunteer ANY information unless SPECIFICALLY asked. JUst remember you can't get blood from a rock....

Well, if it is going to cost me $600 a month for health insurance I may as well quit skydiving. Yes you are right, anything can happen but sometimes in life you just have to play some odds. I am not willing to spend $600 a month due to the off chance that I may develop kidney stones. Hopefully I'll not have to use my health insurance ever but it is just that, insurance. After being in this sport long enough I am not arrogant enough to say, that will never happen to me. I have way too many friends and acquaintences who have screws, plates, rods and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. I am just hoping there are some other alternatives out there besides paying some obscene amount of money.

And I agree with the person who said write your congressman. It's amazing how they all have infinite health care which costs Americans about $8,000 a year per person due to their positions. But millions of American tax payers are without any kind of health coverage and the number is growing rapidly.

I am mainly targeting this thread toward independent contractors and/or DZ employees who are not receiving health insurance through work.

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

Thanks Riddler,

For the PM also. Well, the motorcycles aren't an issue for me either since I don't own one or ride one (however, that was on my list of things to do). The question on the application was do you engage in ANY hazaedous activities such as skydiving, motorcycles, etc.

I specifically asked the insurance representative what would happen if I did skydive. She said they would have to do some kind of underwriting/background/history check or something. Then she got back to me and said that as long as I didn't earn money doing it I would be covered. Like if I went to make a tandem once or twice and something happened, that would be covered ... I then asked her what if I did earn money skydiving? She said they may not but she would check.

She got back to me and told me yes they would cover me to skydive at which time I requested that she send me something from the insurance company in writing stating such.

The insurance company billed my checking account $400 and now, 2 months later I receive all of my insurance documentation which clearly states that no indemnity shall be paid under the policy if a claim in any way relates to parachutes or skydiving.

It took a considerable amount of time to find what I hoping would end up to be a decent insurance company. Now it is going to be nothing less than a headache I am sure to just get my money back

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[riddler 0]

Yeah - best thing is get ALL your money back and move to the next insurance company. They don't all treat you like that. Personally, I would be writing a letter to the local insurance regulator and letting them know what just happened with that one company. But yes, in my experience, most insurance companies draw a line between fun jumping and doing it for work.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[skymama 37]

Through research that I did finding health insurance for the company I work for, I found that women of child-bearing ages pay higher rates than men of the same ages. Be prepared for that as you are getting quotes, unfortunately there's nothing that you can do about it.

I know of quite a few people in FL who use Blue Cross for individual policies. Do you have them in your state?

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[rickjump1 0]

If you ever write your favorite elite, out-or touch, member of congress in protest of his/her lavish taxpayer-funded healthcare and pension plan, you will be written off as a misguided voter. In congress, it's NRC (nobody really cares).

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

Thanks Skymama,

Yep, we have Blue Cross in Missouri and I think they might cover me. They may be the only ones who will and it looks like I get to look forward to another hour on the phone with another insurance agent.

I think they were my back up plan but I think they were quite high. To me $200 is a lot of money to pay for insurance. I guess not by today's standards. I have always been covered either through work, husband's work or school but the school I attend does not have any plans at all for students which kind of sucks. Who knows, maybe I can talk with some people at the school and get something started for students.

I'll check out Blue Cross again and hopefully get some decent feedback. This just really sucks to go through this because this representative of the insurance company who already took my money told me on the phone that underwriting had approved my file and would cover me for skydiving activities/employment. So, I have been skydiving thinking I was insured. I am really kind of pissed that I feel I was lied to, intentionally or not, only because the consequences to me could have been severe.

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[flyangel2 2]

If all else fails, contact a Mutual of Omaha agent and ask about Accident Insurance.

May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey

[sdgregory 0]

As Far as Life Insurance is concerned:

There is a thread in this particular forum:

Life Insurance Thread.

Read the whole thread I did some research through my agent.

Health Insurance? I just found out my OSU Medical will not cover Skydiving. So If I get injured in this sport someone needs to drive me to a farm and make it look like I fell of a roof or something to get my medical covered?

Have not figured out a solution to this one yet, but I am looking.

[pleifer 0]

I Have the U of O sponsered plan and it covers anything.... partly because they have a skydiving club, they teach scuba diving, and at LCC the community college they have a motorcycle saftey class. so they have and sponcer the activitys there for they cover it with there health insurance.

Also for scuba i have DAN insurance for 65$ a year covers any scuba accidents, plus i have the option to buy life insurance that not only covers any death except suicide, they will pay 25% more if it is a recreational dive.... I.e I was not getting paid to dive, and I asked for it in writing, they cover motorcycle and skydiving.

probably not much help cause this is university of oregon, and scuba diving stuff, but a FYI for anybody who is taking the time to read this

_________________________________________
The Angel of Duh has spoke

[Lindsey 0]

Have you checked to see if your school offers any group policies? Mine does, and they may not be as picky since they cover a lot of people and the risk is spread out.... Just a thought.

Lindsey

--
A conservative is just a liberal who's been mugged. A liberal is just a conservative who's been to jail

[Nightingale 0]

I have blue cross insurance. under my policy, skydiving injuries are covered.

[scottjaco 0]

I pay $154 a month in Southern California. Kaiser Permanente. I called them when I was on student status. They said as long as you are not an instructor, you are covered.

When I broke my leg, I didn't have to lie about how it happened.

Don't lie on an application. If you get hurt, you can bet they are going to know it was from skydiving.

They read ambulance reports..ya know

[dbattman 0]

If cost vs. coverage is a definite factor, consider an Accident/Hospitalization plan. Accidents and illness requiring hospitalization are covered, but routine doctor stuff is not. Getting the flu isn't any fun to pay for, but if it's $2000 a year versus $1000 a year that's something to think about.

Read up on the new Health Savings Accounts. These are high-deductible insurance plans but you contribute to a tax-free savings/investment account to pay for smaller routine stuff. This might be a good option for you.

[NoShitThereIWas 0]

Quote

If cost vs. coverage is a definite factor, consider an Accident/Hospitalization plan. Accidents and illness requiring hospitalization are covered, but routine doctor stuff is not. Getting the flu isn't any fun to pay for, but if it's $2000 a year versus $1000 a year that's something to think about.

Read up on the new Health Savings Accounts. These are high-deductible insurance plans but you contribute to a tax-free savings/investment account to pay for smaller routine stuff. This might be a good option for you.

Interesting, I will have to look into that. SHould I just do a Google Search on Health Savings Accounts? As far as the flu thing goes, yes you are right and getting the flu isn't much fun but I have never had a doctor help me get over the flu yet

I would much rather pay for the occassional Doctor visit once or twice a year for regularly scheduled maintenece but feel the need to have some coverage mainly for an injury like a broken leg something else related to skydiving. That is when the bills really add up. I can handle the small stuff on my own, don't need an insurance company for that. And I only have one more year of school before I have a real job (hopefully) and one more season to get through as a skydiver in this situation. But in the meantime I need coverage for this year until I get a "real" job.

Roy Bacon: "Elvises, light your fires."

Sting: "Be yourself no matter what they say."

[dbattman 0]

HSA's are an extension of the Medical Savings Accounts that have been around for a few years. Congress only 'authorized' a few hundred thousand MSA's as a kind of experiment and HSA's are either new or coming this year. I'd do a search and look into it a little more- there is too much detail to go into here. Basicly you accept the idea that health care is your responsibility and you don't ecpect every little thing to be covered. You carry a high deductible policy (I mean high like $2500+) and put the some or all of your premium savings in a tax free account to cover the smaller stuff.

Do some research, but last year an accident/hospitalization through BSBC with a $500 deductible was under $100/month.