RE: Contracting and Health Insurance

["Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>]

Hi Beth,

Good luck with insurance.  I recommend getting insurance before you need
insurance, but it sounds like you already need it.  I have a pre-existing
condition, so, once I was in a position to pay for my own insurance, I was
denied.  I went through the California Major Risk Medical Program to get
insurance.  I was denied by Blue Cross and others and now I am insured with
Blue Cross through this program.  For 2006, that's $480 per month and in
2007 it's $520 per month.  Yes, after 18 months I can go to regular
insurance, but 6 months after the pre-existing condition is successfully
treated, I can get regular insurance.  I was on a waiting list to get the
insurance and now there is a waiting period of 3 months to use it for the
pre-existing condition.  Next month, I should be able to get back to good,
and then wait six months before I can get cheaper insurance, but I wish that
I had better opportunities to get insurance before I needed it because it
would have been cheaper.

Another option includes finding an employer with open enrollment in a group
medical insurance program and going to work to get the insurance.  Secure an
individual policy and leave the employer, or leave the employer and get the
policy during the eligible period.  It sounds like you have tried this and
it didn't work.  You shouldn't need to stay with your current insurance
provider to take advantage of the fact that you are already insured.
Conditions that develop while you are insured are not supposed to be used as
exclusionary conditions, so you should still be able to get insurance.  Talk
to a direct sales agent for insurance providers in your area.  A last resort
option is to marry someone with medical insurance.  I guess you are married.
Can your husband get insurance and then get you added to his policy?

=================

LLC is a way to protect yourself against self-employment tax, but it varies
by state.  S Corporation also provides that protection but is more formal
than LLC.  You should talk to an accountant to get better information.  For
both statuses, you need to submit a form to the IRS to make sure that your
company or corp will have pass-through taxes so that you do not get taxed
twice.  If you setup your company wrong, you could get into trouble and wind
up with penalties on top of taxes that you would not have to pay if the
company is setup right.  Again, talk to an accountant and don't take
anything that I say as an authority.

I setup my LLC in California two weeks ago and it was fairly easy to get
started.  I completed a form, handed it to Dept. of Corporations at their
counter, $70, gave them another $15 for expedited processing, and was an LLC
within half an hour.  Then they handed me the forms for my company setup and
members ($20 when I turn them in) and the requirement of $800 minimum tax
paid in advance.  I went down the road, got the business license and
ficticious name, $150, plus $15 ad.  Got my domain $35, I already had
hosting.  Everything happened faster than I thought it would, so I wasn't
really expecting that I would need to work on my business just yet, but, oh
well, I'm in business.

Lauren

-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On Behalf Of
beth -dot- tripp -at- verizon -dot- net
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 12:01 PM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Contracting and Health Insurance

Hi,

I'm new to the list and have searched for information on health insurance
while doing contract work and didn't find anything in the archives.

I currently work through a recruiter so I can have health insurance. (I took
a pay cut to ensure that I was covered.)  What do other writers do that are
self employed?  Those in Canada need not reply.  :o)

Can I become an LLC to get around the self-employed?  Does anyone know a
great insurance broker that can beat the system?

Insurance companies are very picky about who they will insure.  Out here on
the left coast I've tried to roll-over a health plan from group to a single
account but didn't qualify because I have had prescriptions filled.  I feel
another migraine coming on.

The last quote I received for coverage was between 1000.00 and 1500.00 a
month just for me, and that was through the state (only for 18 months).
After the 18 months, the state expects you to be  
able to get insurance.   And no that wasn't COBRA that was after  
COBRA runs out.

I'm planning ahead to when the husband retires in 2 years and we move to
northern Wisconsin. Hmmmm, it's only an 8 hour drive to Canada..

I've tried AARP, no luck.  Yes, I'm over 50 but too young to collect SS and
medi-care, I have to wait another 12 years or so.

Thank you for any guidance.

Beth Tripp

Senior Technical Writer

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