Health insurance

[Wil]

I've been considering taking out health insurance lately.

Obviously, smokers pay more for insurance than non-smokers. However, many of us only smoke cigars, and much less frequently than cigarette smokers (I'd be lucky to have one a week, especially in winter!).

So I was wondering how many of you have health insurance? Do you advise your insurer of your habit? And how much more do you pay? It doesn't seem fair that cigar and cigarette smokers are considered together... Or maybe it is?

[Smooth]

I've been considering taking out health insurance lately.

Obviously, smokers pay more for insurance than non-smokers. However, many of us only smoke cigars, and much less frequently than cigarette smokers (I'd be lucky to have one a week, especially in winter!).

So I was wondering how many of you have health insurance? Do you advise your insurer of your habit? And how much more do you pay? It doesn't seem fair that cigar and cigarette smokers are considered together... Or maybe it is?

I have got insurance. Can't remember if I told them to be honest... I pay circa $100 a month.

[sharks]

Yes have health insurance as I see its a must have these days the way the health system works here in Aus.

Never been asked if I smoke re health insurance and like you Wil I would be lucky to smoke once a week in winter.

So no have not advised them.

I pay family health insurance and at present pay roughly $300 amonth as we are still having kids and thats one of the higher covers.

Life Insurance is a different question, and I dare say you would have to say wheather you smoke or not and it would have

some bearing on the amount you pay. Health insurance the more you pay the more extras you are entitled to.

Basically you have health insurance you can dictate to a certain degree when you want surgery, if you dont have it and its not

urgent you are placed on a waiting list and fingers crossed..

Sharks

[El Presidente]

I have loads of health insurance.

Getting the right Insurance broker is the key. We are blessed here locally in that Peter (PJ) Byrne handles most of the health and general insurance for the local FOH guys (I would assume 90%). He does what a great broker does, great policies, good pricing, handles paperwork and medical tests, fights for you in the event anything goes wrong.

That is the rub. Give the insurer nothing they can wriggle out of. That comes back to being honest in your application on the key issues and Smoking cigars is a key issue. I pay a premium of some 60% above that of a non smoker of similar age.

[Fuzz AI]

Definitely got private health insurance, and I've never advised them that I'm a smoker. The question was never asked when I put in my application.

I'm single and pay less than $100 a month.

[Colt45]

That is the rub. Give the insurer nothing they can wriggle out of. That comes back to being honest in your application on the key issues and Smoking cigars is a key issue. I pay a premium of some 60% above that of a non smoker of similar age.

Alcohol consumption?

[El Presidente]

Alcohol consumption?

Never touch the stuff.

[Colt45]

Never touch the stuff.

I thought as much.

[OZCUBAN]

Definitely got private health insurance, and I've never advised them that I'm a smoker. The question was never asked when I put in my application.

I'm single and pay less than $100 a month.

I have Hospital and Ambulance and Ancillary cover (if you have something serious i would not want to wait for a public intervention )

I have always believed that YOUR health is YOUR responsibility

What pisses me OFF is that you take out cover on certain things but still have to put your hand in your pocket (classic example is the Dentist)

Cheers OZ

[Smooth]

I echo the sentiments posted so far...

I have a pre-existing heart condition and other complications so my premium excludes some cover as a result (minimal extra's not included such as cardiologist visits).

I was never asked about smoking when applying for my policy. However if I did I would have answered yes.. As Rob has stated it is probably an extra 60% or so on the premium BUT you will not be denied coverage. Better to be honest and pay 160% than spend years paying 100% premium only to be denied when you need care as a result of not being honest.

[Smooth]

I have always believed that YOUR health is YOUR responsibility

Great point,

This is a point that one of the Nations most respected doctors told me about 3 years ago: "Without good health, we die. Why does society neglect medical costs? We spend 33%+ of income on housing, why do we baulk at spending a very nominal amount on our health? Without health nothing else is relevant as we arent even there to enjoy them or worry about them. The average Australian spends close to 10X the amount on a vehicle per annum than they spend on their health"

Not a direct quote, but thats the gist... Good point I believe...

[LeafLover]

I pay privately for my health insurance and my family.

No, I don't divulge that I smoke cigars.

You raise a good question. How well do you know your health insurance? What it covers? What it doesn't? Will it cover you if you are in a different country, etc.?

[Bartolomeo]

Initially I thought this was a no-brainer question but the more I think about it, the other countries of the world have better health insurance programs than the US

I have health insurance via my employer and I dont use tobacco or consume alcohol.........

Bart

[Wicky]

I have health insurance via my employer and I dont use tobacco or consume alcohol.........

Bart

Me neither.

[El Presidente]

health/life insurance is not cheap. To put it in perspective:

Life to a couple of million a year.

Business insurance (disability...of which I have many but they only cover health).

Private disability which is enough to 65.

Hospital including dental, physio etc. No restrictions.

Family medical (5)

Life/trauma and disability for the wife.

Life/trauma for the kids (3).

Roughly 8 K a year upon which we would claim 2K and tax deductions $2k. So net 4K payments.

[Ken Gargett]

for me, anyone without health insurance is crazy. seriously, if you can afford cigars, you can afford health insurance.

best example i can give is when i was working in DC, had to arrange my own insurance (the firm was terrific about everything else). from memory, and this is a bit over 20 years ago, it was around $120 a month. was travelling for three months post work with mates so extended it. was perfectly fit and healthy.

out of nowhere, burst appendix (not help by morons in montreal diagnosing food poisoning). two weeks in hospital in ottawa. got out and four days later back in hospital in toronto with peritonitis. another two weeks. no idea what it would have cost for those two visits but i suspect well over $100k all up. with insurance, not a cent.

i figure i buy insurance every year till i do fall off the perch and still well ahead.

[ChanceSchmerr]

Free health care for serving military members is a great part of being in the Navy....but as for Health Insurance - I was given a presentation by SISIP, the organization that serves military members in Canada by providing financial planning, home/life insurance, etc..... This presentation was given to my whole ship's company, about 180 guys, and I got it about a year ago. During a break after a financial chat, one of my Petty Officers comes over and starts grilling me about how much I'd have to pay for life insurance because I smoke cigars, I just chucked a few barbs back and him and left it at that, because I didn't know either way.

The Insurance presentation was next. The question was raised -

"What is the policy for smokers, do we pay much more if we smoke?"

Answer - "Yes, there is a question on the form that asks if you've smoked or touched a cigarette in the last year. If you check that box, then you will pay extra premiums"

After some back and forth about that, one my friends asks "What about cigars or pipes? Do they count?"

Answer (now the insurance lady looks uneasy) - "No, the question is 'have you smoked or touched a cigarette in the past year"

At which point half the ship turns around and looks back to me with funny looks or grins (I am known for my cigars on ship), while I jump up with a big "Whoohoo!"

The Petty Officer from the break was nowhere to be seen afterward.

[samb]

Through the employer, $40 a month. Spouse on the other hand, dependent of me, runs me a little less than $300.

[Ken Gargett]

Free health care for serving military members is a great part of being in the Navy....but as for Health Insurance - I was given a presentation by SISIP, the organization that serves military members in Canada by providing financial planning, home/life insurance, etc..... This presentation was given to my whole ship's company, about 180 guys, and I got it about a year ago. During a break after a financial chat, one of my Petty Officers comes over and starts grilling me about how much I'd have to pay for life insurance because I smoke cigars, I just chucked a few barbs back and him and left it at that, because I didn't know either way.

The Insurance presentation was next. The question was raised -

"What is the policy for smokers, do we pay much more if we smoke?"

Answer - "Yes, there is a question on the form that asks if you've smoked or touched a cigarette in the last year. If you check that box, then you will pay extra premiums"

After some back and forth about that, one my friends asks "What about cigars or pipes? Do they count?"

Answer (now the insurance lady looks uneasy) - "No, the question is 'have you smoked or touched a cigarette in the past year"

At which point half the ship turns around and looks back to me with funny looks or grins (I am known for my cigars on ship), while I jump up with a big "Whoohoo!"

The Petty Officer from the break was nowhere to be seen afterward.

i had a similar experience, though not in the lilitary of course. i have never touched a cigarette in my life. i told them that but was quite clear re cigars. they said i qualified as a non smoker. strange to me but i always make it clear and never had a problem.

[bolivr]

Was only asked on my life insurance application not the health insurance. But the question was 'have you smoked any tobacco in the past 12 months?' damn, double premium (but still worth it probably - I'm not giving up the cigars to save some dollars on a stupid life insurance policy ).

[Leopolis Semper Fidelis]

I don't have health insurance or any form of insurance. Insurance companies are some of the biggest rip-off artists in the world.

[SethLG]

Have it through my employer and I don't pay a dime, and it is a good policy as well; it even includes dental.

Along with that I my company knows I smoke too many cigars and that I drink too much, but I think that is why the keep me around

...

to keep the company grounded.

[PointSource]

I have major medical through my part time employer, UPS. Fantastic coverage

[habone]

I have free insurance through my employer and I never use it... I have dental to but it isn't that great. What pisses me off is that some people I work with are hypocondriac's and abuse the **** out of it or addicted to pain pills. 1 of these days they will put an end to it.

[dcse]

Free public health service. Much cheaper than the inefficient insurance based US system (money spent per capita on health in Norway is a fraction of the cost per capita spent on health in the US). If you want to opt for the high-end solution, you may supplement with a private insurance policy and access to private hospitals (you have to wait 20 minutes for the doctor rather than 45 minutes). You cannot opt out of the public health service.