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The Brooklyn based, 92,000-member strong Freelancer's Union has long helped out the uninsured of the borough (and beyond). The NY Times takes a look at the business, started by Sara Horowitz, following last month's letter she sent out to 19,000 members "who had obtained coverage through the union’s current plan with Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield, telling them that they had to choose from the new company’s five health plans — or look elsewhere for coverage." The freelancing masses are now upset, once again, and one even started a blog. Amongst the top concerns are poor customer service, high premiums and deductibles, and plenty of restrictions. Horowitz responds to the criticism by saying, in part, the added plans offer a better system of doctors; she'll also be on hand in-person this Thursday. More details and registration info can be found here.
Freelancer's Union Addresses Concerns, Changes
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Wake up people!!!
message from a doctor and former classmate of Nidal Hasan:
"He was an outspoken
[more]
"Poor customer service, high premiums and deductibles, and plenty of restrictions."
Sounds like a normal health plan to me!
The "freelancing masses are now upset"? Oh no! Someone set up a blog!
Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I've been a member of the Freelance Union for years. Their health plan is not perfect, but it's light years ahead of what else is available for those of us that are self-employed.
dirk & nomnomnom are right, these complainers need to talk to some people with full-time jobs & get a clue about health insurance plans.
I think they should take some penis enlargment pills and call it a day.
FYI, for those of you with Mass-hole roots like me:
Since Gov. Deval Patrick pushed through the state's universal health coverage law, a bunch of companies offering insurance to individuals have opened shop. If you are a freelancer like me with a parent or friend living in MA, you can register for a plan in the state that is portable anywhere in the country-- and apparently the rates are a lot more reasonable than those offered in New York. I'm still looking into it, but the option appears to beat even my COBRA plan, which was killing me at $350/month.
For those who live in NYS, there's also a state run insurance plan under Healthy NY. It's about 50% of the regular premiums and they give you an option of several difference insurance companies. The coverage is the same amongst the companies, but you have a choice. The prices range so check it out yourself.
http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hny.htm
Health NY is for individuals making 26k or less. If you can live on that in this town and pay a monthly premium of around $300 you're doing way better than most of us.