Having a safety net
- Name: Dianne Koehler, 62
- Hometown: Austin, Texas
- Job: Retired nurse
I've been a contractor and uninsured half my life.
My husband is covered by the VA medical system, but spouses are not. How have I coped? I'm a nurse so I know what to do and I'm healthy so my (medical) bills were only running several hundred dollars a year.
Several of my friends who also were relatively healthy have had accidents or would up diagnosed with a surprising illness that was quite costly in their 60s and 70s. It just became practical to go ahead and sign up for an insurance plan.
I have a Humana HMO silver plan and I qualify for almost a full subsidy. I'm paying 8 cents a month. My deductible is $500.
I have already seen my primary care doctor, had my mammogram, bone scan, flu shot, blood work and a referral to a dermatologist.
Everything is fine. My doctor said to come back next year.
It's nice to know I have the coverage. My plan is not the use it, but just have it be there.
