Coming late to this party, and having dealt with a deadline for Cobra
conversion by gritting our teeth, grimacing and signing up, we have
another avenue to explore.

A full-time cruiser, just arrived in our boatyard where we're not quite
left yet, but at least, in the water, published writer in Latts/Atts,
Lat38 and others, sez he doesn't do health insurance, even in his
relatively high risk years before cruising.

Several reasons, all amounting to "wherever you are, they have to take
care of you" plus whatever the cost adjustments/free you can negotiate
on top of the international differences in the medical care costs as
compared to the US.

He cited several large medical expenses he'd incurred in the past
several years, and the total expense was way smaller than he'd have
paid in premiums.

I believe I recall reading in this forum of some who had gone bare and
even cancer wound up being substantially less than the premiums in a
relatively short period.

What prompts this discussion, since we'd originally planned on going
bare, was my stress test producing 3 stents and a lifetime of Lipitor,
as well as a totally benign breast biopsy for Lydia this past year,
just before we left our coverage under her employer. Thus, we modified
our belief in what was appropriate about our insurance situation.

So, after dithering, and looking into all we could find about
international (we anticipate, even if we base in St. Thomas, being out
of the US and territories for more than 6 months a year) insurance, all
of which would have required a minimum 2 year moratorium (and maybe
forever) on our pre-existing conditions, we bit the bullet and signed
on to Cobra.

However, that represents about 1/3 of the income we anticipated living
on (an additional, unexpected, cost), so it was a real struggle.
Worse, even if we wanted to keep it, our maximum time available on that
is only 18 months. I'll not be eligible for medicare for a couple of
years post-Cobra, in any event, so even if we run out the string, we're
faced with doing something for a couple of years, regardless.

Back to the original - who's done it bare, and what's been the
experience with medical necessity (it's of no value to hear of all the
folks who have self-paid for normal doctor/prescription costs; the
issue is about major care) over time?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip and Lydia

"Skip Gundlach" wrote in
ps.com:

who's done it bare

I have!.....er, ah.....but I don't think that's gonna make me any
healthier...(c;

No, I don't wanna "sail naked", either. They laugh quite enough as it
is....

Hi Skip,

FWIW, based on our experience during our just completed 2 year trip
around the Pacific, and numerous cockpit conversations, I'd say that
over half of the cruisers out there are going without medical insurance
of any kind. That doesn't mean that it is the smart thing to do, just
that it's what people (ourselves included) seem to be doing.

In our case, other than some dental work done in Mexico (far cheaper
than in the US) and purchasing my blood pressure meds (all over the
counter stuff just about everywhere we went, but I need prescriptions
now that I'm back in the US), we got away with it. Everyone has to make
their own decision, but when I look at the cost of the insurance, the
costs that could have been involved if something serious had come up and
the likelihood of it happening, I think that we made the right choice
for us.

One thing that has to be considered is that in these near-third world
countries, the level of care that can be had in the States isn't
available, but what is available is much less expensive.

In the end, as with all things, ya rolls the dice and you takes yer chances.

Nice to chat with you again -Dan

"If you get sick they gotta pay for it" A reply from a true idiot.

You really need some form of health insurance that'll cover you in the event
of a serious injury or illness. The "They gotta pay for it" in most cases
though is true, providing you enjoy health care at it's very minimum.
Well, we all have to die sometime. The "They gotta pay for it" gentleman
will just go a little sooner and in a bit more pain than the rest of us.

Then again there is always the option of just not going. Stay someplace,
get a job and get insurance. You can still enjoy life. Its hard to sail
when your extremely sick or dieing.

Good luck.

Cap'n Ric

Skip Gundlach wrote:
Coming late to this party, and having dealt with a deadline for Cobra
conversion by gritting our teeth, grimacing and signing up, we have
another avenue to explore.

A full-time cruiser, just arrived in our boatyard where we're not quite
left yet, but at least, in the water, published writer in Latts/Atts,
Lat38 and others, sez he doesn't do health insurance, even in his
relatively high risk years before cruising.

Several reasons, all amounting to "wherever you are, they have to take
care of you" plus whatever the cost adjustments/free you can negotiate
on top of the international differences in the medical care costs as
compared to the US.

He cited several large medical expenses he'd incurred in the past
several years, and the total expense was way smaller than he'd have
paid in premiums.

.. . .

My wife died about 5 years ago, leaving a hospital bill of about
$80,000.00. The insurance company gave me a hard time for about 4
months and the hospital had started adding interest charges to the
bill. Then one day I got a bill that said $6,000.00. I called the
hospital and they said the insurance company had refused to pay so they
had adjusted the bill. Then in the next breath she said, however, they
have now agreed to pay and the balance had been returned to the
original amount. I doubt if that's very typical and I still don't
understand how or why they could have done that. It was a non-profit
hospital, but I don't know if that makes any difference.

Medical costs are, of course, less in foreign countries. In fact, there
is something called "medical tourism" that's gaining popularity. Here's
some example sites:

http://www.newstarget.com/007097.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/he...altourism.html
http://pd.cpim.org/2004/0509/05092004_snd.htm
http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/m...ism072505.html

If you are 62 and own a house that's paid for, a possibility might be
to take out a reverse mortgage. This might discourage medical bill
collectors from taking out a lien on your house.

If you are 62 and own a home outright You really don't have to worry about
your credit rating so screw the insurance companies and the high overpriced
medical industry!
If people refused to pay through the nose for medical insurance and care in
this country then the damn ripoff insurance companies and overpriced
hospitals and doctors who think they are God and charge like it wouldn't be
able to continue to gouge our pockets for a damn flu shot.
Just my 2 cents
wrote in message
ups.com...
Skip Gundlach wrote:
Coming late to this party, and having dealt with a deadline for Cobra
conversion by gritting our teeth, grimacing and signing up, we have
another avenue to explore.

A full-time cruiser, just arrived in our boatyard where we're not quite
left yet, but at least, in the water, published writer in Latts/Atts,
Lat38 and others, sez he doesn't do health insurance, even in his
relatively high risk years before cruising.

Several reasons, all amounting to "wherever you are, they have to take
care of you" plus whatever the cost adjustments/free you can negotiate
on top of the international differences in the medical care costs as
compared to the US.

He cited several large medical expenses he'd incurred in the past
several years, and the total expense was way smaller than he'd have
paid in premiums.

. . .

My wife died about 5 years ago, leaving a hospital bill of about
$80,000.00. The insurance company gave me a hard time for about 4
months and the hospital had started adding interest charges to the
bill. Then one day I got a bill that said $6,000.00. I called the
hospital and they said the insurance company had refused to pay so they
had adjusted the bill. Then in the next breath she said, however, they
have now agreed to pay and the balance had been returned to the
original amount. I doubt if that's very typical and I still don't
understand how or why they could have done that. It was a non-profit
hospital, but I don't know if that makes any difference.

Medical costs are, of course, less in foreign countries. In fact, there
is something called "medical tourism" that's gaining popularity. Here's
some example sites:

http://www.newstarget.com/007097.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/he...altourism.html
http://pd.cpim.org/2004/0509/05092004_snd.htm
http://www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2005/m...ism072505.html

If you are 62 and own a house that's paid for, a possibility might be
to take out a reverse mortgage. This might discourage medical bill
collectors from taking out a lien on your house.

Chi Chi wrote:
If you are 62 and own a home outright You really don't have to worry about
your credit rating so screw the insurance companies and the high overpriced
medical industry!
If people refused to pay through the nose for medical insurance and care in
this country then the damn ripoff insurance companies and overpriced
hospitals and doctors who think they are God and charge like it wouldn't be
able to continue to gouge our pockets for a damn flu shot.
Just my 2 cents


Too All:

I have a dead beat cousin who has not woked in years and single (at
least not married). She got pregnant with no insurance of any type. the
kid was way early. Were talking a few pounds! The neonate was in the
intensive baby care unit for 3 months. Figure that bill out. Total out
of pocket cost for the mom....................... $00.00. Yep nada,
zip, zero dollars. She even bragged jokeingly about her "million dollar
baby."

It pays to be broke in the USA! So yall hard working blokes keep thoes
premiums comming. I might need a free total hip in a few years.
Bob

Bob wrote:
Chi Chi wrote:
If you are 62 and own a home outright You really don't have to worry about
your credit rating so screw the insurance companies and the high overpriced
medical industry!
If people refused to pay through the nose for medical insurance and care in
this country then the damn ripoff insurance companies and overpriced
hospitals and doctors who think they are God and charge like it wouldn't be
able to continue to gouge our pockets for a damn flu shot.
Just my 2 cents


Too All:

I have a dead beat cousin who has not woked in years and single (at
least not married). She got pregnant with no insurance of any type. the
kid was way early. Were talking a few pounds! The neonate was in the
intensive baby care unit for 3 months. Figure that bill out. Total out
of pocket cost for the mom....................... $00.00. Yep nada,
zip, zero dollars. She even bragged jokeingly about her "million dollar
baby."

It pays to be broke in the USA! So yall hard working blokes keep thoes
premiums comming. I might need a free total hip in a few years.
Bob


Bob wrote:
Chi Chi wrote:
If you are 62 and own a home outright You really don't have to worry about
your credit rating so screw the insurance companies and the high overpriced
medical industry!
If people refused to pay through the nose for medical insurance and care in
this country then the damn ripoff insurance companies and overpriced
hospitals and doctors who think they are God and charge like it wouldn't be
able to continue to gouge our pockets for a damn flu shot.
Just my 2 cents


Too All:

I have a dead beat cousin who has not woked in years and single (at
least not married). She got pregnant with no insurance of any type. the
kid was way early. Were talking a few pounds! The neonate was in the
intensive baby care unit for 3 months. Figure that bill out. Total out
of pocket cost for the mom....................... $00.00. Yep nada,
zip, zero dollars. She even bragged jokeingly about her "million dollar
baby."

It pays to be broke in the USA! So yall hard working blokes keep thoes
premiums comming. I might need a free total hip in a few years.
Bob

Speaking of stories, here's mine. My wife went into the hospital with a
massive heart attack and was declared dead about a week later. At the
time, we had 3 health insurance policies and all of them covered both
of us: Her employer, my employer and a retirement policy.

My wife had been in the hospital before, so at the time of admission, I
went over the information with a hospital employee and confirmed that
nothing had changed and signed a form. That's when Murphy's law took
over.

I failed to notify the insurance company within their 24 hour (48?)
reporting period. My wife had always handled the health insurance and I
didn't know I was supposed to. Normally, that isn't a problem because
the hospital usually does that. However, as fate would have it, some
hospital clerk made a clerical error and also failed to notify the
insurance company.

The insurance company from her employer refused to pay anything. Then,
of course, the other two companies refused to pay anything because the
primary insurer had refused. I was left looking at an $80,000 dollar
bill that was increasing as the months went by due to interest charges.
After a lot of letter writing and phone calls, the insurance company
did finally agree to pay about 4 to 6 months later.

I would say "all's well that ends well", but worrying about an $80,000
hospital bill for months on end on top of everything else, certainly
wasn't a lot of fun. Then to add insult to injury, the care that she
got really sucked. Because of vacations, etc., there was no neurologist
available at the time and I wound up with a lab technician and the
heart surgeon trying to read the EEG's.

just think what the bill would have been if the neurologist had been there.
I'm sorry for Your loss and the added pain and suffering You had to endure.
Only in America can You find such compassion and great medical care combined
in 1 huh? at 80k that is!! Yes I'm being sarcastic but I am truely sorry for
Your pain and suffering glad to see You are able to write about it though
Hang in there
wrote in message
ps.com...

Bob wrote:
Chi Chi wrote:
If you are 62 and own a home outright You really don't have to worry
about
your credit rating so screw the insurance companies and the high
overpriced
medical industry!
If people refused to pay through the nose for medical insurance and
care in
this country then the damn ripoff insurance companies and overpriced
hospitals and doctors who think they are God and charge like it
wouldn't be
able to continue to gouge our pockets for a damn flu shot.
Just my 2 cents


Too All:

I have a dead beat cousin who has not woked in years and single (at
least not married). She got pregnant with no insurance of any type. the
kid was way early. Were talking a few pounds! The neonate was in the
intensive baby care unit for 3 months. Figure that bill out. Total out
of pocket cost for the mom....................... $00.00. Yep nada,
zip, zero dollars. She even bragged jokeingly about her "million dollar
baby."

It pays to be broke in the USA! So yall hard working blokes keep thoes
premiums comming. I might need a free total hip in a few years.
Bob


Bob wrote:
Chi Chi wrote:
If you are 62 and own a home outright You really don't have to worry
about
your credit rating so screw the insurance companies and the high
overpriced
medical industry!
If people refused to pay through the nose for medical insurance and
care in
this country then the damn ripoff insurance companies and overpriced
hospitals and doctors who think they are God and charge like it
wouldn't be
able to continue to gouge our pockets for a damn flu shot.
Just my 2 cents


Too All:

I have a dead beat cousin who has not woked in years and single (at
least not married). She got pregnant with no insurance of any type. the
kid was way early. Were talking a few pounds! The neonate was in the
intensive baby care unit for 3 months. Figure that bill out. Total out
of pocket cost for the mom....................... $00.00. Yep nada,
zip, zero dollars. She even bragged jokeingly about her "million dollar
baby."

It pays to be broke in the USA! So yall hard working blokes keep thoes
premiums comming. I might need a free total hip in a few years.
Bob

Speaking of stories, here's mine. My wife went into the hospital with a
massive heart attack and was declared dead about a week later. At the
time, we had 3 health insurance policies and all of them covered both
of us: Her employer, my employer and a retirement policy.

My wife had been in the hospital before, so at the time of admission, I
went over the information with a hospital employee and confirmed that
nothing had changed and signed a form. That's when Murphy's law took
over.

I failed to notify the insurance company within their 24 hour (48?)
reporting period. My wife had always handled the health insurance and I
didn't know I was supposed to. Normally, that isn't a problem because
the hospital usually does that. However, as fate would have it, some
hospital clerk made a clerical error and also failed to notify the
insurance company.

The insurance company from her employer refused to pay anything. Then,
of course, the other two companies refused to pay anything because the
primary insurer had refused. I was left looking at an $80,000 dollar
bill that was increasing as the months went by due to interest charges.
After a lot of letter writing and phone calls, the insurance company
did finally agree to pay about 4 to 6 months later.

I would say "all's well that ends well", but worrying about an $80,000
hospital bill for months on end on top of everything else, certainly
wasn't a lot of fun. Then to add insult to injury, the care that she
got really sucked. Because of vacations, etc., there was no neurologist
available at the time and I wound up with a lab technician and the
heart surgeon trying to read the EEG's.