Screwing the self employed out of health insurance

http://www.fleshandstone.net/commentary/1592.html

Michael Collins says the self employed ("the sleeping giant of health reform") are the ideal group to launch a strong appeal to support overall health reform and a viable public option.

If you work for yourself, you are literally screwed out of large sums of money every year for health insurance. There are few differences in cost based on region or state regulation. Ultimately, plans in Salt Lake City and Boston cost the same, about $17,000 a year (premiums plus deductibles). Despite the costs, many self employed are grateful to just have insurance since without it a major acute or chronic illness can bankrupt a family and the absence of care can be fatal.

The self employed are denied insurance on a regular basis due to preexisting conditions. When they're able to get health insurance, they pay more for premiums and their deductibles are higher than any other group. Even after a federal income tax deduction, the cost of health insurance is the equivalent of annual payments for a condominium, at the low end, or a medium sized home, at the top of the cost scale.

I pay 385 including 'dues' per month. fairly low deductible. i haven't been sick so i can's say anything else about it, you should check it out. I had a higher deduct with another ins which kept raising the rates each year. this has only gone up about 60 per year. I support single payer, and will switch to anything lower, of course.

http://www.nase.org/Membership/MembersBenefits/MembersBenefitsHealth.aspx

this is the main health ins page, with links to rest of site, plus at top of page link to 'get a quote'
i met the most local rep at the park here, not wanting to host him at home.