Pre-existing condition: Skin cancer
I currently work for a small pharmaceutical market research firm full-time and my wife takes care of our three small kids. My employer does not offer insurance, but rather gives us a stipend for a monthly healthcare premium.
Since I had a melanoma mole removed several years ago, I cannot qualify for cheap, regular family insurance. The only insurance I could get was to continue the previous insurance I had when I was with a large company. My premium is $964 a month, but there is a $5,000 deductible per individual, or $16,500 per family. If any of us were to get very sick this year, there goes our savings.
I am hoping that the state exchanges will allow me to have more options. I would be looking for something like I have right now, but not with the very high deductibles.
But I am worried about what the increased costs will be. If more unhealthy people enroll, the insurance companies will have to raise rates for everyone.
