HIV and Getting out into the Private Workforce

[TheRoof]

Hello, I am graduating college in about 8 months. One of the comforts I had was the access to Government-owned health insurance.

When I get out in the workforce. I know that I will have to go with a private healthcare plan. If I get a job for about 50,000 what is the maximum amount of income they are allowed to charge from my income?
For example if I make 100,000 a year versus 45,000. Will a person have to pay on a sliding scale? Or is it fixed. That after a certain amount the marginal utility of health insurance doesn't become important anymore. If you are someone who has another condition. Are there caps allowed to be charged on people who have disabilities like HIV? If there are any links or advice. That would be appreciated.





Because somebody is paying for me. (But my parents are poor and so am I) I work, but mostly go to school. So I have very little income to just get by. Sometimes when I look at the expense of doctors, lab tests, I feel guilty of having government-mandated health insurance. BUT, on the other hand I am extremely lucky that I have access to it.



(retail costs, include)
$350 for lab tests?
$150 per doctors visit?
$1000's of dollars for HIV Meds

I guess it makes sense though. In a capitalist society, if you want innovation. You gotta pay for it. I think I can see some justification of the cost. But I definitely would be interested in studying "The Economics of Healthcare." And whether the costs are justified or not.

What are your thoughts?

[klipsch]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by having to get into a private healthcare plan? Are you assuming that you won't be able to pick up insurance if it's offered by your employer due to previous existing conditions? Personally...I've never had any application or claim denied based on existing medical conditions going in the door. But maybe I just got lucky? I'm not usually lucky like that. But if nobody asks...I wouldn't offer up any unsolicited medical history.

If you get in with a company that offers health insurance...it's usually a set rate deducted from your pay that's the same as everybody else's in the company. My last company used to have a broker shop out new insurance plans every year. Two different plans would be available. The base plan with higher deductibles, copay's and prescription cost...and a buy-up plan for the "high utilizer's"...which costs more on a per deduction bases, but has lower deductible's, copay's and prescription costs. It's not typically calculated on a percentage of what you earn...but I do remember the last round being similar to the above...but the buy-up was $X.XX for those earning up to $70K and $XX.XX for those earning more.

Best of luck!

[bear60]

I dont think you understand the health care sytem.  If you work for a company that puts you into a GROUP health plan, this is a shared expense with the company.  I think (as I am not an expert) that some companys pay 100% of the cost of your health plan.
When you go in for tests and bloodwork this is charged to your health plan, which pays for most of the cost. 

[jkinatl2]

I dont think you understand the health care sytem.  If you work for a company that puts you into a GROUP health plan, this is a shared expense with the company.  I think (as I am not an expert) that some companys pay 100% of the cost of your health plan.
When you go in for tests and bloodwork this is charged to your health plan, which pays for most of the cost. 

The size of a company also matters. A large company can more easily take the "hit" of an expensive, chronic ailment and it's treatment. A smaller one would see it's premiums skyrocket. In some smaller companies, HR is a joke - and a sieve of information. Someone entering the workforce with HIV needs to carefully consider this before taking a job that might end up tragically temporary.

[klipsch]

After working for the same company for 5 years, it wasn't the insurance claims that took me out. But after I disclosed my status to my new boss...my position in the company was eliminated within 60 days.