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Originally Posted by claytonender
Out of interest could you give us some idea what sort of monthly premiums are charged by insurance companies. I also, presume that if you suffer from a medical condition, which is incurable and needs a daily medication (such as diabetes or parkinsons) you would have to pay much higher premiums. Also what about people who might possibly have inherited a medical problem, do they have to pay more, in case they develop the medical condition?
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It depends very much on what sort of coverage you desire. There are 1,700 insurance companies in the U.S. offering a wide variety of plans. Some are quite restrictive, others are not. And some companies are nonprofit, (like Blue Cross Blue Shield.) Higher risk or preexisting conditions can, of course, result in higher premiums - but not always.
I cannot give you a nationwide average monthly premium since these vary state to state. However, I can give you some idea based upon my own community. There are eight different insurance companies operating in the county where I live. Between them, they offer 107 different medical plans. Depending upon individual need, a couple with two children can purchase a family insurance policy with a monthly premium ranging from 145 dollars to 625 dollars, with the average running around $300. For seniors, the Medicare premium is currently $98 per month.
Personally, I have never had a problem with any of the insurance companies I have used over the years. A policy is a contract. You read the fine print. I like high deductible policies with no strings attached.....because I want access to any doctor, specialist or hospital I choose in the U.S. I also maintain a Health Savings Account for out of pocket expenses and carry full coverage and medivac insurance when I travel abroad. So far, so good.