Health/Medical Insurance for Piano Techs?

[Tom Servinsky]

Greg,
In Florida, especially in our neck of the woods we have fewer options. Beats
the heck out of me why....
Our deductibles are $4800 once for the entire family, but I must say you are
getting a better deal. Who is your carrier? And you are getting 100% after
the deductible is met. Bravo!!!
Tom Servinsky,RPT
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Newell" <gnewell@ameritech.net>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 9:02 PM
Subject: Re: Health/Medical Insurance for Piano Techs?


> Tom et. al,
>     I don't know who you have your plan through, Tom, but my deductible is
only
> $3,000 and once one of the family fulfills it it's satisfied for all.
After the
> deductible we pay nothing. 100% is covered. No if ands or buts about it.
Check
> out Golden Rule.
>
> Greg
>
> Tom Servinsky wrote:
>
> > Once your deductible is met ($4800) than it's like any other insurance
plan.
> > Something like %80 coverage, and so much for hospital stays, etc. .
> > The big difference, as stated earlier, is if you don't need to use the
money
> > than it remains with you. You get the benefit of deducting the
contribution
> > amt. from your taxable income, plus this is an interest bearing/tax free
> > account, much like an IRA.  Plus at 65 you can take it out and use it
for
> > whatever needs you may have.
> > But back to the original question, what if you don't have much savings
built
> > up in the account? You can prepay up to one full year in advance ($3600)
or
> > if you are signing up during the course of the year, than only those
> > remaining months could be paid for. That money is to be used for the
> > incidental expenses ( doctor visits, eye exams, dental exam, etc).
> > If you take a close look at all the medical expenses the average person
pays
> > through the course of a year, plus the premiums paid, plus, plus,
plus...the
> > amt. spent will generally far exceed the MSA basic premium amts.
> > The thought behind MSA is that if you have only so much money to work
with
> > you are more likely not to use medical services unnecessarily. The harsh
> > reality is that many feel most insurance plans are an open pit for
services
> > and the payment for services are mysteriously provided. Those costs are
> > spread out over everyone's premiums, thus the steady inclination in
premium
> > charges.
> > Again, give credit where credit is due. Congress, IMHO, has taken a bold
> > stance in supporting our desire to curb out-of-control health care
costs.
> > Tom Servinsky,RPT
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Barrie Heaton" ?piano@a440.co.uk?
> > To: ?pianotech@ptg.org?
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2002 2:42 PM
> > Subject: Re: Health/Medical Insurance for Piano Techs?
> >
> > ?
> > ? So what happens if you get a  long term illness and you have only had
> > ? the card of a year or so
> > ?
> > ? Barrie,
> > ?
> > ? In message ?006d01c1e4de$89d38d20$903d2a3f@compaq?, Tom Servinsky
> > ? ?tompiano@gate.net? writes
> > ? ?Dittos,
> > ? ?Can't agree more.
> > ? ?We just signed up for the MSA account and the offerings, especially
if
> > you
> > ? ?are basically healthy, will leave more money in your pocket.
> > ? ?For those who are not aware of the MSA,this was Congress's attempt to
> > give
> > ? ?control the individual the opportunity  manage their own healthcare.
> > It's
> > ? ?not a perfect situation but it's pretty darn close.
> > ? ?You are allowed to put up to $300/monthly ( $3600) with the addition
of
> > the
> > ? ?premium ( ours is $1300 quarterly, family of 6). Altogether we'll pay
an
> > ? ?average of $650/month. You are given a plastic debit card which works
> > very
> > ? ?much like a VISA card.
> > ? ?The big difference between most health insurance plans and the MSA is
the
> > ? ?MSA covers anything related to health related expenditures. Dental,
eye
> > ? ?care, health care...it doesn't matter, providing you have enough
reserve
> > ? ?built up in your account.
> > ? ?Remember these are all tax free contributions and the account will
> > resemble
> > ? ?much like an IRA account.
> > ? ?Give Congress credit for designing a plan that gives the power back
to
> > the
> > ? ?user.
> > ? ?Tom Servinsky,RPT
> > ? ?----- Original Message -----
> > ? ?From: "Greg Newell" ?gnewell@ameritech.net?
> > ? ?To: ?pianotech@ptg.org?
> > ? ?Sent: Friday, April 12, 2002 11:42 AM
> > ? ?Subject: Re: Health/Medical Insurance for Piano Techs?
> > ? ?
> > ? ?
> > ? ?? Check with your local insurance agent to see if they can handle an
MSA
> > ? ?? (Medical Savings Account) . You'll end up paying about the sam but
part
> > of
> > ? ?? the money is yours to use on medically related expenses. Have them
> > explain
> > ? ?? it all to you. They can do it better than I can. I think the best
> > company
> > ? ?to
> > ? ?? have one with is Golden Rule. The portion of the premium that is
yours
> > is
> > ? ?? put in an interest bearing account with checks you can use.
Remember
> > the
> > ? ?? overall payment is the same as everybody else but in this case some
of
> > it
> > ? ?is
> > ? ?? yours!
> > ? ??
> > ? ?? Greg
> > ? ??
> > ? ?? Richard Oliver Snelson wrote:
> > ? ??
> > ? ?? ? I have a 55 lady (smoker/my wife's sister) who wishes to learn
the
> > piano
> > ? ?? ? tuning and repair business. I have checked on getting health
> > insurance
> > ? ?? ? for her and got a large wakeup. So for it looks like $550 to $700
a
> > ? ?? ? month for basic coverage.
> > ? ?? ?
> > ? ?? ? What are you folks doing, that must provide your own health
> > insurance?
> > ? ?? ? I have a wife that teaches school and is covered there. I'm over
65
> > and
> > ? ?? ? have coverage. I had no idea that the costs were so high! How do
> > folks
> > ? ?? ? manage this. This is a real deterrent to someone wanting to go
into
> > ? ?? ? business for themselves.
> > ? ?? ? Richard Snelson
> > ? ?? ? Oliver Piano Service
> > ? ??
> > ? ?? --
> > ? ?? Greg Newell
> > ? ?? mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
> > ? ??
> > ? ??
> > ? ?
> > ?
> > ? --
> > ? Barrie Heaton      PGP key on request           http://www.a440.co.uk/
> > ? AcryliKey Ivory Repair System UK ©
> > http://www.acrylikey.co.uk/
> > ? The U.K. Piano Page ©
http://www.uk-piano.org/
> > ?                                  Home to the UK Piano Industry
>
> --
> Greg Newell
> mailto:gnewell@ameritech.net
>
>