Question Is there such a thing as a Health Insurance Pool? - Virtual Assistant Forums

hbplifestyle · #1 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009

My husband is a farmer and I hold a FT job to carry the insurance while being a VA PT. It's necessary that my daughter have a shot every day so insurance is a must. The farmer's of Wisconsin have joined together for a farmer's group ihealth nsurance.

Is anyone aware is there such a thing for the VA industry? Are there any VA that focus on the insurance industry that would like to enlighten us?

lillie · #2 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009

Hi Collette!

I'm not an insurance expert and I don't know if there's a VA industry group insurance option, but I do just want to tell you a small startup I used to work for used Trinet for their HR and benefits. (http://www.trinet.com) Same concept - it pooled lots of small businesses together so it could offer good insurance and other benefits.

I'm curious about this, too, so I'll be watching this thread. Thanks for asking this!

StephanieP · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009

This is a very big issue that I'm also interested in. I want to become a full-time VA but doing so means giving up my insurance which is a really hard decision to make because I'm single and have no backup(happiness/health/happiness/health...hmmmm....lol). Some VA's or those wanting to make that leap, I guess, are pretty lucky in that you have a spouse who, in a lot of cases, has the job with the insurance. But it also seems like a lot of your DH's are also self employed so you still probably have to deal with the whole insurance issue. So, I'm very curious as well. How does everyone deal with this issue?

Office Goddess · #4 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009

I have heard in the past that insurance groups MUST be in the same State because insurance is state-regulated, not federal. I know we have discussed getting a group discount on insurance on this forum but, to date, nothing has been set up and I BELIEVE it is because of this state-regulation issue.

vainparadise · #5 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009

We purchase our health insurance for a family of 5 and pay for it through the business. To my knowledge as well, there are no "pools" of coverage available. Would be an ideal solution to the Health Insurance dilemma IMO

If you decide you to get quotes, you should most definitely go through a broker and use their expertise. The price is the same whether you use them or go via a website for a quote.

Action Jackson VA · #6 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009

There is the Freelancers Union. They offer health, dental, life and vision. But, not for all states. It is free to join and your state could be on there.

cherylb · #7 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009

This is something I've been wondering about as well. I work FT to get the insurance benefits, but my husband is disabled and on Medicare. He's okay, but I definitely NEED health coverage.

Shaheda · #8 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009

Originally Posted by Action Jackson VA

There is the Freelancers Union. They offer health, dental, life and vision. But, not for all states. It is free to join and your state could be on there.

Thanks for this link. I also would be interested in having this as a backup. I'm currently covered under my husbands insurance and plan on running my VA business fulltime. With todays market being the way it is, I want to have a backup plan in the event that he has to leave his company. I do not want to be in a situation where I'd have to go back to the corporate world. Once I leave it, I have no intentions of returning. This is great!

StephanieP · #9 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009

There was a meeting in my town a few months ago to discuss this exact issue (I would say that, probably 80% or 90% of the businesses owned in this area are privately owned small businesses). I can't remember exactly what came out of it (one of my client's attended) but I know that they were discussing the idea of bringing some sort of small business group insurance here. For some reason, I keep thinking that my friend said it wasn't really worth it because it was still expensive and the coverage wasn't that great for what you were paying. BUT, it still may be something that could be looked into. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce or some other business organization in other towns may have programs set up for small businesses (where you don't have to be in a specific industry).

GalFriDee · #10 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009

I think local (State & County) Chambers of Commerce have group insurance available for small businesses. You could also try the SBA for additional information.

vainparadise · #11 (**permalink**) 08-13-2009

Stephanie you are correct, group policies are much more expensive than individual ones and for some small businesses it doesn't pay to go the group plan route.

Only good benefit w/a group plan is that there are no pre-existing clauses that most individual plans have.

dognose · #12 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009

Originally Posted by lillie

...I do just want to tell you a small startup I used to work for used Trinet for their HR and benefits. (http://www.trinet.com) Same concept - it pooled lots of small businesses together so it could offer good insurance and other benefits.

The best insurance I've had was when I worked for a company that went through TriNet. However, I believe the company has to have a minimum of 5 employees, the employees have to work at least 30 hours to get coverage, & the employer has to pay 80% of the employees insurance premium. There is also a 'per employee' admin charge, which if I recall correctly was about $130 per month per employee. You add all that up & you're looking at a significant chunk of change.

Solving the current health care crisis would go a long way to helping small businesses.

virtual writing · #13 (**permalink**) 08-14-2009

OK, I don't know anything about this, but apparently this guy's company provides great rates for self-employed health insurance.
American Business Benefits Association
www.paulmarsocci.abbaplans.com

He's in my local networking group.
I've never talked business with him since I'm not in the market for health insurance right now . But just in case someone can benefit, thought I'd share the reference.

Julie · #14 (**permalink**) 02-09-2010

I spoke with a health ins. broker about a year ago who said it is actually cheaper to buy an individual policy rather than a group policy ('group' being when you are the business owner for a group policy). Not so long ago it was the other way around. I can't imagine why it changed. That's why there are so many small businesses who can't afford to offer group health ins. anymore.

RhondaHolscher · #15 (**permalink**) 02-10-2010

Thank you for posting the link for the insurance. I think a lot of us are in similar situations. I am a single parent with no other job, so I really appreciate that link.