Don't even get me started on insurance, and not only health. When I quit working ten years ago we had to get our own insurance, it cost $525.00 a month per year and now it is $1130.00 a month per year,well it just went up again and so more than that and our deductible is $5,000.00. I just turned 56 and DH is 61. What really makes me boil is we have never used it. I go to the Dr. once a year to have my BP medicine refilled and maybe a sinus infection or two , just office visits.. DH hadn't used it probably three times since we have had it and that was for office visits until last year and he had some tests done. He had an MRI and some other tests and out of pocket was $4800.00 That is the only time we have used it for more than probably 3-4 office visits per year. We pay insurance out the a**, auto, truck, pivot,tractors, equipment, livestock, liability on farm workers, shop, even on two old farm houses that aren't worth anything, then there is homeowners and I am sure I am forgetting something. But, it is just like my Dad used to say "you don't need it till you need it." I am thankful we haven't, but I guess what makes we made is that we have to pay for those that do.

If she has a minimal income (which albeit has to be significantly minumal for a single person) she should be able to get medicaid. I would tell her though that that is not a pleasant process. My experiance (when I first had my daughter and needed it) was not a pleasant one. The people are mean and well downright awful and their first response is NO. I went in knowing exactly what I qualified for and didn't except no for an answer. I already knew what forms to fill out so when they told me I had to do certain things (which basically just make you life more difficult and are not a requirement) I told them flat out No, I don't have to do that I only need to fill out this this and this. Visit your state resource to find out the income requirements and such in your specific state. They are different for each. Also - I happen to find this as well In the US, there are a few alternatives that you may want to investigate. The first is Medicaid, if you financially qualify. If your income level is over the Medicaid limit, you may still qualify for Medicaid by using a spend down equation (usually the amount of income you receive over and above their income guidelines). To become eligible for Medicaid your allowable medical expenses must be more than your spend down amount. Expenses for medical care that may be considered in this equation include care from hospitals, doctors, clinics, dentists, drugs, medical supplies and equipment, health insurance premiums, transportation to get medical care, personal assistance services, and adult home help services that are related to your medical care. Read more on this here: --> Medicaid Eligibility http://www.rare-cancer.org/health-insurance.html

As roarah says, all states are not equal. I live in a state whose gov. has done everything he could to stymie the ACA & refused to expand Medicaid - leaving many of our citizens w/o access to coverage. Also, our insurance commissioner is reportedly prohibited from regulating the insurance 'providers' - essentially allowing them to gouge consumers. If it were not for the ACA, I would not have insurance (had none for over 30 years before now) & I've already made good use of it. My individual plan is costing approx. $4400/yr, but I'm paying only about $800 of that w/ the subsidy. Not to let anybody off the hook, but I think the biggest culprit is medical costs - which continue to balloon out of control, it seems. Insurance providers, & ultimately we, are definitely paying through the nose for services & prescriptions. I was recently in a hospital room for about 6 hours - not even an overnight stay & no meals & the charge for that my ins. co. paid was $23,000! Has anyone else heard about the new push to require providers to disclose prices? The prediction is that this may result in lower costs - eventually. Right now, the $$ charged for a procedure can vary as much as 70% or more... http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2014/02/12/276001379/elusive-goal-a-transparent-price-list-for-health-care Oh & love him or hate him, I recently heard a good 1 from Ralph Nader: isn't it ironic to be calling the folks who gouge everyone on medical costs 'providers'?

Jill302, thank you for that link. It sure looks like the person my DH spoke to was wrong. That makes more sense and makes the choice easier for me. Oakley, BCBS is the provider for the plans I can get that offer some out of network coverage, but it's 30-50% and would apply to everyone I would see at home other than my PCP and in-patient care at one hospital. None of my generic medications would be covered, and for all of that I would be paying hundreds of dollars more each month -- just to not risk being drained or bankrupt by an out of state and out of network medical surprise. I have been covered by BCBS many times, including most recently. I would have stayed with them if they offered individual coverage that would equal my group coverage -- even at the COBRA rates, it would have been a viable option. The plans they do offer individuals don't work for me.