Hi Countrysiders, One of my Countryside friends wants to know what other homesteaders do about health insurance. She has a factory job mainly to keep insurance (and to pay for her loom) because her husband has a serious health problem. She's concerned about losing the farm should she lose her job for any given reason. Are there alternatives?

-- Cindy (cindyathomeonthefarm@hotmail.com), December 28, 1999

Answers

I do not have health insurance because I cannot afford it. When I last checked on it they wanted close $500 month (I have a undesirable medical history) I figured that I could make payments to a hospital and doctor for less per month than the insurance costs monthly (if I had to.)

-- Marci (ajourend@libby.org), December 29, 1999.

We have without health insurance rom March until Oct. We relied upon herbs, vitamins and a healthy life style. I was concerned about my two teenage boys possibly injuring themselves and so I preached a lot of saftey. Not only have we been healthier but now that I'm working again, we still haven't needed to see the doctor.

-- Cheryl Cox (cox33055@aol.com), December 30, 1999.

There are alternatives out there. Several Christian groups have programs where members help pay the medical expenses of other members in need. There are restrictions and a current medical problem may not be covered. But it is worth looking into. One such group I know of is called The Brotherhood Newsletter out of Ohio.

-- Vaughn Clark (vdcjm@ix.netcom.com), January 01, 2000.

High deductible health insurance policies (catastrophe policies with $5000 and up deductible) are still fairly reasonable if you are in good health now. These cover major medical expenses should you become hospitalized. The best part is that by filing a claim for all medical treatments, even if the cost is lower than the deductible, the insurance company will negotiate with the doctor or hospital to reduce the amount yo

-- Linda Everhart (codmolly@iland.net), January 02, 2000.