I am self-employed and I have always purchased my own health insurance; family coverage, medical, drug, dental and vision.  It is very, very expensive - the single largest expense I have other than Federal Income tax. 

More interesting would be knowing the number of people who actually do have some insurance but do not reveal it; if you have anything other than the very highest level of insurance you are further ahead to show up in a hospital saying that you have no insurance, than to acknowledge that you have a policy.  It is very clear, but unspoken by the candidates, that those of us with insurance are used by healthcare facilities to cover their costs for treating the uninsured. (I have no dispute with this - they are doing their job of providing healthcare to those in need.)  We are in a de facto single-payor situation (the insurance industry) subject to non-market (i.e. political) forces - the coverage I have living in upstate New York would cost about 25 to 30% less if I simply lived in another state.  There is no competition among insurers as far as I can tell, and essentially no difference in the cost of a given level of coverage regardless of insurance carrier.  It is not clear that free-market forces are operating here, despite the rhetoric.

I am originally from Canada and have experience with a universal coverage/single-payor  system.  There are advantages and disadvantages, and I have personal anecdotes of both.  But I am truly appalled by the total lack of attention to the Canadian healthcare system by the all the candidates; there is a wealth of knowledge over several decades that really does show what works and what doesn't, based on lots of real data collected from a population essentially identical to the US population.  I would to see just what the candidates know about healthcare systems elsewhere in the world and what they would borrow (or not) from those systems.  Perhaps Kaiser could perform such a survey.

I wanted to buy individual private insurance when I was laid off from my job, since I knew it would be for a while, but I have pre-existing conditions. I was lucky enough to have worked for a company that had insurance so was able to shell out $500 a month (single coverage) for COBRA. It took 3/4 of my unemployment insurance, had I not had savings to pay the rent, it would have been out of reach, meaning, when I got a new job, I wouldn't be covered for those same conditions.  So affordability is an issue, but more importantly, full coverage for all conditions.

i do carry my insurance and do believe in the importance of having it.  i am a nurse, but off work at present-so in seeking my own as a single mother what good does the coverage do for me unless i have a major medical accident----  i pay $308.00 monthly but the catch is that i cannot afford my routine medications with any of these policies---the drug company rip-offs where the problems are---i am healthy but yes depressed- have a thyroid problem-work night shift--and take a hormone related to my hysterectomy...   4 medications i take daily-----$ over a$1,000 a month... so what good does the insurance do me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   i am so mad and disgraced... now how am i to pay the insurance premium and buy my medications?  you got it ----it will be impossible...   now i sit in limbo of what to do.....

My husband is self-employed and must purchase indvidual health insurance. He is 52 years old excellent health, but his premiums continue to rise.

 

Due to multiple sclerosis, I work only part-time and am not eligible for group coverage. COBRA has run out. At 48 years old, I now have an indivudual policy with premiums of $520 per month -- to start. In addition, I have a $5,000 deductible. No vision, no dental. As for my $1700 in MS medication per month? If I elect to continue taking it at all, there goes another $500 per month. I have a limit of 2 doctor visits per year on my co-pay. If you know one fact about MS, it is that frequent doctor visits are very necessary. And that's hoping that no other health issues come up.

 

We are among the middle-class who DO buy individual coverage. It is only a matter of time, though, before it is no longer an option at all. We are among millions in similar circumstances.

 

The only question remaining is ... will the system be fixed before we join the ranks of the un-insured?