I haven't had a long distance provider for two years. I use the over the counter phone cards and love them.
You can buy a card that generally fits your typical long distance call.
For instance: I don't make a huge amount of l.d. calls, but when I do they are quite long. The "front end load" (usually first minute) on the ones I buy cost more, but after that first minute I'm @ less than .04 / minute. Consequently a $20.00 card last me a long time.
There are only two negatives for me. 1. The local phone company charges me something over a dollar a month for NOT having a l.d. carrier. DUH!!!! (What a SCAM!)
If you call from a pay phone, they load the front end a little bit more, but not bad.
Works for all the lower 48, same rate, no matter what the distance.
If your situation is reversed from mine, you can buy cards with lower front end, higher per minute, etc.
Worth a try IMHO.