What's the longest you've gone without Medical Coverage?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What's the longest you've gone without Medical Coverage?

Posted: 10/13/2005 6:57:28 PM EDT

The few times I've gone without I was between jobs before the kids came...With 3 kids under the age of 5 the idea of no coverage would scare the crap out of me...On the other hand some people (like the self employed) do it as a way of life...so how long have you gone without coverage? Anything happen
that made you regret it?

Posted: 10/13/2005 6:58:34 PM EDT

[#1]

A few months?

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:00:01 PM EDT

[#2]

About two years and that was with two kids under the age of 10. I was trapping and working on a farm. We seemed happier back then too.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:02:43 PM EDT

[#3]

Never. Can't afford not to have insurance.

There are millions of people out there that choose to buy non-essential items instead of insurance and then cry when they are financially wiped out by that choice.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:06:53 PM EDT

[#4]

Three years, from when I was a 18-21yo. Didn't have a care in the world and had no problems, got in a bad wreck while a friend was driving (we were all drunk) and walked away from a totaled full size chevy truck with a few bruises and small cuts. That was a wake-up call and I have had some type of coverage ever since either through work or individual policies.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:09:42 PM EDT

[#5]

10mo. now, and I had to pay out 1K when I got 2 X-rays after droping a timing light on my foot. The nurses were laughing at me, as they said that my foot was the most swolen they had ever seen while not being broken.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:10:35 PM EDT

[#6]

Without ANY insurance: 1 month.

With only catastrophic protection: 4 months.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:10:53 PM EDT

[#7]

16 years until last month.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:15:39 PM EDT

[#8]

About 4 years. It was $10 a week and I was only making about $130 a week. I was only 22 so I still believe it was the right choice.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:20:19 PM EDT

[#9]

We have never gone without health insurance but did contemplate it a couple of years ago because it is so expensive. We are so thankful we kept it.

Our son's medical bills are now around $600,000 and we do not qualify for any government help. We pay around $500 per month for the insurance and then have $500 deductibles per person. Then we pay 20% until we hit a $1,000 cap. Our son is the million dollar baby!!

Insurance is highway robbery until you need it. I always thought the government would take care of sick kids and sick elderly...you know the widows and critically ill kids. People who really need it and deserve it. But that is not the case. Best plan is to take care of yourself because nobody else is going to.

Mrs. Ekie

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:21:54 PM EDT

[#10]

Ive gone about 5 years without even seeing a doctor except for company physicals.. does that count?

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:37:27 PM EDT

[#11]

About two years right after I got out of the Army, luckily I never needed it during that time.

Posted: 10/13/2005 7:44:38 PM EDT

[#12]

3 days. In my whole life.

Posted: 10/13/2005 8:03:48 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
10mo. now, and I had to pay out 1K when I got 2 X-rays after droping a timing light on my foot. The nurses were laughing at me, as they said that my foot was the most swolen they had ever seen while not being broken.

Does it stress you out?

Posted: 10/13/2005 8:26:54 PM EDT

[#14]

Gone without health insurance for me? 8 years - maybe 10. Don't have it now.

If I get injured, I hope it's enough that I die quickly - or take someone with me......

Posted: 10/13/2005 8:37:50 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Gone without health insurance for me? 8 years - maybe 10. Don't have it now.

If I get injured, I hope it's enough that I die quickly - or take someone with me......

or declare bankruptcy like my uncle did and send the hospital and his doctor $5 a week for the rest of his life. He wound up owing something like 300k. True story.

Posted: 10/13/2005 8:45:55 PM EDT

[#16]

three years?? something like that

young, healthy, no kids

i have really good coverage now and forget to use it--i got used to not having it

Posted: 10/13/2005 8:46:18 PM EDT

[#17]

12 years

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:00:30 PM EDT

[#18]

Single, no dependents, no heirs. Never had any coverage 'cept catastrophic, and that's probably good money wasted*.

*I live behind enemy lines, so there will always be someone around who's willing to put me out of my misery if I get really sick or injured.

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:02:09 PM EDT

[#19]

years

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:02:45 PM EDT

[#20]

Most of my life

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:03:20 PM EDT

[#21]

3 1/2 years was the longest

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:11:25 PM EDT

[#22]

1989-2000

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:19:50 PM EDT

[#23]

I'm 36 and have never had it. Don't want it either. It doesn't worry me a bit.

Well maybe a small bit.

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:32:32 PM EDT

[#24]

I have had only catastrophic protection, with a 2500 dollar deductible, for a year now. I have 2 part time jobs. Yippie.

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:33:57 PM EDT

[#25]

4 years! 18-22.

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:54:35 PM EDT

[#26]

Never. It's a priority for me and I am glad to not have had any gaps.

Posted: 10/13/2005 9:58:44 PM EDT

[#27]

24 years. Nothing much happened. The cash rates are usually cheaper. If you need meds, Dr's will give you the free samples. If you get really jacked up, the hospital has to care for you, so you become a burden to society, not yourself.

People are addicted to their "free healthcare" I will be paying over $9000 for mine this year. And my family has no health problems!

Posted: 10/13/2005 10:31:35 PM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
4 years! 18-22.

Posted: 10/13/2005 10:37:44 PM EDT

[#29]

I've never paid for health insurance, and I don't plan on starting anytime soon.

Posted: 10/13/2005 10:39:09 PM EDT

[#30]

I would have had to file for bankruptcy had I not had coverage this year. Scary thought.

Posted: 10/13/2005 11:49:03 PM EDT

[#31]

I`m 32 never had it. Hope i don`t ever need it.

Posted: 10/14/2005 5:14:10 AM EDT

[#32]

Never been without it. I'm an insulin dependent diabetic. I'm in good health now, but when the major health issues start (as they always will for anyone with IDDM) I don't want to bankrupt my family.

Posted: 10/14/2005 5:30:25 AM EDT

[#33]

About three months. If I wasn't married I'd strongly consider dropping my insurance and taking a gamble with my health.

Posted: 10/14/2005 5:31:37 AM EDT

[#34]

Health insurance has made many of us slaves to the corporations. If you have any major type of condition or maintenence type health need, you can forget about insurance coverage unless you can get into a large corp group. Thoughs that are there know it is true, those that don't are fortunate...

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What's the longest you've gone without Medical Coverage?

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