All about Health Insurance
So, Dan has already made this comment in his post about Barbara Crummins, but I think it’s worth reiterating: Health insurance in America sucks hard. And if you’re a self employed professional, it sucks even more than that. It’s like a hoover. It just keeps sucking. It sucks away your money. It sucks away your brain cells. It sucks, sucks, sucks.
Now, over the last few days you’ve probably seen posts popping up about health insurance for Biznik members. And, if you’re like me, you had some pretty big questions not just about what was being offered, but why Biznik is getting into the business of offering it. Questions I’ll hopefully be able to answer here.
1. In as few words as possible, what’s being offered?
Access to plans and supplemental insurance that sole proprieters like you and me have simply never been able to get before. The details are covered in Beth’s blog posts, but it comes down to this: Yesterday I couldn’t even try to buy accident insurance, supplemental cancer insurance or reasonably priced dental. Today, as a Biznik, I can.
2. Why is Biznik offering this service?
Because, as I said before, health insurance in the US sucks and we’d like to see it suck less for our members. Biznik is primarily about building community and this a great and tangible way of showing what being part of a community can really do for you.
3. Health insurance is a for-profit model. Is Biznik making money off of this?
Nope. Biznik won’t make a red cent off of this deal. It’s just a way for us to get better coverage for ourselves, say thanks to all you great Biznik members and to help us level the playing field between self employed folks and those lucky office drones who have had access to supplemental insurance for years.
4. Isn’t this just a way for Beth to corner the market on Biznik health insurance?
Nope. This is the Biznik plan and Beth is just the broker handling it for us. Is Beth making money by representing Bizniks like this? Of course, but it’s her job and at Biznik we’re all about people getting paid to do their jobs.
5. Isn’t working with a broker like Beth more expensive than just buying my insurance direct?
Nope. Broker fees are already built into the prices the insurance companies quote to you. Basically, working with a broker is free to you but gets you access to someone who’s job it is to wade through all the mind numbing details of the American medical system. So, the question is, would you rather do all the leg work yourself or let a professional do it for you? Either way, the price is the same.
6. Wait, why is Biznik doing this again?
OK, here’s the real reason: because we can. We’re drunk with power. Drunk I say. So Drunk that I need to have a lie down. Ahh. I like it on the floor.
So there you go. If you have any other questions just post them here in the comments section and I’ll see if I can dig up an answer for you.
Chris Haddad
Haddad Ink.