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One thing I hate about Massachusetts…

Christine (Who am I?)

…is that they are now REQUIRING everybody to carry health insurance. The problem with many insurance plans, though, is that you are pretty much at their mercy. You often cannot get needed treatment because the insurance company won’t pay, the doctor won’t give you a referral, etc., etc., etc. I could go on for days about our bad experiences with a certain insurance company.

I recently learned about an alternative…Ameriplan. Now, this is NOT insurance, but a discount medical plan. They make arrangements with health care providers, to offer discounts on doctor visits, dental care, vision care, prescriptions, and more.

Although Ameriplan is available in Massachusetts, I’m not sure if it would be acceptable under the *you MUST have health insurance* law, because it’s not insurance. I feel that it should be, because I believe that people should have a choice in how they get their health care.

But even if you are in Massachusetts, and have insurance, something like this might well be worth it. Many employers don’t offer dental insurance. Mike’s does, and he used it when he needed to have a tooth pulled earlier this year. That wasn’t very expensive, but what if he needed something more complicated and expensive, such as a root canal…and he didn’t have a dental plan? Lack of a way to pay is a big reason why many people do not go to the dentist.

Vision care from most insurance companies is a joke. They often will NOT pay for an annual eye exam unless you’re diabetic and are at a higher risk for glaucoma. Mike is diabetic and his are covered. But my only problem is that I’m severely nearsighted…but the insurance companies apparently don’t believe that being able to see is “medically necessary”. So I have to pay out of pocket, 100%, for my eye exams and glasses. With Ameriplan, I’d be able to get substantial discounts.

Also, this is a work-at-home company, in case you’re looking for such an opportunity. You can own your own business and work in the comfort of your own home. No getting dressed up, no commute…sounds good to me!