I was talking about private insurance, not COBRA (which is crazy expensive). This was the single largest factor keeping me from quitting the corporate world for my own business, but only due to my own ignorance. Once I looked for a high deductible catastrophic plan for my family, I discovered how easy and affordable it was. HR departments do a good job of brainwashing us into thinking that they are the gatekeepers to the doctor's office, when that's not even close to the truth.
Anecdote time.
Last month I called up a dentist's office who I had never visited before. The conversation went as such.
Me: Hi, I'm a new patient. I'd like to make an appointment.
She: What insurance company are you with? If it's backed by, or affiliated with, the state we aren't accepting any new patients at this time.
Me: I'll be paying cash.
She: How does tomorrow at noon sound?
They happily gave me breakdowns of all costs, made decisions based on price (oh, we could give you this other xray but you don't really need it), and pretty much bent over backwards to make me happy. This isn't abnormal. The same thing happens at the doctor. I pay through an HSA for tax purposes, keep the insurance for major issues, save money in the process, and generally get better service.
It's "easy and affordable" until you get seriously ill and they drop you for failing to disclose your childhood acne, or just refuse to approve the treatment you need.
Private insurance is cheaper than group coverage for a reason. The insurance company has no intention of paying benefits for e.g. cancer patients, and they'll drag out the process in the hope that you'll just die first. Assuming you live long enough, you'll probably have to sue them to get anything out of them.
Anecdote time.
Last month I called up a dentist's office who I had never visited before. The conversation went as such.
Me: Hi, I'm a new patient. I'd like to make an appointment.
She: What insurance company are you with? If it's backed by, or affiliated with, the state we aren't accepting any new patients at this time.
Me: I'll be paying cash.
She: How does tomorrow at noon sound?
They happily gave me breakdowns of all costs, made decisions based on price (oh, we could give you this other xray but you don't really need it), and pretty much bent over backwards to make me happy. This isn't abnormal. The same thing happens at the doctor. I pay through an HSA for tax purposes, keep the insurance for major issues, save money in the process, and generally get better service.