a different kind of insurance!

[Zakaree Sandberg]

I should have posted this in cinematography.com but I don't frequent that site like I do Reduser.
I am a non-union.. independant.. still building my career, 1 year out of college, cinematographer.
This question is aimed at full time working DP's, Camera ops, so on..

How does health insurance work for you guys?
I think the unions have some sort of health plan, but im not sure exactly what it is or how it works..Is your family covered? How much does it cost?

I will mirror this in the ask David Mullen anything thread..
but, I wanna hear from the rest of you guys too!

[Tom Lowe]

I served in the Army for 4 years and am covered for life. :)

The military's vet health care program takes a bad rap in the public, but I think it's fantastic. I tore my ACL a while back and they offered me free, high-tech surgery that week. No waiting. I wanted my wisdom teeth yanked, they pulled them right there, on a walk-in basis. I was worried about a skin mole; I walked in and they took it off right away and did a biopsy. All this talk about universal coverage sucking doesn't really jive with me, since my experience with government healthcare has been awesome.

Then again, I served back when there wasn't a good chance of getting blown apart by a roadside bomb, so I don't know if I would suggest this route now. :)

[Zakaree Sandberg]

yah the armed forces is defiantly a no go for me.. maybe if Barny the purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex was prez... but with dubya and war.. Ill pass.. so with that out of the equation.. i heard local 600 has one of the best healthcare plans of most the unions.. any truth to this? and also anyone know exactly what and who it covers? and cost?


i know it would take me a while to get unionized there.. so any other options?

[Tom Lowe]

yah the armed forces is defiantly a no go for me.. maybe if Barny the purple anthropomorphic Tyrannosaurus rex was prez... but with dubya and war.. Ill pass.. so with that out of the equation.. i heard local 600 has one of the best healthcare plans of most the unions.. any truth to this? and also anyone know exactly what and who it covers? and cost?

i know it would take me a while to get unionized there.. so any other options?

heh-heh. don't be a wimp. i know the army is looking for "combat camera operators"... :)

[Zakaree Sandberg]

so let me get this straight.. the army.. will give me healthcare as long as i go into battle armed with a dvx100a? sounds like they know what they are doing...
promise free health care to an individual who wont need health care when hes layin in a box.. haha Id rather shoot low budget porn and risk hepatitis by inhaling the exhale of ron jeremy:)hehe

[Tom Lowe]

Lmao... :)

[Casey Green]

Zakaree - Here is a link to the Motion Picture Industry Health Plan, which is offered to many Union Members. There is a FAQ on the lower left side of the page. And yes, it is considered one of the best plans available.

(hope this helps)

http://www.mpiphp.org/

[Zakaree Sandberg]

wheres the link?

[Casey Green]

sorry - It's there now... I'll put it here too. (FAQ on lower left)

http://www.mpiphp.org/

[Zakaree Sandberg]

thanks.. still gotta figure out what it takes to get active

[Michael Schrengohst]

Yeah, my brother in law is sweating his ass off in Iraq so
I can sit here on my fat ass and read these forums.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

i feel for him!

[Zakaree Sandberg]

hope u didnt take anything as anti troops! cuz trust me.. im all for the troops.. in fact.. i was granted an appointment to the united states naval academy but opted to not go because i went to military school through highschool and just got burnt on it!... moral of the story... im anti this war and anti bushy

[Michael Schrengohst]

We should all feel for all of our brothers & sisters over there!

[donatello b]

for those non union - you may have to buy your own health care ... i'm mid 50's - i have a individual kaiser w/dental plan 458 month (wife has a group blue cross plan at 750 month ) ... group plans tend to cost more because they have to accept ALL persons & their current medical conditions ...

individual plans - they don't have to accept persons or their current medical conditions, they can either excude covering persons for certain conditions or price monthly $$ more to cover condition ....

[Tom Lowe]

$750 a month? :sad:

She could lease a Porsche for that.

[Jaime Vallés]

Try www.fracturedatlas.org for different plans.

[number6]

We should all feel for all of our brothers & sisters over there!

I certainly feel about them... proud.

Zakaree, try vitamins and being real careful. It has been a personal great health care system for me.