While sitting around the break room today, my co-worker who is divorced was talking about the difficulties she is having trying to find health insurance.  Part of the divorce decree was that the ex-hubby would carry health insurance on her for five years, well, those five years will be up on July 1 of this year, and then she will not have health insurance coverage through his employer any longer.  (who knew that they could make the ex carry health insurance - I didn’t.)

My company does not offer health insurance, they do not feel that it is necessary, they have always had employees who had health insurance through their spouses.  Seriously.  They have looked into getting a group policy - but aren’t willing to pay for it, and the cost is outstanding.  So she is starting to look for other employment.  I told her she should move to Illinois, as they have affordable Illinois family health insurance policies.  To which we all laughed, as she has lived in this community her whole life, except for the two years that she left to attend a community college, and there is no way she would ever leave the area.  Which is too bad, the rate quote seems pretty easy to use, and the website as a whole makes the process pretty simple.  With the health issues this co-worker has had in the past, she can’t be without health insurance, but it appears that is what is going to come July.  Why?  Because she can’t afford the premiums, and then they will have 18 month riders on all her diabetes etc, and she can’t afford medicine without her insurance.

I’m guessing she will be dusting off her resume and start looking for other employment.  She’ll need all sorts of luck, as well, to be honest, our community isn’t growing right now, and everyone seems to be holding on to the jobs they have!