I will forever remember 27 as the year I finally grew up — and not just because it was the last year I could legitimately describe myself as being in my “mid-twenties.”

When I was a kid, I looked forward to middle school because those 12- and 13-year-old girls just really seemed to have it together. In middle school, I thought high school would be when I would get a handle on things. Of course, I was clueless then, and eagerly awaited college, when I would be smart and sassy and clever and independent. And then in college, I looked forward to my early 20s, when I’d be out in the so-called real world. When that long-awaited reality rolled around, I longed for my 30s.

Last year, I finally got it: Always waiting for the next stage of my life made me miss the one I was in. In fact, I even blogged about the importance of appreciating “the now” in a post here in 2009. I’m not sure how it escaped me all these years, but there’s something exciting and romantic about figuring things out as you go. Instead of berating myself and growing frustrated when I realize I’ve screwed something up or don’t know what to do next, I’m enjoying the challenge of figuring out what to do next, and reflecting on how far I’ve come since the last time I found myself either stuck or doing damage control.

Ironically, being more aware and accepting of my own limitations made them significantly less limiting. The passion and joy with which I approach my life now has been, frankly, an adjustment. But it has been a wonderful one. I still struggle mightily with depression and anxiety, but they have become just two among many facts about me instead of failings that define me.

But there was a lot of focus on my failings in the last year, believe me. I realized at some point last spring that the life I was living was not the one I wanted to be living, and the person I was was not the person I wanted to be. It was surreal, this realizing that I didn’t particularly like myself, and strangely empowering.

With this month hosting not only my 28th birthday but also my 10-year high-school reunion, my mind is split between looking back and looking forward — for what I imagine are fairly obvious reasons. And I’m looking forward to processing this more right here.

(www.sass-pants.com) — Affordable health insurance is one of the biggest concerns for people facing layoffs or reductions in hours in this tough economy. I know that losing my husband’s benefits when he left his job was a big stressor for us, especially since I’m self-employed!

I recently had a chance to sit down with eHealthInsurance.com Vice President of Human Resources Wendy Nice Barnes to get some insider advice on how to save money on health insurance when you’ve lost employment insurance benefits.

But first, some background, courtesy of eHealthInsurance.

• According to Harvard researchers, at least 50 percent of all bankruptcies result – at least in part – from medical expenses.
• Affordable health insurance is possible for any age group.
  • Average health insurance premiums for people ages 25-34 were $128 per month with an average $1,829 deductible
  • Average health insurance premiums for people ages 35-44 were $173 per month with an average $1,955 deductible
  • Average health insurance premiums for people ages 45-54 were $227 per month with an average $2,262 deductible
  • Average health insurance premiums for people ages 55-64 were $301 per month with an average $2,420 deductible

Wendy shared with me that the single most important factor in finding affordable health insurance is to arm yourself with information: Carefully research your plan choices and understand all of your coverage options before making your choice. You also want to get a good understanding of the terms that the agencies use. Shop around for the coverage you need,” Wendy said. “The best option is to dig in and investigate the alternatives.” She suggests the following:

1. Be very honest with yourself about the coverage that you need and will use.
2. Don’t over pay for things you don’t need, make sure any coverage you get takes care of your real needs.
3. If you have children, make sure their needs will be covered by any policy you buy, so be sure you’re looking at the largest varieties of plan options available in your state.
4. Your safest bet is to go to a broker (such as eHealthInsurance or 2 Insure 4 Less) that is licensed in your state and sells the widest variety of products available.
5. Consider an Health Savings Account (HSA) that can grow with you and your business. With a HSA you can purchase a higher deductible plan and then save money – pre-tax – in a HSA. You can contribute pre-tax dollars to your own HSA and use the money in that fund to to pay for qualified medical expenses when they arise.
6. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can switch to lower-cost medications, shop around for basic medical supplies on your own, and take advantage of free preventive care.
7. Make sure you get your yearly physical; it could determine your eligibility for future health plans. Knowing your current health status better prepares you to make a decision on whether you should change plans or if you can scale down your existing (or new) plan in the event you need to make a change in the future.
8. Check your health insurance plan to see if they offer a discount at local or national health clubs. Some plans do and you can save money on the monthly membership cost for the family.
9. Don’t be afraid to mix and match plans and coverage options, including COBRA, for family members to keep costs lower.

The best way to figure out what kind of insurance coverage will work for you is to do a comprehensive self-check of your health. “Ask yourself how often you go to the doctor, what your usual symptoms are, what regular prescriptions you take, and what maintenance medications you take,” said Wendy. “By doing a self-assessment, you can then go to a site like eHealthInsurance and tailor a plan to your needs. For instance, you may not need a maternity benefit. If you’re on a maintenance drug and it’s generic and you’ve been on it forever and it works well for you, you may find you can get discounted rates for a 90-day supply.

“Model a plan that’s for your needs,” Wendy said. “Compare similar plans with different carriers to make a correct decision. If saving is the most important thing for you and you’re relatively healthy, you may be set with a higher-deductible plan because your premiums will be much lower.”

Regarding mixing and matching, Wendy said, “If you’re faced with unemployment, get creative. If the plan’s primary beneficiary has a pre-existing condition, and needs to stay on COBRA insurance, you may still be able to save money by placing additional family members on a separate, and potentially less costly, plans. Do the math on separate policies to see if you can’t meet your family’s medical needs at a lower cost. Again, it’s easy to price individual and family plans online at eHealthInsurance.com.”

A Few Words on COBRA

Qualifications for COBRA insurance include voluntary or involuntary termination of employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct), as well as reduction in the number of hours of employment. If you elect to maintain your health insurance benefits through COBRA you’ll be required to pay the entire premium, plus a 2% administration fee, out of your own pocket. If your employer didn’t offer health insurance in the first place, if your employer went bankrupt, or if you wait too long to apply for COBRA benefits, you won’t be eligible.

“If you’re offered COBRA continuation coverage, learn exactly how much your COBRA premiums will cost each month, and exactly what the benefits are,” said Wendy. “COBRA insurance often provides very comprehensive benefits to satisfy a broad audience. Think about which benefits you really need.” Note that COBRA health insurance can provide important protection for people who have pre-existing medical conditions. These conditions may prevent them from otherwise qualifying for an individually underwritten health insurance plan.

If you’re married and your spouse is employed, check to see if you can get on your spouse’s employer’s plan. Learn how much, if any, the employee share of the premium would increase if you join the plan. Some employer-sponsored plans also allow for non-married employees to add a long-term partner to an employer-sponsored plan.

If you’re in relatively good health and don’t have any pre-existing conditions, you may be able to find less expensive options to COBRA by purchasing individual health insurance. “In fact, the average COBRA premium costs 60% more than the average premiums for comparable individual coverage purchased online,” said Wendy. It’s easy to compare plans, benefits, and prices by calling an independent broker such as eHealthInsurance or 2 Insure 4 Less. For more information about COBRA, go to eHealth’s COBRA Learning Center.

Health Insurance Resources

• eHealthInsurance – Free Instant Quotes
• Compare Health Insurance Quotes with 2 Insure 4 Less
• eHealthInsurance.com YouTube Channel

Contents Copyright © 2009 Kristen King

(image: Sundeip Arora )

(www.sass-pants.com) – I don’t know what it is, but it seems like no one’s first post is ever very good. I had big plans that I would buck the trend, but let’s face it: this post ain’t exactly gonna change the world, and that’s okay. Just getting something out there means I’m past the first hurdle, and the later posts can rock your ever-loving world.

This blog has been a long time in the making, a culmination of my love of blogging, my fantasies about landing a daily newspaper column with a bajillion dedicated readers, and a desire to focus on my own projects instead of diluting myself my working only on things for clients. (Did I mention that I’m a full-time writer and communications consultant?)

I’ve got a lot to say, and not just about writing or my pets. And I’m tired of keeping my mouth shut. So brace yourself. Here we go.

Contents Copyright © 2008 Kristen King

I don’t know if the dogs are just on edge because I was gone for a few days and their daddy isn’t home right now, but they are barking at EVERYTHING. Including when my stomach growls. And when I sniff. And when the wind blows. And when one of the cats sneezes. And when I turn my head. And when my e-mail dings. And when one of the other dogs farts. It’s great.

- Kristen

If your cat is anything like my two, she’s too curious for her own good. Isabel likes to jump on the counter while I’m unloading the dishwasher or putting groceries in the cupboard so she can be part of the action. There have been several times that I’ve accidentally closed her in the pantry and not realized it for an hour or two.

If your cat has a tendency to wriggle into places where she could get stuck or trapped, be sure to double check before closing doors or drawers, and to do so carefully. The other day I closed my dresser drawer and heard a weird sound when it wouldn’t close all the way. Yes, that would have been Zoe, who climbed behind the drawer when I wasn’t looking and got stuck in the back of the dresser. Good thing I didn’t slam it shut! She could have been hurt.

And Zoe likes to follow me into the closet in the morning while I’m getting dressed, and then she hides behind my wedding dress or the ironing board or something else that keeps her hidden. The other day when Jesse got home from work, he discovered that she’d been stuck in there for about 10 hours.

Short of keeping your cats, who are known for being little escape artists, confined to a specific area at all times, there’s not a whole lot you can do to keep them from getting into things. But be conscientious about keeping them from getting trapped in things.