Cool, lots of great replies. I hadn't checked in a few days because I thought the thread had died. Thanks for not letting it do so. I'll try to respond to each of you, but let me know if I forget someone. First, yes I am familiar with Samaritan. They are pretty finicky about who they let in, or at least their information packet seems that way. I do like the fact that practically nothing goes to administration, that's cool. I do not like the fact that there is practically no deductible, I feel like that encourages less care about prices and will eventually drive the price up. Have you been satisfied with them? Have you ever had a big bill? How did it work out?
For Monkey Uncle, Liberty is as loose as it gets in the statement of faith. I can see how an atheist,agnostic or non Judeo/Christian religious adherent would hesitate to sign on. There will be no new ones, they have been frozen to these five:samaratin, CHM, Medishare, altrua, liberty. In order of hardcore religiosity they seem to be from lax to tight: liberty, altrua, chm, Medishare/Samaritan(these two seem about the same). CHM and Medishare have policies that would run about $175 a month for the whole family, but the have low caps. I think the idea is that you can pick up aca if the shtf.
Axecleaver(love the name, sounds like a viking)
I live in Mississippi in the heart of anti aca country, lots of docs don't take the exchange plans and few exchange plans are available. I have taken the subsidy, but my income creeps up every year and my deduction gets less. I should correct my initial post, I am rushing toward $900 a month. I am subsidized less every year. ETA three years, full price. Plus, I hate taking the subsidy anyway. I wish I had my old $200 a month policy back, but it's dead. I could try to make less money, but since I enjoy making money and I hate taking oher people's money that seems like a bad option. I could buy a plan off exchange, but I'm very frugal. So I'm looking at all options and I appreciate all the things people have said thus far.
Monkey Uncle
I have personally negotiated an %80 reduction in hospital bills. My old policy didn't cover maternity. It doesn't mean all hospitals will do it, but often if you offer to pay the negotiated balance right now!! They will take it. If they decide to be jackasses about it, you don't have the power that insurance companies do. Some hospitals list their policies on cash online. I'll find a link for one of those hospitals.