From about 1996 to 2002 I was completely without health insurance. When it started costing us, through Roger's employer, more than our rent, I said no more. I was on oxygen then and still had a leaky heart valve. Luckily, when he got the job he now has, it included a good insurance plan with no pre-existing clause, so we opted in. It wasn't soon enough for my first ER bout so we're still making payments on the over 13,000 dollar hospital bill, but it did kick in just in time for the heart surgery, so we were very lucky.

When we canceled it in WY, we didn't own our own home, so it didn't seem there was so much to lose if something did happen. Now, it's the one thing which keeps Roger from retiring and going on Social Security; we could not afford health insurance. There is a terrible sense of guilt which goes with that...I do not like to see him work so hard, but he never complains and I know the guilt is all from me, none from him.

So, I don't know, Janie, if you can afford it, I'd say get some short-term or something. I was 43 when we went without coverage for me. I don't think I'd be so cavalier about it now at 57 even without the heart valve, etc.

REALLY glad to hear you made it through a very scary sounding auto pileup AND congrats on the new job!

kat