The thought of moving terrifies me! Yet I really want to! :) (Portland: low income, real estate)

[Sunday1]

From USN&WR:

"...The state's efforts to extend health coverage to its entire population appear to be paying off. Maine has the fifth best rate of coverage, with just 9 percent of its population lacking health insurance (in 2008) – and that percent has dropped from 10.6 percent in the past five years..."

If it's so expensive, how is it that 91% of the population is covered?

[Sunday1]

Sorry Luv4thepaws, to have hi-jacked your thread. I switched over to a previous thread specifically about health insurance in Maine.

[Luv4ThePaws]

No, this is wonderful info for everyone considering the move, Sunday!! We had the BEST health insurance through my husband's company. I mean, we paid $150/mo for the two of us and that included dental and vision. All of our visits to the doctor were covered completely with a $10 copay (plus we got annual exams with full labs with no copay), we got two dental cleanings/x-rays a year (completely covered-no copay) and an eye exam with a year's supply of contacts (I wear them) completely covered with nothing out of pocket. People never believe us when we tell them this! My husband was bitten by a brown recluse and developed a severe infection last fall that required him to be admitted to the hospital for i.v. antibiotics- we didn't pay a dime. So.... all of this insurance talk scares me to death!! All the jobs he has been applying to have offered full benefits, but who knows what that means anymore! I know they won't come close to the wonderful insurance he was getting, that's for sure!!

[Luv4ThePaws]

Originally Posted by chaosX5

Hey Luv4thePaws! Sounds like we live in the same city! I am so sorry to hear of your job losses, It's happening a lot here (and everywhere)

Yes, we live in Charlotte (right outside of the city actually) and I completely understand how you feel about this city...............she's not exaggerating about the problems here folks! Yes, some of the smaller towns outside of Charlotte can be quite nice if that's what your looking for.


I think that the people on this forum do a great jog of helping wannabe Mainers disect their reasons for wanting to move to Maine. I think a visit to Maine is very important if at all possible (we're coming in Sept. ) just to see if it's what you expect.

I moved here (NC) when I was 5, and my hubby is a native so I really understand the fears involved in moving to another state, but it sounds like you already know it's what you want to do. From what I understand the people in Maine are quite nice and welcoming and you say you already have friends there! You'll find your niche in Maine. Get that that house sold and get outta here.............. Good luck!!!!!

Thanks Chaos for having my back! I am glad someone doesn't see NC as the land of wine and riches for once! I mean, so many people consider this a great place to be- I did too! I moved here from CA 3 1/2 years ago (hubby is a native Charlottean) after college as I wanted an affordable and promising place to start my career, as business was booming here at the time. But now that I am married and we want kids someday soon, we have serious qualms about putting our kids into the schools here and we can't afford the pricey private schools. Not to mention the rising crime and snarly traffic!

I struck out then from CA with no problem, besides missing my family of course. But now, this is my first home- the first place I have put permanent roots down. I guess when I started this thread last night I was wondering if anyone else has ever had/is having trouble with the thought of leaving the life you had made and the house that holds memories. It's scary to think about making wrong choices in this process and letting go of what we hold dear. My husband has lived here for 33 years! We made a home here...

But, everything you said is true and very encouraging and we appreciate it so much! I keep seeing posts in the NC forum about people wanting to move here and it's so scary because there are already so few jobs for the number of people that are here. The economists are saying it will not be until 2012 that NC turns its economy around, and unemployment will still be 9% or higher even then...

[Casper1212]

Sounds like things are rough, Luv4. If you haven't moved around a lot (I hadn't until I met my husband) but it's nothing to be scared of. Stressful, yes. Lots of work, absolutely. But it sounds like you can't get much worse than where you are, and there are lots of small towns where crime is low and you can feel good about raising your kids. Jobs seem to be a problem just about anywhere these days. Finding work will depend on what education and skills you and your husband have. If you're looking to relocate, you might look into doing what we did. It wasn't for relocating so much as finding a better job. My husband looked into federal jobs. You would be surprised as what they hire people to do and what they require in the way of qualifications. The salaries aren't bad, you have some say in where you get sent, and the benefits and job security are two of the best parts. You can start by visiting a website called USAjobs.
As for Maine in particular, we just moved here. So far, so good. We lucked out and sold our house in Texas, and we're hoping to buy one here soon. Because our transfer here was a promotion for my husband, there were a lot of benefits, one of which was help with selling our house and buying another one. It takes a little time to get hired. But it's worth it.

[Luv4ThePaws]

Originally Posted by Casper1212

Sounds like things are rough, Luv4. If you haven't moved around a lot (I hadn't until I met my husband) but it's nothing to be scared of. Stressful, yes. Lots of work, absolutely. But it sounds like you can't get much worse than where you are, and there are lots of small towns where crime is low and you can feel good about raising your kids. Jobs seem to be a problem just about anywhere these days. Finding work will depend on what education and skills you and your husband have. If you're looking to relocate, you might look into doing what we did. It wasn't for relocating so much as finding a better job. My husband looked into federal jobs. You would be surprised as what they hire people to do and what they require in the way of qualifications. The salaries aren't bad, you have some say in where you get sent, and the benefits and job security are two of the best parts. You can start by visiting a website called USAjobs.
As for Maine in particular, we just moved here. So far, so good. We lucked out and sold our house in Texas, and we're hoping to buy one here soon. Because our transfer here was a promotion for my husband, there were a lot of benefits, one of which was help with selling our house and buying another one. It takes a little time to get hired. But it's worth it.

Wow, that sounds like it worked out nicely for you guys! How great that not only was the position a promotion but you got to move to such a lovely state! I hope you settle in nicely and don't have too much more unpacking to do! I am guilty of leaving things in boxes forever and not wanting to deal with it! Thanks for the website, we will definately check it out!

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Sunday1

How did this happen? A single insurance company in the entire state. What did Maine do -- essentially authorize a violation of anti-trust law(s)? I'm going to have to spend some time researching and understanding this. I'm a freelance mgt. consultant whose family wants to be in Portland. But now I'm getting concerned. If anything God forbid happened to my DH, I am uninsurable as it is. Sounds like Maine might not be a safe place for me to live. Yikes.

The Maine Legislature mandated no community rating and guarantee issue. This drove the suppliers out of state.

The State then tried a universal health insurance system called Dirigo. Dirigo has been derailing since day one. They wanted to get all the uninsured into the program. What they got was people leaving their own plans for the taxpayer subsidized plan.

The plan we gave up with dental and minimal copays went from $500 a month to $1800 per month.

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Sunday1

From USN&WR:

"...The state's efforts to extend health coverage to its entire population appear to be paying off. Maine has the fifth best rate of coverage, with just 9 percent of its population lacking health insurance (in 2008) – and that percent has dropped from 10.6 percent in the past five years..."

If it's so expensive, how is it that 91% of the population is covered?

That HAS to include Mainecare! 9 out of ten people I know go without health insurance, or live below the poverty line for Mainecare.

[reloop]

Originally Posted by dmyankee

That HAS to include Mainecare! 9 out of ten people I know go without health insurance, or live below the poverty line for Mainecare.

That would absolutely have to count Mainecare. A very large population qualifies for Mainecare.

[dmyankee]

Scroll down to see your options and monthly premiums for the State of Maine!

Consumer Guide To Individual Health Insurance : Brochures : Bureau of Insurance