The thought of moving terrifies me! Yet I really want to! :) (Hope: rental, mortgage)

[Acadianlion]

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?

Go to the Anthem Blue Cross website and look up the cost of health care for a family or individual, then look at the deductibles for the various coverages.

I don't know what weed the writer at USNWR was smoking when that article was written, but it is just flat wrong.

There has been extensive discussiion about this subject on this Forum, and the plain truth is that health care for people in Maine is a major expense. If an employer is a large, multi-state employer, then coverage is presumably through the employers plans...at Maine rates. If the employer is a small one located in Maine then IF coverage is provided, it is expensive as there are very few insurers providing group coverage in Maine, the PRIMARY one being Anthem.

Individuals have NO choice in the open market other than Anthem Blue Cross.

Maine has a state wide health plan called Dirigo, which is ALSO expensive whether for group or individual, and so far has been a failure.

There is a Maine Care program for those who cannot afford any coverage of their own...very low income people.

While health care is available[I[/i] it is expensive. Maine is a "guaranteed issues" state, which means that by law if an insurance company is doing business here, it must provide health insurance for ANYONE at the same rate, regardless of medical condition. This is why there is NO choice and no competition for health insurance policies, and why coverage is so expensive.

[chaosX5]

Originally Posted by Acadianlion

Go to the Anthem Blue Cross website and look up the cost of health care for a family or individual, then look at the deductibles for the various coverages.

I don't know what weed the writer at USNWR was smoking when that article was written, but it is just flat wrong.

There has been extensive discussiion about this subject on this Forum, and the plain truth is that health care for people in Maine is a major expense. If an employer is a large, multi-state employer, then coverage is presumably through the employers plans...at Maine rates. If the employer is a small one located in Maine then IF coverage is provided, it is expensive as there are very few insurers providing group coverage in Maine, the PRIMARY one being Anthem.

Individuals have NO choice in the open market other than Anthem Blue Cross.

Maine has a state wide health plan called Dirigo, which is ALSO expensive whether for group or individual, and so far has been a failure.

There is a Maine Care program for those who cannot afford any coverage of their own...very low income people.

While health care is available[I[/i] it is expensive. Maine is a "guaranteed issues" state, which means that by law if an insurance company is doing business here, it must provide health insurance for ANYONE at the same rate, regardless of medical condition. This is why there is NO choice and no competition for health insurance policies, and why coverage is so expensive.

I'm sorry to rehash something that may have already been answered, I thought I understood all this until I read the above quote........If my DH is working for a multi-state company or a national company his insurance rates will be higher just because we are in Maine? Do I have this right? If he transfers from NC to a branch office in Maine he will automatically have higher rates?
I thought that higher rates would only apply to in-state only companies or self-employed people, or just people with no health care. I'm confused now.............


I'm sorry to continue talking about insurance on this thread but I don't know how to move Acadianlion's quote over to another thread Hopefully this info will help Luv4ThePaws too!

[BacktoNE]

Originally Posted by chaosX5

I'm sorry to rehash something that may have already been answered, I thought I understood all this until I read the above quote........If my DH is working for a multi-state company or a national company his insurance rates will be higher just because we are in Maine? Do I have this right? If he transfers from NC to a branch office in Maine he will automatically have higher rates?
I thought that higher rates would only apply to in-state only companies or self-employed people, or just people with no health care. I'm confused now.............

I can't speak for everyone of course but my DH has worked for Schwans and we have BC/BS of MN with MN rates. Our coverage was extremely good and we paid very little for it. DH currently works for a Canadian company but they provide United Healthcare coverage for U.S. employees. We pay $350 a month for health insurance, the best dental I've ever seen, and vision. It would be the same if/when we transfer back to Maine.

[dogcrazy]

I too am considering a move to Maine.Im in NY now and want to stay in the NE(HATE hot hot weather all year round!).I know most of the other new england states are very expensive.I keep reading about how high taxes are in Maine and i am honestly getting very discouraged.From viewing real estate websites,the property taxes are VERY cheap.I know many places are very rural though.I honestly don't see how it can be more expensive than NY though.We have some of the highest taxes in the country.

I'm in a union and i have benefits so i cant say much about the cost of healthcare.I really don't see how it could be more expensive in Maine though.I'm really getting discourage though.Everyone repeatedly says there are NO jobs in Maine.Gotta' get out of NY!!

[maureen weatherby]

Portland is very dog friendly. Maine as a whole is very people friendly, great group of people. Maine is not where you want to live. You will not make as much money as you need to. It is a hard life here with limited opportunities.

[BacktoNE]

Dogcrazy, compared to NY property taxes, Maines are definitely cheap. However, income levels are generally much lower so we tend to think our taxes are high. I'm talking about people living in organized towns/cities with many public services. You can apparently pay next to nothing in taxes if you live in an unorganized township.

Jobs in Maine are not plentiful but they do exist. You just need to keep digging, be flexible, and if possible have a Maine address so potential employers don't ignore your resume because you aren't a resident yet. That doesn't always happen, but frequently enough to be annoying.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Luv4ThePaws;

... P.S. Do you have any dog limits? We have 2 small, 2 big and they are all inside dogs.

I dont know about that issue.

You might not have enough dogs.

Only 4 you say?

You might need to pickup 2 more

[Luv4ThePaws]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I dont know about that issue.

You might not have enough dogs.

Only 4 you say?

You might need to pickup 2 more

Six dogs?! Already my husband won't let me go to the pound anymore! Whenever I go, I always bring one home because they look so pitiful! But, if we had a nice little piece of land in Maine... Hmmm... Then he couldn't say anything about it!

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Luv4ThePaws

Six dogs?! Already my husband won't let me go to the pound anymore! Whenever I go, I always bring one home because they look so pitiful! But, if we had a nice little piece of land in Maine... Hmmm... Then he couldn't say anything about it!

So long as your front porch is big enough, so all your dogs can fit under it, you should be fine

[dogcrazy]

I have a lot of pets...alot of people say rent before you buy if you are relocating..Thats not really possible for me lol.Its hard enough to find a rental if you have a few pets,i have more like my own personal zoo I have another question,is it possible to get a mortgage if you are planning a move out of state,if you do not yet have a job?Or do they base your income on your current job,before you move?I hope that made sense..
thank you for the response so far!