Eastern WA or Idaho Panhandle (Spokane, Deer Park: real estate, health insurance, utilities)

[grimalkin]

I've been checking out real estate on-line in both areas for a couple months now, but we won't be actually seeing either state until next month, probably. I have been particularly interested in Sandpoint, Spirit Lake, and Priest River in ID. The WA towns I've looked at so far are Deer Park, Newport and Addy. Addy seems to have quite a bit of land at a more reasonable price. We are interested in peace, privacy, hiking and affordable utilities. WA sounds like it has the best electric rates. Does WA have some sort of universal health coverage for citizens? Guess I'm asking multiple questions here, but any help will be appreciated.

[magrack]

Easy thing first.

No universal health coverage. I'll leave it at that and not get into the political considerations some may wish to broach.

Generally speaking, south of Okanagan, Ferry and Stevens county, the following is a simple view of the state

Eastern WA is a big area and much of it is an agrarian based economy.

The divider between West and East (wet and dry) is the Cascade Mountain range. Eastern WA is roughly twice the size of Western WA

Wheat mostly, more than 2 million acres, but a lot of apples too. Apples comprise the biggest/highest dollar value crop.

Between the eastern slope of the Cascades and Spokane you're looking at farm country.

Eastbound, as you approach Spokane, the terrain changes. Starts to get more hilly, more trees and the transition to a mountainous region begins in earnest. Once past Post Falls, ID and get to CDA you're in the mountains.

If you turn north at either PF or CDA toward Sand Point, you're pretty much in a wide valley ,really rural.

Not much north of Sand Point except some beautiful terrain. Okanagan, Stevens and Ferry counties of WA are similar to the area north of Sand Point, ID, and are similar to northwestern MT.

Some call it rural, others say isolated. Some like it, many others hate it. Have to be somewhat of a rugged outdoorsy type to cope.

Employment opportunities can be limited.

Can have bitter winters.

I hate to generalize about the area that much, but it's a starting point for you to ask more definitive questions and others who have "walked the walk" to chime in.

[AZ_singlemother]

Originally Posted by grimalkin

I've been checking out real estate on-line in both areas for a couple months now, but we won't be actually seeing either state until next month, probably. I have been particularly interested in Sandpoint, Spirit Lake, and Priest River in ID. The WA towns I've looked at so far are Deer Park, Newport and Addy. Addy seems to have quite a bit of land at a more reasonable price. We are interested in peace, privacy, hiking and affordable utilities. WA sounds like it has the best electric rates. Does WA have some sort of universal health coverage for citizens? Guess I'm asking multiple questions here, but any help will be appreciated.

Universal health care LoL, that is the funniest thing I have heard in years! OMG. I left the state in so much medical debt. Washington state is one of the most expensive states to carry medical insurance. They raised the premiums due to the high dollar claims. When you hear of Universal health care, that is Medicaid for the poor.

[StealthRabbit]

yeah, health insurance is such a joke,

rates for Lifewise or blue cross WA should be on web somewhere, (there are three choices in most counties except Clark, only 2 choices) but my search just sends me hunting to different scalpers (insurance agents), depends on age, but catastophic ($5000 deductable) premiums are ~ $100/ month. But...if you want prescriptions and such it is $280+ (kids were ~$40-$120 to add, depending on coverage.) Remember you are close to Canada... can get drugs fast and cheap. Even the post man has finally agreed to not rat on you

If you give me your age and dependants I can give you an idea, as I have a quote sheet laying around somewhere.

HSA is a pretty good way to go, but the monthly rates are slightly higher !!! (they alwys have to get you if they think you are getting any 'benefit'.)
HSA = can stick 'pre-taxed' $$ (up to amount of annual deductable) into a managed fund, and it rolls to retirement if you don't use it up.

there are a few more options for self employed and business owners, but they are more $$ .

[Pcghost]

I would suggest North Idaho if you want rural living. Idaho has much cheaper taxes and less restrictive laws than Washington. People living in Post Falls drive no further than I do to reach the city of Spokane (roughly 17 miles), and there is really no reason to move into the city itself. North Idaho is among some of the most beautiful land in the U.S. in my opinion.

[Aquajox]

Originally Posted by Pcghost

North Idaho is among some of the most beautiful land in the U.S. in my opinion.

After living in Western WA my entire life, I went to Northern Idaho a few years ago for the first time and was BLOWN AWAY at the beauty. Especially how clean the lakes were. I instantly wanted to move there , but remembered that it was summer time, (the rest of the year would not be as nice ) and we were looking to relocate to a warmer climate at the time. Now that I live in San Antonio, it will be harder to visit again, but I fully intend to.

[HomeAtLast]

We were considering the same options last year. We nearly moved to Sandpoint. It is beautiful and a very charming town. We had second thoughts because of limited job opportunities and harsh winters. Because we liked Idaho so much, we looked into Eastern WA, where the prices were lower. But outside of Spokane, there's not much. In some communities it was miles to a dinky general store. Eastern WA seemed stark and sparse in landscape.

It really is worth it to take the trip and see the area for yourself. It looks so good when you are researching online. Once you are there, you'll know if it's what you are looking for. We ending up settling in Western Washington and couldn't be happier.

[grimalkin]

Originally Posted by janb

yeah, health insurance is such a joke,

If you give me your age and dependants I can give you an idea, as I have a quote sheet laying around somewhere.

From recent experience, age doesn't necessarily foretell costs. We just went through changing from my former employer's (Washington Mutual) group coverage at $890 per month to the same HMO for private individuals, which now costs about $570 for my husband and I. We are lucky we got that. Had to appeal because of preexisting conditions, etc. Blue Shield was going to cost $1,800 per month for both due to these same conditions. I hate this country's medical mess! (That's why I asked. Our gov, the Terminator, is trying to get Universal coverage for every Kalifornian. He hasn't a chance in Hell ).

Thanks for all your responses. Looking forward to our visit to the far north.