Chris trabka on wed 23 may 07
Kelly,
I've learned that good health insurance is no small matter.
Prior to 2001 I thought that visiting the doctor once every 12 to 18 months
was a good thing so you can be told that all is OK.
My pancreas decided to give up in late 2001. I'm now using insulin 4 to 5
times a day (two different types) and check my blood sugars 4 to 6 times a
day. With "good" health insurance it costs about $50 a month. Without
health insurance it would cost $350 a month. In addition I now get to visit
2 doctors once a year and another specialist twice a year.
Chris
Dan Saultman on wed 23 may 07
Chris,
Your "good" health insurance allows you to spend only $50 a month for
medication.
How much is your monthly health insurance bill?
Some folks are barely making enough to keep the lights on, what can
they do?
They go without any insurance other than basic car insurance, and hope
that their health holds out a little longer.
Dan Saultman
On May 23, 2007, at 4:48 PM, Chris trabka wrote:
>
> Chris wrote:
> I've learned that good health insurance is no small matter.
> With "good" health insurance it costs about $50 a month. Without
> health insurance it would cost $350 a month. In addition I now get to
> visit
> 2 doctors once a year and another specialist twice a year.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
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>
stephani stephenson on wed 23 may 07
i make my living with clay. i am about as low tech
as you can get, except for my electric kiln, my
electric tile saw and various electric small tools as
well as hand tools. oh yes and my computer , and my
packing tape gun!
Everything I produce is made with an extruder,
and/or hand tools, and also my design tools.
everything i make is actually made from the wide
variety of skills i have developed over the last 3
decades, mental , creative, mechanical, manual, etc.
everything i make is made with skill.
i am doing better physically, emotionally and
financially than when i worked for an employer.
i am a one person household. i have no other income
and no dependents.
I have health insurance through an HMO which allows me
to see a doctor at a reasonable price and also a good
hospitalization policy, though I do pay a higher
monthly amount than some others policies.
I have no dental insurance, though , and am currently
paying a $5000 dental bill to replace a broken tooth.
i drive a 20 year old car.
most years i manage to sock away the maximum amount
into a IRA retirement account.
i am debt free.
i pay taxes and receive no public support of any kind.
i live in an area of the country where cost of living
is the highest in the nation, but where the climate is
mild.
i live where business has been pretty good.
i have a studio where the rent is unbelievably
reasonable for the space i have, but i am seeing cost
increases in everything from food to gas...everything.
i work on 5-15 projects at a time.
I like the variety but find that the days are too
short to get it all done.
i exercise and keep healthy ...so far!
I am productive, self directed and sober.
lately i have been making sure i take one and
sometimes two days off per week. this has not been the
case in the past 10 years.
I like my work, actually i like it a lot.
i periodically feel i may need to reevaluate, for
financial stability ,but the nature of self employment
is that keeping up the forward momentum leaves little
time for contemplation or career counseling.. and , i,
uh, i already have my MFA so that's not an option!
what's my dirty little secret?
I'd rather not say, but i will anyway.....
i am foregoing a home or an apartment for the health
insurance and (right now) the dental bill.
housing or health insurance? you choose.
i am not alone. there are full time city , county and
state employees who are living out of their cars down
here.
we all figure it is temporary and we are doing what we
have to do and are able to do.
for me it is because business wise, i had a few more
expenses and a little less income than I'd like to see
last year, so i am trimming my sails and adjusting the
rudder, sewing a patch here and plugging a hole
there.....and we'll see where it goes by this year's
end....as usual!
i am lucky in that I have friends who need
house-sitters, and my own studio when i need it , and
a local YMCA , about a mile away, with all the
grooming ammenities including a pool ,jacuzzi and
workout space...
what is this country's dirty little secret?
just try to make it on one income.
.
Stephani Stephenson
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Darlene Yarnetsky-Mudcat Pottery on thu 24 may 07
> Dan Saultman wrote:
>
> Your "good" health insurance allows you to spend only $50 a month for
> medication.
> How much is your monthly health insurance bill?
> Some folks are barely making enough to keep the lights on, what can
> they do?
> They go without any insurance other than basic car insurance, and hope
> that their health holds out a little longer.
That is exactly the dilemna many potters - and others - in the U.S. -
are facing. When my husband was in grad school and working full
time, his health care was covered, but to include me on his coverage
was an additional 850 a month. We just did not have it - not even
close. I could not get private insurance because of pre-existing
conditions (migraines and allergies)
The plan was to get me added to his coverage when he finished school
and was promoted (more pay) However, I got sick a year too soon.
20,000 in bills. He has finished school and I am on his insurance
now, but it is breaking us to keep it up and though it the coverage
is very good, with the prescription percentage I pay, the continuing
doctor visits, and the past bills we are still paying on, health care
is running us over 1100 a month. On a new librarian's salary that is
no small amount of cash, and I am just returning to potting after an
18 month absence. At age 40 our savings is depleted. I am not asking
for pity, but using myself as an example. I have talked to other
small business owners and artists in similar or much worse
circumstances.
I guess what I am trying to point out is that there ARE NO
GUARANTEES. No matter how careful you are, how healthy you are,
things can change in a heartbeat. Even if you have catastrophic
insurance, I have spoken to people who are still forced into
bankruptcy over the bills. Or, maybe your bills are dealt with, but
how do you survive if you become "partially" disabled - in other
words, unable to continue to keep up the necessary long hours to
continue being a potter, but not trained for anything else?
And if you become completely disabled (and eligible for disability)
how long will it take you to convince the government you are
eligible, (this can be a LONG process) and how much help will you
receive? How will you survive? What if you injure yourself in the
studio and are out for 6 months? Can you survive financially for
those 6 months? Social Security is based on past income and is only
a small percentage - nothing you can live on really.
We are playing a risky game when we do not have the safety nets of
health insurance, retirement plans, savings, and other safety nets
that others take for granted. What seems a trivial concern at age 25
can loom much darker 10 or more years down the road. I have no
answers. I see many people who work full time at various service jobs
who have no safety nets either. I truly believe this country needs a
universal health care system, but I guess that is a debate for
another forum ;)
For those of you starting out, think about all of this. If you can
build yourself any safety net at all, do so. If you can't, at least
know the risks and prepare yourself as soon as you can. It's a tough
world out there! At least clay is great therapy ;)
Happy potting all!
Darlene Yarnetsky in Madison, Indiana
John Rodgers on thu 24 may 07
To add to all this,
It is a harsh reality, but to thine own self be true. Don't count on
anyone else to come to your rescue in any way, then form your life
around that philosophy. Witness New Orleans. Everyone expected the
Federal Government to step up and save them, NOT! Just one case in point.
The starting point on the road to security is to buy a house. That is
step # one. And do everything you can while yong and healthy to pay that
house mortgage off as soon as possible. Don't start off with a house
that will max out the budget, but start modest. If you can get the
mortgage paid off, then you can rapidly accumulate in other areas.
I'm fortunate enough to have lived long enough to benefit from some of
the programs designed for retirees, but I can tell you, without the home
mortgage being paid off, I would be pressed, retired or not. Drive an
old care, buy the clothes at the Salvation Army Store, do whatever is
necessary to get that home paid for. After that, there will be
relatively clear sailing.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Chris trabka wrote:
> Kelly,
>
> I've learned that good health insurance is no small matter.
>
> Prior to 2001 I thought that visiting the doctor once every 12 to 18 months
> was a good thing so you can be told that all is OK.
>
> My pancreas decided to give up in late 2001. I'm now using insulin 4 to 5
> times a day (two different types) and check my blood sugars 4 to 6 times a
> day. With "good" health insurance it costs about $50 a month. Without
> health insurance it would cost $350 a month. In addition I now get to visit
> 2 doctors once a year and another specialist twice a year.
>
> Chris
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
Lee Love on thu 24 may 07
A big advantage for potters and artists here in Japan is national
health care. Actually, it is an advantage for Toyota too, by about
$1,300.00 a car.
--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau
"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi
Lois Ruben Aronow on fri 25 may 07
I agree with pretty much everything that's been said on this topic, and
would like to add a couple of points I think often get forgotten by artists
in general.
BEFORE you quit your day job and go full time, make sure you have a business
plan. Not a business like "I want to make pots and sell them". It's
basically a roadmap of what your financial and business goals are and how
you intend to achieve them.
Your local Chamber of Commerce or the Small Business Association provide
guidance and service for free. You can find lots of information about
writing a business plan on-line, but it's always good to get professional
guidance because......
...you will take this business plan to the bank, where you will then work
out a financing strategy. Credit is NOT a scary thing if you know how to
use it. The bank will help you plan your lending and payback strategy and
give you a financial reality check. You can then decide if you need part
time income, know how (and who) to talk to when sales are down, etc. You
will be able to finance your product liability, studio and health insurance.
Or not - you need to know this BEFOREHAND.
You are not just making pots. You are running a business. Be a grown up
with your money - act responsibly, pay your taxes, cover your ass.
I know more than a few potters who secretly have desk jobs to pay the rent.
I say "secretly", because they want other potters to think they are solely
supporting themselves off their pots. And there is no shame in having a
working spouse. Over 60% of Americans have dual income households.
Get off your high horse about doing it alone, and realize that your
financial, emotional and moral contributions, whatever that may be, are as
equal (in some cases, more important - hi kids! No sick days with THAT gig)
that that of a spouse or partner with a regular paycheck.
...Lo
Surprised at how many people take the "Hey Ricky - let's put on a show!"
route.
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