So, I guess it boils down to- does anyone else here work for a small company of 50 people or less, get Blue Shield (or Anthem Blue Cross) directly (not through a group) and pay close to those same prices? Or is it just my company?

My other option is that my wife is on SSI Dissability, so she gets Medicare Part A (or is it Medical? I get them confused). I can take her off my insurance, and pay for her Medicare part B & the supplemental insurance through AARP or some such firm. I don't know how much those would cost, and what the coverage would be like. She would also have to change medical groups and drs which would really suck. And less places take Medicare/Medical now. This option makes me nervous....

My last option is to find a new job with better benifits. But that makes me even more nervous in this economy.

I'm on Anthem, but it's with a very large company so I doubt my rates would be comparable. Sorry you're having such troubles.

Well, i consider 1 employee to be less than 50, and - as I said, I get my insurance not through a group, and it's standard Anthem Blue Cross - for (until the rate hike they recently retreated on comes up again) for $280 per month (for me individually, without any other family members covered).

Sorry, I didn't mean to make it look as though I didn't see your post.

One of the differences there would be the coverage. In Blue Shield there are different levels HMO 5, 15, 25, 30, & 40. The 5 has the best coverage but the highest monthly premium. The dr office copay is $5, and pharmacy and hospital costs are low or zero. The HMO 40 is cheeper, but the office visits are $40, and you have to pay 40% of hospital and other costs.

I don't recall how Anthem Blue Cross lables the levels, and I'm not sure how to compare what you and I have, but right now I have the HMO 15. My hospitalization is $350 per admittance. When I change to the 30 it will be $500/day!

Goodness!!

Just a side note from Australia.

My health insurance (through a private provider) costs $135 per month with $200 gap per admittance (up to twice a year - third and subsequent admissions are free), and a Co-pay for Private Hospitals of $50 per day.

Come and live here !!

Cripes! I should! But I'd probably end up getting bit by something and promply admitted to the hospital! ;)