For 'Surance

As of December 1, I have no health insurance. I am currently eligible for COBRA until the end of January, so if something happens by then I can retroactively pay for it. The problem is that COBRA is $350/month, which is over $4,000 per year. I just can't afford that.

I'm not eligible for any of the emergency medical plans that are much cheaper, because of pre-existing conditions (high cholesterol), so I can't opt for that.

I looked into joining the National Writer's Union, but it still costs $35o/month for their insurance plans, and it costs a couple hundred bucks in application fees and dues. So COBRA is actually less expensive.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to create a universal health care plan for city residents, which is scheduled to begin on July 1, 2007.

Health Access Program

What: A plan that will extend the charity-care services to an estimated 82,000 uninsured San Francisco adults.

Who qualifies: Uninsured residents who are not eligible for government programs such as Medi-Cal.

Cost: About $200 million a year, funded by private employers, taxpayers and participants.

When: Begins July 1.

The Chronicle article says that a lot of the plan's details aren't worked out, such as how much individuals will have to pay. The plan is set to cost $200/month per person to run.

If I had to pay for my own insurance, I could afford $200/month. That's still a lot of money, but oh well. I tried to join Kaiser Permanente's plan that costs a little bit over $200/month, but of course I was turned down. It sounds like I'm the perfect candidate for this plan- not poor enough that I'm on Welfare, but not rich enough to afford the huge premiums of most insurance plans.

I doubt that the plan will actually happen by July 1, but it would be nice. I just have to remember not to fall off a barstool and break an arm between now and then.