4 ms·
You're a solid writer. I really liked the blog post. Your definition of success happens to align with mine. I have "enough" right now, and I'd be really happ
by SmellTheGlove 9y ago
You're a solid writer. I really liked the blog post.
Your definition of success happens to align with mine. I have "enough" right now, and I'd be really happy to work less and maintain my current income level - I just haven't yet been able to pull away from the corporate life. Eventually.
Anyway, had to ask, the one gap seems to be health insurance. I know you mentioned a cheap major medical policy, but what are folks doing to cover their families a little more comprehensively? At least in the US, this is the one big thing that makes it really hard to leave corporate life. I'm fortunate enough to have dual citizenship with a european country, so we could "just" relocate there, but ideally we'd do this while staying resident in the US. I still haven't solved the insurance issue.
- brianwawok 9y agoAn individual policy isn't that crazy expensive. A single 20 year old guy can get a good plan for $200 a month. A family of 4 with parents in the 40s can get a good plan for $1500-$2000 per month. Both are well within the realm of profits for a one man startup.
- 5_minutes 9y agoThis must be the harsh side of the US. In Europe, the differences are almost neglectable.
- slipmagic 9y ago*negligible
- 5_minutes 9y agoThanks
- SmellTheGlove 9y agoDepends on where in Europe. Insurance isn't cheap in Switzerland, for instance, it's just that wages largely support the rates and individual subsidies will make up the rest. However, the Swiss system is probably the most portable to the United States, at least in the short/mid-term.
- iamacynic 9y agoindividual and family plans aren't that expensive. have you actually priced it out? it's just a bill you get every month, like a car payment. just be sure to buy the new health insurance before the old one expires. this is absolutely critical.
- jonas21 9y agoI'd encourage you to price out plans on your state's health insurance marketplace (every state has one thanks to the ACA). You may find that the coverage you want is less expensive than you'd expect. For example, when I put in information for a family of 4 in California, "Gold" plans were between $850 and $1050 per month (and less if you qualify for a subsidy).
- SmellTheGlove 9y agoI did, it's about $1350/mo here for a family of 3. Deductible is still $2k on a gold plan. While that's not as bad as I thought, that sort of thing has to be a barrier to people with families considering taking a risk and doing a startup. Imagine if we had universal healthcare in this country...
- BatFastard 9y agoHere in GA I pay 1800 a month for a Bronze plan with 5k deductible. But we are older, so that might be part of it. Basically its catastrophic care, but since we are all healthy I serious wonder if it worth it.
- briandear 9y agoWe have universal healthcare in France and France isn't exactly buzzing with innovation. There is innovation, but there is more innovation happening at the Palo Alto Starbucks than in practically the entirety of France.
- SmellTheGlove 9y agoI'm not suggesting universal health care drives innovation. I'm suggesting that introducing it to an already innovative culture would serve as a multiplier of some kind.
- TheOtherHobbes 9y agoNonsense. https://frenchinnovationweek-chicago.com/program-of-events/french-innovation/ https://frenchinnovationweek-chicago.com/program-of-events/f...