Sigh. I've been working since July to get Juliette on "affordable" health insurance here in Florida. It's called Florida KidCare.

First, they lost my income verfication. TWICE.

Then, in late September, they told me that everything was taken care of. All I had to do was pay the $15 copay, and her coverage would start in 4-6 weeks. Then my car died *the only thing in this entire matter that wasn't their fault* and I didn't have any extra money at the time.

I paid the $15 in the middle of November, when I got my next paycheck. Told to call back in 4-6 weeks. At that time, I picked her provider.

I called two weeks, 6 weeks later after receiving info that I had never picked her provider and that they were about to pick it for me. I picked a provider and then asked how long it would be for me to receive info on her to get her enrolled and everything.

Another 4-6 weeks.

Are you kidding me? I started getting a bit defensive. And then the lady said they were sending it to the "Urgent Review Department" which I was pretty sure they were just making up. I called three days later, after the MLK holiday, since they were closed. Apprently they did forward it the the department listed above, which I still giggle at since it really sounds like something I would have made up.

I was told they didn't have current employer information on me. AGAIN!?!?! I explained to the lady that I did infact have TWO jobs, and that I had sent over my income three times now. Two checks from my "big" job and four from Cracker Barrel. The lady asked "You have two jobs? We only have one listed." I asked, "What about on the application?!" Sure enough, BOTH jobs on the application.

Two days ago I got a letter in the mail stating that my MONTHLY premium will be $159. That's a HUGE difference from the $15 I was told previously. It's still HALF what I pay for her to be covered at my job, but still ...

So I called. Apprently it took this "wonderful" orginazation from September till LAST week to realize I had TWO jobs. And they had calculated it wrong. I make $200 too much per month, gross income btw, to qualify for the lower premium. SO, they want me to fork over $318 TODAY to hopefully have her coverage start in Feb., but more than likely she won't be able to get in until March.

I'm about to scream. I really am. The lady I talked to yesterday was wonderful, but I don't have $318 to fork over and hope that I can drop her with my employer insurance in Feb.

SIGH ... I'm going on an interview/open house Tuesday. Hopefully I get the job, and hopefully they offer affordable insurance for the people who work there, and their children.