Primary Concern for Authors (Don't Quit the Day Job)

When I first announced that I was laid off last year on one of my loops and asked if they thought I could make a go of a writing career, the major discussion was about the cost of health insurance.

That topic cycles around every year on my writers' loops, mostly for those of us looking for reasonable plans. Full time writers are usually self-employed, and if single, like I am, aren't on anybody's insurance plan.

As a contractor I never had health insurance provided for me. I went without for a long time, about 7 years, then got "the feeling" that I wouldn't beat the odds for much more (I did have a very bad ankle sprain during that time that I had nothing done for).

I pay my own health insurance.

I did have some medical problems, most notably last year when I landed in the ER for a day because I picked up a virus which gave me vertigo. I never thought vertigo was a big deal. Before. When you can't walk 15 steps without throwing up, vertigo is a very big deal. An outbreak of whatever this virus was zinged around Denver last year. There were 3 of us in the ER that February day with it. I am still making monthly payments on my part of the bill, and I think the hearing in my right ear was damaged.

It's tough out there without health insurance, and that really IS a big question about quitting the day job (or quitting or transferring any job, I know).

So before you become a full time writer, this is definitely one aspect you MUST consider.

The above website is a contribution site set up for members of the writing community who need help, mostly those with health problems.

May no worries about health insurance darken your writing day today.
Robin