Help! How do I find insurance for my family?

[alicia45]

I'm trying to be proactive and look for our family insurance. Dh was laid off two weeks ago and our insurance expires at the end of the month. There was much back and forth, and it's still going on, but we need insurance. I can't not have insurance. I figure we'll pay for Cobra for the month of February until we can get full coverage with another plan. Or see if the new plan can back date because of "job loss". Anyway, here's where I'm at.

I can pay up to $1,000 a month comfortably if it means excellent coverage.
I want to keep my Drs.

I've looked at Cigna, BCBS and United. I looked at the Exchange (Obamacare) and their deductibles were crazy high. I think I'd rather pay more a month for a lower deductible.

Where do I go from here? What do I need to look at when I'm choosing? I'm so lost and I feel very overwhelmed by this. Help!!

[Deleted]

Do you use your deductible up most years? The only reason I ask is I was looking at plans last year and comparing a $3000 to $5000 deductible. The $3000 was almost $2000 more a year in monthly payments so it didn't make sense to buy unless we used it every year.

You should be able to purchase insurance through the website of the company you are interested in, so you can get quotes through there. I do think though if you don't purchase through the Obamacare stuff they can still turn you away if you have any chronic health conditions.

[Deleted]

Ehealthinsurance.com is where I got ours.

[Deleted]

And health insurance is so confusing, you are not alone in being confused.

[Deleted]

Also, we pay a ton a month and have a high deductible. I think most plans are like that now. :/

[alicia45]

Jan 28, 2015 22:11:46 GMT -5 @huahualove said:

Also, we pay a ton a month and have a high deductible. I think most plans are like that now. :/

I have one I'm looking at that's 800 a month for a deductible of $500 for the family through United.

[alicia45]

Jan 28, 2015 22:11:04 GMT -5 @lindy said:

And health insurance is so confusing, you are not alone in being confused.

I need to make sure that my drs are in network, right?

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 22:14:33 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

Jan 28, 2015 22:11:04 GMT -5 @lindy said:

And health insurance is so confusing, you are not alone in being confused.

I need to make sure that my drs are in network, right?

Yes, unless you want to change. Most the major insurances will cover most doctors. I've had Humana, BCBS and United in 2 years, and they all covered our 3 family doctors.

[alicia45]

Jan 28, 2015 22:10:14 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Do you use your deductible up most years? The only reason I ask is I was looking at plans last year and comparing a $3000 to $5000 deductible. The $3000 was almost $2000 more a year in monthly payments so it didn't make sense to buy unless we used it every year.

You should be able to purchase insurance through the website of the company you are interested in, so you can get quotes through there. I do think though if you don't purchase through the Obamacare stuff they can still turn you away if you have any chronic health conditions.

We don't use our deductible but if we have a surprise pregnancy, we would. That's why I'm unsure of what to get.

[alicia45]

Jan 28, 2015 22:16:19 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Jan 28, 2015 22:14:33 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

I need to make sure that my drs are in network, right?

Yes, unless you want to change. Most the major insurances will cover most doctors. I've had Humana, BCBS and United in 2 years, and they all covered our 3 family doctors.

Did you do it through the insurance companies website?

[shevacc]

Make sure you do the math like @lindy said. If the additional out of pocket and the deductible are the same, you're not really better off with a lower deductible.

Also, you'd have to get pregnant in the next 2 months for a surprise pregnancy to blow your deductible in 2015. Otherwise it would be 2016. Unless you're actively trying now I'd probably go with a cheaper high deductible plan depending on what you find.

[Deleted]

I work for united. Are you looking at the golden rule policy? or do you know the name of the policy? You can call them and give them your dr's name to make sure 100% that all of your doctors are in network.
if you have any specific questions about the united plans I can try to help.

I hope you can find something soon!

[alicia45]

Jan 29, 2015 1:07:15 GMT -5 shevacc said:

Make sure you do the math like @lindy said. If the additional out of pocket and the deductible are the same, you're not really better off with a lower deductible.

Also, you'd have to get pregnant in the next 2 months for a surprise pregnancy to blow your deductible in 2015. Otherwise it would be 2016. Unless you're actively trying now I'd probably go with a cheaper high deductible plan depending on what you find.

My Dh has to have shoulder surgery this year and he said when he had it in the 90s it was super expensive. Something like 80 grand for surgery and 6 months of surgery. He's currently in physical therapy.

Would the low deductible make sense for just that? Plus, we have normal dr stuff and I need a few procedures.

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2015 9:44:17 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

Jan 29, 2015 1:07:15 GMT -5 shevacc said:

Make sure you do the math like @lindy said. If the additional out of pocket and the deductible are the same, you're not really better off with a lower deductible.

Also, you'd have to get pregnant in the next 2 months for a surprise pregnancy to blow your deductible in 2015. Otherwise it would be 2016. Unless you're actively trying now I'd probably go with a cheaper high deductible plan depending on what you find.

My Dh has to have shoulder surgery this year and he said when he had it in the 90s it was super expensive. Something like 80 grand for surgery and 6 months of surgery. He's currently in physical therapy.

Would the low deductible make sense for just that? Plus, we have normal dr stuff and I need a few procedures.

Low deductible for that would make sense. A plan outside Obamacare might not cover him though for a previous injury. I'm not sure how it works anymore for plans outside Obamacare but previously they did not cover fixing injuries that happened before you got the insurance. I would definitely call about that because of he's in physical therapy they will know he's already injured.

[alicia45]

Jan 29, 2015 9:54:51 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Jan 29, 2015 9:44:17 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

My Dh has to have shoulder surgery this year and he said when he had it in the 90s it was super expensive. Something like 80 grand for surgery and 6 months of surgery. He's currently in physical therapy.

Would the low deductible make sense for just that? Plus, we have normal dr stuff and I need a few procedures.

Low deductible for that would make sense. A plan outside Obamacare might not cover him though for a previous injury. I'm not sure how it works anymore for plans outside Obamacare but previously they did not cover fixing injuries that happened before you got the insurance. I would definitely call about that because of he's in physical therapy they will know he's already injured.

I read that part of adorable care act, they have to cover preexisting conditions. I'll call, to be sure.

His Ortho only takes HMO or PPO. I want PPO, right? My drs take EPOs but the Ortho doesn't.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 22:14:13 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

Jan 28, 2015 22:11:46 GMT -5 @huahualove said:

Also, we pay a ton a month and have a high deductible. I think most plans are like that now. :/

I have one I'm looking at that's 800 a month for a deductible of $500 for the family through United.

Oh wow, that's a million times better than what we have now. Now we don't have independent insurance because Dh has it for a few people in his company now.

[shevacc]

alicia45, it sounds like you will exceed the deductible of pretty much any plan this year with the shoulder surgery. In your case, you need to compare total out of pocket costs. Deductible plus copays and the % you're responsible for of any procedures. I know my plan caps the max family expense at ~$6K, but I'm not sure all plans cap the max amount you're responsible for?

Also check if there's a max the plan will pay out on your behalf. There's not supposed to be thanks to the ACA, but just make sure.

[Deleted]

Jan 28, 2015 22:14:13 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

Jan 28, 2015 22:11:46 GMT -5 @huahualove said:

Also, we pay a ton a month and have a high deductible. I think most plans are like that now. :/

I have one I'm looking at that's 800 a month for a deductible of $500 for the family through United.

That is like really really cheap. We were paying $650 a month for a $7000 deductible last year.

ETA: check max out of pocket a year. That might be significantly higher. Some plans don't pay until you hit the deductible and then after that you pay say 20% of everything up to several thousand.

[alicia45]

Jan 29, 2015 12:43:49 GMT -5 @lindy said:

Jan 28, 2015 22:14:13 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

I have one I'm looking at that's 800 a month for a deductible of $500 for the family through United.

That is like really really cheap. We were paying $650 a month for a $7000 deductible last year.

It is. Too bad his Ortho doesn't take it.

We're looking at one that's $1100 a month with a $3000 deductible and $10 copays with $5 prescriptions. Is that a good deal?

[Deleted]

Jan 29, 2015 12:46:28 GMT -5 alicia45 said:

Jan 29, 2015 12:43:49 GMT -5 @lindy said:

That is like really really cheap. We were paying $650 a month for a $7000 deductible last year.

It is. Too bad his Ortho doesn't take it.

We're looking at one that's $1100 a month with a $3000 deductible and $10 copays with $5 prescriptions. Is that a good deal?

That's probably pretty good. That's really similar to the insurance I had through the federal government and between me and them, it was $1300 a month.