Work is introducing a high deductible plan for 2013. How much is your monthly premium?
Luckily though, they are keeping the typical plan we always had BUT the monthly and copays are higher. Before when I had DD, I only had to pay $10 copay on my first OB visit and everything was covered 100% including postnatal checkups. The new plan now increased the copay from $10 to $20. Yes it's still not bad.
ETA: Right now we're staying with the old plan since the maternity coverage is still great. After baby #2, I'll reevaluate and see if a high deductible plan may be a better option.
We have a HDHP. Luckily the premiums for all 4 of us are $100/month (our deductible is $2500).If we were on H's plan it would be $1100/month + 30% coinsurance. We make make out MUCH better with my plan. Yeah, it's not perfect but I'm thankful to have it.
$84? And $100? That sounds good (I think). The plan they are introducing at work has a monthly premium for 3 or more family members of $265. And it's 20% coinsurance, $3500 deductible. Ouch!
I think this is another reason why it sucks that talking about money is such a taboo in our society. I do think people have no idea. It is easy to think change isn't necessary when you have great coverage.
I'm actually really lucky and only have a $200 deductible and then I think a 20% copay after that. And lots of things are covered 100%, including mental healthcare and ER visits. I guess this makes me less understanding to those like me who aren't supportive of heathcare reform - I recognize how lucky I am and wish everyone had the great healthcare I have. I don't think I'm any more deserving of this than my neighbors so I should be grateful that I am covered and hopeful that others can be as lucky as I.
We pay something like $160 a month pre-tax for insurance. Maybe a little more, I haven't logged in to look at a pay stub in ages
I pay a relatively high premium every month (about $350), but we have absolutely no deductible and a $500 out of pocket max per person. Even counseling costs only $10 per visit. I hope I never need to leave my job!
I think healthcare costs are one of the biggest shocks for servicemembers and their families when they leave the military.
I'm on Tricare Prime. 100% coverage, including prescription coverage. $0.
Dental is something around $12/month for me. I pay 20% of non-preventative care (ie: I pay 20% for fillings, but nothing for cleanings) Tricare also covers an eye exam each year, but not glasses or contacts.
I grew up with socialized healthcare. The state of healthcare in the US is freaking nutbar. The system sucks for everyone except the very wealthy.
I used to be one of the clueless. At one point, H and I were both working for the state and had a very good, affordable plan, something like $100/mo premium, $500 deductible, and $25/40 copays. He ended up going to work in the private sector and I was absolutely shocked at the new plan. $500/mo premium, 30-40% coinsurance, and a $1k deductible. Nuts.
This small company employs mostly part-time technicians that make $12/hr max. I can definitely see how they would be willing to risk going uninsured.
I also just recently learned that you have to go on medicare. You can't not use it apparently. Since my parents will have health insurance through their retirement they have no need for medicare as their coverage is already good, but they don't have a choice.
I think that's weird, why drain the government if you don't have to.
I will say, two people I've talked to at my doc's office when I was making my first appt for this pregnancy said "Wow you're lucky, you have great insurance." But I do pay about $244/month for coverage, but it's family, so at least it won't go up when we have the baby next year.
most people have no clue how expensive insurance is. I handle the ins. where I work and am fortunate that they cover me & my family in full. It costs over 1K a month for our family. We have a high deductable plan and it is 1500 pp or 3k per family. We have had the high deductable plan for 2 years and I have met it both years so far.
We're currently on a high deductible plan bc we're buying our own health insurance (we had mini cobra and then that ran out before DH could officially join his new company so it's only for a few more months). I don't remember what the deductible is - maybe $2500/pp and $5k/family? Before we had a $1k/pp and $2500/fam one which was irritating as is. Before that, I've never had a plan where I've had any deductible.
I also think most people don't realize how difficult it can be to get insurance at all if you don't have it through your employer. I had no idea until I became self employed and went to obtain my own insurance. I expected it to be expensive, but I didn't expect to be denied because of my pre-existing condition. I could not find an insurance company to insure me.
Obtaining health insurance has been a nightmare for me. I have been forced to make major employment decisions based on access to health insurance. What a messed up system!
Post by morningmania on Sept 7, 2012 7:26:23 GMT -5
I think talking about high deductible plans is relative to your situation. I do not feel that $2500 is a high deductible. At my former employer we had an $11,000 a year deductible for family. The employer paid 100% of our premiums though, and they were considered a small company. Coverage was only 80/20.
Now I work for another small company and we pay premiums of $1,681.16 a year for a family of 3, have 0 deductible, $1,500 max out of pocket, $25 co-pay, 100% coverage. I consider this awesome coverage.
I agree and do not feel that people understand how things are unless they know someone who is dealing with paying tons out in health care through premiums and deductibles.
I think healthcare costs are one of the biggest shocks for servicemembers and their families when they leave the military.
I'm on Tricare Prime. 100% coverage, including prescription coverage. $0.
Dental is something around $12/month for me. I pay 20% of non-preventative care (ie: I pay 20% for fillings, but nothing for cleanings) Tricare also covers an eye exam each year, but not glasses or contacts.
I grew up with socialized healthcare. The state of healthcare in the US is freaking nutbar. The system sucks for everyone except the very wealthy.
DH just left the military. It was really painful having to make the switch.
We have great insurance but at a cost of $1100+ a month for family (work pays 90%). We definitely didn't have medical costs exceeding the annual premium before DS. DS had atypical case of conjunctivitis earlier this year that ended up being 6 eye doctor visits ($20 copay each) and $70 in antibiotics and while it was frustrating I definitely appreciated that we didn't have deductibles to meet and the sick time/job flexibility to cover the appointments. Our pay may be on the lower side but the benefits make up for it. I don't think some of the younger/newer employees realize it.
Post by SusanBAnthony on Sept 7, 2012 7:52:15 GMT -5
I totally agree, OP. I haven't read all the replies, fwiw.
We were paying 1500$ a month for a hsa when we were on cobra (DH was an independent consultant for about a year). Then we had to pay the bills on top of that. Yah, we got a huge tax refund that year bc we shot rot past the 10% of income to deduct health expenses. And basically all we had was routine appts and 1 minor outpatient surgery.
Now we have an hsa but the cost is about 50$ a month as it is subsidized by DH's employer. It's so cheap that I don't care about the bills. We have the OOP max / 12 put in an hsa every month, which works out to about 350$ a month. As far as I am concerned paying 400$ a month for all health care costs for the year is a steal. By if you heard my mil bitch about it you would think we had no insurance bc OMG every penny isn't covered!
Hah, this happened when my Fiance hurt his knee ice skating. His parents couldn't understand why we turned down the MRI and Xrays and took a wait and see approach. "Just get it done, you have health insurance."
Sure we do, and we have a $3000 deductible that we hadn't filled yet.
Its frustrating on so many levels. This is why I wish we had a federal health plan that everyone fell under.
We have great insurance (about $200 per month for family with no deductible and low low low copays) and I am still all for Obamacare. I know we are lucky and it's sad that people have to do without insurance because of the costs.
We have done the math logically out on paper, out of pocket is around 4k for me if I have a csection..its nuts. Its not something that is as easy anymore. You have to think about every step since it will cost you something in the end.
I was going for xrays, and I was debating "do i really need these..." same with blood tests, "do i need this, can I go another year.." Same went for my pap smear...asked doctor if can get away with a few years in between..the costs are going up so much.
I also just recently learned that you have to go on medicare. You can't not use it apparently. Since my parents will have health insurance through their retirement they have no need for medicare as their coverage is already good, but they don't have a choice.
I think that's weird, why drain the government if you don't have to.
I will say, two people I've talked to at my doc's office when I was making my first appt for this pregnancy said "Wow you're lucky, you have great insurance." But I do pay about $244/month for coverage, but it's family, so at least it won't go up when we have the baby next year.
My mom turned 65 this year and went on Medicare. She's also a retired gov't employee, so she also has her BCBS policy. What I don't understand is why Medicare is her primary insurer and BCBS is her secondary. She pays the same premium as someone who only has BCBS, but Medicare pays most of her bills now. Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be the other way around?
H's work offered a high deductible plan, which we were on for over a year.
$400 a month in premiums and $3000 individual deductible. Basically we paid $400 a month all year, plus every medical cost, never hit the deductible and never got coverage. Ridiculous.
I now have a job with better benefits - for the same premium price I have a decent insurance plan again. yee haw.
And people have NO CLUE how bad it is for others out there. No idea. I had to take my son to the allergist/asthma specialist - $650. Then his daily asthma meds - $200/month and his topical eczema creams - $100.
ETA: We are fortunate to have good incomes - but even I would have a hard time dealing with the stress of impending medical costs when one of my kids was sick. So not only do you have to worry about your sick child and how to handle missing work - but you also have to worry about if you can afford their medical care WITH insurance coverage. It's just absurd.
My mom turned 65 this year and went on Medicare. She's also a retired gov't employee, so she also has her BCBS policy. What I don't understand is why Medicare is her primary insurer and BCBS is her secondary. She pays the same premium as someone who only has BCBS, but Medicare pays most of her bills now. Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be the other way around?
Yes my parents are the same, retired govt and were shocked to find that their private is secondary. They really thought they could opt out of medicare.
I am still on my parent's insurance, which is EXCELLENT. I don't know how much is paid every month, but no coinsurance, no deductible, $5 copays, no preapprovals, and now no need for referals. As an example, when I had surgery on my back the usual procedure is to do it with just a local and no sedation. I knew with my past reactions that it's a better idea to sedate me. The woman at the doctor's office said that most insurances would make a patient fight to cover the sedation since it's not absolutely necessary. Insurance paid it with no problems. I can stay on the plan no matter if I move, get married, insurance offered through work, anything. It's fabulous.
My company pays for my insurance and I added DH to our plan for $309/month. When we change it to a family plan it will be over $500/month. We have a high deductible plan, so we have to pay everything 100% until we reach $3k per person, but it comes from our HSA, so at least it's pre-tax money. DH has already reached his $3k this year so everything is paid 100% for him, even prescriptions and office visits. I don't think it's a great plan, but it's not horrible. I was pretty annoyed at the beginning of the year when DH maxed out his $3k within two months and I had $3k worth of medical bills due all at once, but we've had time to build up our HSA in preparation for next year. We got kind of screwed because we had to move to the high deductible plan in November.
At the same time, I know a lot of people who can't afford to pay hundreds every month in premiums and dump money in an HSA.
My mom turned 65 this year and went on Medicare. She's also a retired gov't employee, so she also has her BCBS policy. What I don't understand is why Medicare is her primary insurer and BCBS is her secondary. She pays the same premium as someone who only has BCBS, but Medicare pays most of her bills now. Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be the other way around?
I did not know this. This should be changed.
I agree. I even argued with my mom about it, because it makes no sense to me. Why should Medicare pay when my mom has great health insurance too? I think there are plenty of others who only have Medicare, so I would think the dollars spent on my mom could really help others who aren't as fortunate.
I also think most people don't realize how difficult it can be to get insurance at all if you don't have it through your employer. I had no idea until I became self employed and went to obtain my own insurance. I expected it to be expensive, but I didn't expect to be denied because of my pre-existing condition. I could not find an insurance company to insure me.
Obtaining health insurance has been a nightmare for me. I have been forced to make major employment decisions based on access to health insurance. What a messed up system!
This x 1000. I think health insurance is one of the biggest barriers to innovation in the U.S. today. DH has recently started his own company, but there is absolutely no way he could have done it if he weren't covered by my employer's health insurance plan. How are small businesses supposed to create jobs if people can't create small businesses?
We have a HMO. $450 a month premiums for family and then $10 copays and $10/$20 prescriptions.
At my job, where I don't qualify for benefits, I see how much my district pays for benefits. It is about $15k per person, but the individual is only paying 1% of their salary. These people complain constantly because it used To be .05% of their salary. Completely out of touch with what normal non school employees pay.
I also just recently learned that you have to go on medicare. You can't not use it apparently. Since my parents will have health insurance through their retirement they have no need for medicare as their coverage is already good, but they don't have a choice.
I think that's weird, why drain the government if you don't have to.
I will say, two people I've talked to at my doc's office when I was making my first appt for this pregnancy said "Wow you're lucky, you have great insurance." But I do pay about $244/month for coverage, but it's family, so at least it won't go up when we have the baby next year.
My mom turned 65 this year and went on Medicare. She's also a retired gov't employee, so she also has her BCBS policy. What I don't understand is why Medicare is her primary insurer and BCBS is her secondary. She pays the same premium as someone who only has BCBS, but Medicare pays most of her bills now. Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be the other way around?
If I had to guess, I think people feel they paid into Medicare so they should benefit from it, otherwise Medicare is just another kind of "welfare." If Medicare were secondary, premiums for your parents insurance would increase which might not affect them but would affect the company they used work for.
My mom turned 65 this year and went on Medicare. She's also a retired gov't employee, so she also has her BCBS policy. What I don't understand is why Medicare is her primary insurer and BCBS is her secondary. She pays the same premium as someone who only has BCBS, but Medicare pays most of her bills now. Wouldn't it make more sense for it to be the other way around?
If I had to guess, I think people feel they paid into Medicare so they should benefit from it, otherwise Medicare is just another kind of "welfare." If Medicare were secondary, premiums for your parents insurance would increase which might not affect them but would affect the company they used work for.
If Medicare were secondary, your premiums would be a lot higher. Due to pooling and the way Medicare pays. I don't have time to post a huge response to this, but if the whole country were covered under a plan like Medicare, we'd have the most craptastic health care in the entire universe IMO.
Wow I guess I am getting jacked. I work for a publically traded company and pay more than any # anyone has mentioned on here thus far for our family of 3. It is an 80/20 plan with a $500 deductible. PCP visits are $25 and Specialist is $50.