Health Insurance

[TLO]

My company is changing up providers for the health insurance they offer this upcoming year, and the options are pretty lackluster.

I know diddly dick about trying to find private health insurance, but surely someone on here has some knowledge to share.

Where do I look? What would constitute "good coverage" in your opinion?

Any suggestions welcome.

[dlphg9]

100% do not get Coventry. When I was working at a local hospital we switched from BCBSKC to Coventry and the place I worked at wouldn't even take them for a lot of things.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by TLO

My company is changing up providers for the health insurance they offer this upcoming year, and the options are pretty lackluster.

I know diddly dick about trying to find private health insurance, but surely someone on here has some knowledge to share.

Where do I look? What would constitute "good coverage" in your opinion?

Any suggestions welcome.

I'm going to be going on my girlfriend's insurance this year. I didn't even know I could do that. She can claim me as domestic partner lol. Instead of $31 a month at a $3,000 deductible it's $51 a month at a $3,000 deductible instead of Obamacare.

[EPodolak]

Eat right and exercise and don't smoke and go with the employer option.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by EPodolak

Eat right and exercise and don't smoke and go with the employer option.

And get that 4th booster, TLO,.

[BWillie]

Looks like I'm going to have to go back to The Marketplace to get Health Insurance. My girlfriend got laid off a while back and she can't even get an interview so can't get healthcare through her right now once Cobra runs out. Can't wait to get ripped off and pay $1200 a month.

Looked into part time jobs that offer benefits but you have to work like 23+ or 28+ hrs plus. I would do 10 lol but that is about it.

Maybe becoming a Canadian citizen so I can get healthcare is an option

[Jewish Rabbi]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Looks like I'm going to have to go back to The Marketplace to get Health Insurance. My girlfriend got laid off a while back and she can't even get an interview so can't get healthcare through her right now once Cobra runs out. Can't wait to get ripped off and pay $1200 a month.

Looked into part time jobs that offer benefits but you have to work like 23+ or 28+ hrs plus. I would do 10 lol but that is about it.

Maybe becoming a Canadian citizen so I can get healthcare is an option

Damn, didn’t know you had a girlfriend. Sorry for her.

[IowaHawkeyeChief]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Always hate when an employer changes providers

They usually try to tell the employees its for their benefit but it's always for the benefit of the company

Well, it is for the employees benefit, directly or indirectly. You have to be competitive for whatever product you sell and non revenue producing cost like employee benefits need to be competitive to gather and retain employees, but they also need to be cost effective. If you aren't looking for more economical options on a yearly basis, you are doing your employees and company a disservice.

[KCJake]

It's over $600 a month for just me through my work. I've been to the doctor twice in the last 15-20 years. I just can't justify it

[blake5676]

Originally Posted by KCJake

It's over $600 a month for just me through my work. I've been to the doctor twice in the last 15-20 years. I just can't justify it

Not sure on your age? but that's relatively high for a work sponsored plan assuming you don't have some "cadillac" super plan with almost no deductible and super low out of pocket max.

If it's just an average plan with a medium to high deductible (4-8k) then I'm guessing that you're either paying the vast majority of the premium and your employer isn't paying much OR you have a small group with a poor health rating pool of employees.

You could likely find a similar premium plan on the individual marketplace, but those plans are usually only a good deal for someone earning a low enough income to get a subsidy to cover the majority or all of the premium. If you are above that threshold, you're probably paying that same premium for a shit plan with an $6k deductible in a relatively narrow network or with a "new" insurance company you've probably never heard of that may or may not be around for another few years.

The insurance game really is a shitty proposition these days. You can't just self insure at a reasonable rate anymore.

[BigOlChiefsfan]

Go talk to your doctor/his secretary. They know who pays the bills. I've lived long enough to get most of the basics free these days, but I paid out the wazoo when I spazzed out a time or two before the geezer-rates kicked in. FWIW, eat less beef, walk more (push a cart around Walmart then get what you came for) and let your girlfriend do most of the work. Buy a pair of 10 lb dumb bells or kettle bells - and use 'em 3 days a week. Read up on 'indian clubs' and buy or make yourself a pair. They're designed to make you a better swordsman. Turns out - you don't need to stab people to benefit.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Don’t get Aetna. They are the worst

I've had Aetna for over a decade through the wifes work. $500 a month for both of us. PPO plan, Vision, Dental also. Go wherever we want. See any specialist etc. $2500 out of pocket max per year. No complaints here.

[penguinz]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

100% do not get Coventry. When I was working at a local hospital we switched from BCBSKC to Coventry and the place I worked at wouldn't even take them for a lot of things.

I had Coventry when I had knee surgery about 20 years ago. Cost me $50 out of pocket for the surgery and PT.

First follow up with the ortho I mentioned I couldn't believe it was so cheap.

His response was the Coventy was great for patients because it was very inexpensive.

It sucked for doctors because Coventry was very bad about paying out if the did at all.

He said usually when a patient has Coventry he would be lucky to break even on his costs.

[BWillie]

I like the plans that have high max out of pocket costs per year so I can self insurance myself but they still have a discount each year for regular doctor exams etc. Seems like I would be a pretty cheap person to insure. Single, no kids, etc. I don't really care about a low co pay on everything. If I get a terrible disease or saw my leg off I'm perfectly fine paying $10,000 max as long as I don't have to pay $150,000 and I save money on my monthly premium.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by KCJake

It's over $600 a month for just me through my work. I've been to the doctor twice in the last 15-20 years. I just can't justify it

Do they offer a high-deductible health savings account option?

[Woogieman]

US insurance needs to develop a "Health Care SR-22" so the rest of us don't have to sacrifice our retirement goals for the Big Gulp chugging, smoke-a-pack-just outside-the-building's-front-door, no-walking, buffet-busting, lil' Debbie crowd. It's such a scam that drivers are rated, life insurance purchasers are rated, but they don't group the healthy and the morbidly obese/high risk people in their own groups. Doing so would GREATLY enhance the habits of those that are trying to get into or maintain their membership in the "healthy pool".