Life Medical Insurance Enrollment questions - Page 3

Chief Roundup · 11-13-2019, 07:06 PM

Alright it is that time of year again. The college I work at it changing insurance companies from Blue Cross Health Advantage to UMR that is using United Healthcare.
The new company is pushing the High Deductible Health Plan. I am now trying to figure out if it is worth it for me to switch from my PPO/FSA to the HDHP/HSA.
I am not sure how to figure out the costs that would be different. They cannot provide me information ahead of time as to the "discounts we will get at our PCP" over what paying full price would actually cost. They cannot provide me information as to what prescriptions that I take will actually cost with the southern scripts, mail order company, that we will be required to use.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hoping that there is a medical insurance agent/consultant on here!!!

King_Chief_Fan · 11-14-2019, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nixhex

Can anyone tell me why the premium for myself and my daughter is the same as another associate and their 4 children?

there is no answer
a family appears to be 3 or more
but, if you have more children it will seem more fair

GoHuge · 11-14-2019, 11:16 AM

I'm an insurance broker and in the Med Supps and Med Advantage plans I always put my client in supps if they can afford it. I get paid exactly the same per policy regardless if it is a supp or Med Adv plan. Main difference is that a private company is going to take over all your Medicare benefits with med adv policies. Positives....for lower income people it's usually better than OG Medicare as they only pay roughly 80%. With Med Adv the biggest downside is they almost always have a network you must stay in and you have to get a referral from your PCP to do anything like getting any kind of imaging or need to see a specialist....some require one for the policyholder to wipe their ass...could be mistaken on that one, but you get the point. Out of network fees I've seen as low as 40% coverage. They tell you what pharmacy you have to go to as well as using their formularies or pay a higher copays elsewhere. Which means it's take it or leave it on each plan. Most Med Adv plans work like an HMO and don't cost you anymore than your part B monthly premium....usually. They are taken over by a private company. Now to the super shitty, they have copays for doctors and about everything you have done. They also have an annual out of pocket max of roughly $5300 to over $7k a year. Get really sick and a person living on $1200 a month from Social Security has an extremely tight budget and no plan for a catastrophic event. I personally think they are dogshit and will only recommend them if we can't get a better option for the client. The PPO plans aren't much better. They give you more freedom as in what doctors and facilities than can use. These plans also allow for much better coverage out of network so they travel better for people that aren't to ****in old to travel, but with that comes a higher premium. Most of the decent PPO plans are going to cost another $40 all the way up to $100 on top of your $134 Medicare premium...which is stupid. A lot of doctors and facilities don't accept a lot of Med Adv plans as their level of reimbursement is so shitty that they just refuse to deal with them. Humana is hit by that the most because they are so God damn cheap.

Now the smart way of doing it. If I have a client enrolling into Medicare part B for the first time as their primary insurance is they have 6 months before, the month of, and 6 months after that when they are in what's called Open Enrollment. Unlike private insurance for people under 65, they are allowed to deny coverage if someone can't pass through underwriting for a pre-existing condition. Beauty of Open Enrollment is the insurance companies can't ask you any questions about your health or medications. They have to take you even if you weigh 500 lbs with diabetes, a substance abuse issue, cancer, and still smoking like a chimney. Once OE is over though any time they want to make a change they have to go through underwriting. Being a broker I can usually find a carrier that I can get them approved through. Some are just ****ed though for things like being on an opioid medication, any chronic condition, stent placement in the last 2 years, pacemaker in the last 3, cancer in the last 5 years, etc. Diabetes is real bitch too as almost every carrier is different in what they allow. That is why it is imperative to get your client in the best possible med supp that fits their budget as it's more than likely going to be the last insurance policy they'll ever be able to buy if they have serious health issues.

I can't list a single negative thing about having OG Medicare as your primary and a med supp secondary....other than cost. Probably the simplest part that confuses policyholders the most until you pound it into their head as many times as necessary. If a medical provider accepts Medicare....they accept your supplement....period. Doesn't matter if it's a carrier they don't accept. The way this works is the provider bills Medicare and Medicare bills your Supplement for the rest. Another positive is guaranteed renewability as long as you pay your premiums. Could run up $2 million in one year in medical Bill's and they can't drop you or raise your rates. Rates are based on 3 factors.....age, gender, and geographic location...so another piece of mind plus.

Then travel is a big one. Medicare is accepted by 98% of providers across the country. So again if they accept Medicare....they accept your Supplement. Plans F, G, and N even cover you internationally for the first 60 days you are out of the US.

Other benefit is you are in complete control of your healthcare. No referrals, networks, wondering who accepts your coverage...all those things that suck about Med Adv.

Now the downside is obviously going to be higher premiums with supps as they pay for so much more. You will be paying probably $90-$150 more a month than if you have a Med Adv plan. I already told you that Med Adv plans have a minimum $5k out of pocket max, so if you can afford a supp it's a no brainers. The biggest reason is with all these copays and out of pocket you pay with Med Adv....you can't budget for your healthcare expenses as there are too many unknowns...and that's shitty because 80% of seniors have Social Security as their main or only source of income. If you're healthy that's great, but we all know father time is undefeated and will eventually gonna kick your ass, and have yet to see a old person get healthier as they age. You get sick at 70 and all of a sudden Med Adv sucks and you want to jump on the Supp program to stop the bleeding, but you ****ed yourself 5 years ago in OE and can't get through underwriting for a supp. Then things become really messy and frankly very sad when you have to tell them sorry.

Last part which is something that the government got right in developing a healthcare program is making each letter med supp plan standardized. The different plans are A, B, C, F, G, K, L, M, and N. They all suck except for F, G,and N.

If you have plan F you will never see a doctor bill and pay any out of pocket cost from a medical provider....of course that means plan F is going to be the most expensive.

The best plan is plan G. It's exactly the same as plan F other than you have to pay your part B yearly deductible which is only $185. Reason it's the best is over the course of the year plan F is about $400 a year more expensive than plan G. The only thing you get is you spent $400 to cover $185....which doesn't take a scholar to figure out you are paying $20 more a month with plan F over plan G for the exact same coverage. Stupid, but as a broker it's your job to give people all their options and steer them in the right direction that fits them and their budget the best. Plan N is a good option for some people to are extremely healthy and wanna save a few bucks. It's exactly like plan G other than when you go to the doctor or ER you will have copays. Up to $20 for your doctor and $50 for an ER visit. Easy way to help someone decide between G and N is ask them how many times a year they see their doctor. I would say there is about $200 a year difference between G and N. If you go to the doctor 7 times a year you take that times 20 to get the true savings. In that scenario they are only $5 a month...and if they end up sick and are having to go to the doctor a lot....plan N can become more expensive than plan G which you just explain it's $5 a month more for plan G, but they are much better protected for what is always an uncertain thing, especially with old folks.

I mentioned standardization earlier. What that means is that every plan letter plan offers the EXACT same coverage regardless of the carrier. So if plan G with Mutual of Omaha is the least expensive....pick that one. Again stupid to pay more for the exact same coverage. Some people are stupid and say "hey I've always had Blue Cross my whole life and never had an issue." Well good for them, but different players for different products. Blue Coss is one of the more expensive plans in the Med Supp market. You gotta just beat it into their heads that they are in a different market now and Blue Cross and a lot of other names people are familiar with suck in med supp.

Last thing....if you go supp over Med Adv, you will have to get a part D drug plan. Nationally they run between $16 to $35 a month. The advantage there is you get to choose the best plan for you and the medications you take, an option not offered when you go Med Adv.

In closing if you can afford to go the supp route absolutely a hands down no-brainer. With plan F and G a person can budget their healthcare cost to the dollar because no matter what they are covered at 100%. Certainty is the most priceless commodity you can offer someone. Unfortunately not everyone can afford a supp and have to go Med Adv. Can't budget that with copays and big out of pocket maximums. Just a mathematical certainty that at some point in your retirement years on your fixed income you are gonna get ****ed. Can't think of anything else in the med supp vs. Med Adv....or more appropriately private company takeover plans debate. Happy to answer any questions anyone has though. Doubtful, but possible I left something out...happens.

Nixhex · 11-14-2019, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blake5676

Insurance premiums through employers are typically priced out as:

Employee

Employee + Spouse

Employee + Children

Family

I honestly don't know the reason. I can just tell you that is primarily how I seen plans priced. Doesn't matter if it's 1 kid or 5....they are all just "children" in the premium tier.

It's really rather silly when you think about it. I've had patients come in where their are 11 "children" on a working parents plan. Usually bc it's really good insurance, but they'll have like 3 biological, 4 step children and maybe some other loose connection.

From personal experience though, and it's the first time we've had insurance like this now that my wife has a new job, we pay different amounts based on number of kids. We only currently have one, but the cost is more when/if we have another.

Yep, my options are Employee + Children. Adding my child to my plan is raising my premium $242 per month. Joe Employee adding his 5 kids to his plan raises his premium the same $242 per month. Seems to me like people in my situation are getting screwed over pretty good.

DementedLogic · 11-14-2019, 11:21 AM

My company's PPO and HDHP have the same out of pocket max.

For family PPO it is 1000/7000
For family HDHP it is 3000/7000
They are both 80/20 after deductible with all preventive care covered 100%.

I save $2,000 per year going with HDHP, plus my company puts $500 into my HSA. I can't see any reason why I would ever go with the PPO.

ChiefBlueCFC · 11-14-2019, 11:21 AM

I had an FSA a few years ago and switched it to a HSA last year. Big difference between them (at least with our plan) is that FSA funds are all available immediately, but you have to use it or you lose it. With the HSA, funds were available as they were deposited into the account. The nice thing is that funds carry over from the previous year.

i'm sure that this has been brought up in the thread or you are aware of this but just thought I'd share my experience.

Good luck!

**mlyonsd** · 11-14-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefBlueCFC

I had an FSA a few years ago and switched it to a HSA last year. Big difference between them (at least with our plan) is that FSA funds are all available immediately, but you have to use it or you lose it. With the HSA, funds were available as they were deposited into the account. The nice thing is that funds carry over from the previous year.

i'm sure that this has been brought up in the thread or you are aware of this but just thought I'd share my experience.

Good luck!

FWIW an HSA is a great way to put money away that you can use later to help pay for insurance between the time you retire and are eligible for Medicare.

kccrow · 11-15-2019, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Wish I could post a pic of their breakdown.
The POS plan which I can choose for $130 a month has a $1500 deductible with a $5000 maximum out of pocket. $35 copay at Dr. $45 at specialists. Copay plus 20% up to the $5K max. Scripts are $20, $50, $70 for Generics, Preferred, Non-Preferred. Wellness covered 100%.
The HDHP which I can choose for $75 a month has a $3000 deductible which is also the max out of pocket. Wellness is covered 100% everything else is 0% covered until deductible is met.

I am on Simvastatin, Spiriva Respimat and Albuterol Sulfate HFA. I see the Dr twice a year for blood work and a wellness checkup.

Hope that helps. Any other info that might help?

I'd research the cost of your meds under the HDHP and cost you'd pay for your normal visits. If you're paying 100% up until the deductible is met, you'll need to know this to make a good decision. You should do the math on both plans. What would be your normal cost under each plan for your meds, visits, and premiums on a monthly and annual basis? GoodRx is fairly cheap for Simvastatin, but I'm not sure on the asthma meds. If you're taking a cholesterol pill, that certainly means you may be at a higher risk for a catestrophic event so factor that in. Blake did a really good job of breaking down some of the math for you.

What you do know is that if you contributed $250 a month to your HSA, you'd pay the deductible over a year. The question is, would you exceed $250 a month in costs under that plan up until the deductible is met. If you don't, going with an HDHP/HSA plan makes sense because you can bank for the future. One thing to factor here too is your bank account. You know for a fact that 3900 is the max you'll pay during a year under this plan. Can you cover that now? You could pay $6560 under the other plan. If you have the funds for a catastrophic year, then the HDHP makes far more sense regardless.

Chief Roundup · 11-16-2019, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefBlueCFC

I had an FSA a few years ago and switched it to a HSA last year. Big difference between them (at least with our plan) is that FSA funds are all available immediately, but you have to use it or you lose it. With the HSA, funds were available as they were deposited into the account. The nice thing is that funds carry over from the previous year.

i'm sure that this has been brought up in the thread or you are aware of this but just thought I'd share my experience.

Good luck!

The college is going to "front" the money into the HSA for every employee that decides to go that way. They are not matching or putting anything into that plan though.

Chief Roundup · 11-16-2019, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kccrow

I'd research the cost of your meds under the HDHP and cost you'd pay for your normal visits. If you're paying 100% up until the deductible is met, you'll need to know this to make a good decision. You should do the math on both plans. What would be your normal cost under each plan for your meds, visits, and premiums on a monthly and annual basis? GoodRx is fairly cheap for Simvastatin, but I'm not sure on the asthma meds. If you're taking a cholesterol pill, that certainly means you may be at a higher risk for a catestrophic event so factor that in. Blake did a really good job of breaking down some of the math for you.

What you do know is that if you contributed $250 a month to your HSA, you'd pay the deductible over a year. The question is, would you exceed $250 a month in costs under that plan up until the deductible is met. If you don't, going with an HDHP/HSA plan makes sense because you can bank for the future. One thing to factor here too is your bank account. You know for a fact that 3900 is the max you'll pay during a year under this plan. Can you cover that now? You could pay $6560 under the other plan. If you have the funds for a catastrophic year, then the HDHP makes far more sense regardless.

I have called my doctor and pharmacy, which are both in network, to get costs and so I can submit them to the Insurance company so they can tell me the qualifying discounts on all. Now I am just waiting for the pharmacy to get back with me.

scho63 · 11-16-2019, 12:16 PM

Steal some illegal immigrants identity and apply for EVERYTHING so you will be covered for FREE!

Chief Roundup · 01-09-2020, 07:56 PM

Man I hate the insurance game bullshit.
This new insurance sucks. It is United Healthcare by UMR. We had Blue Cross Health Advantage before. Both insurances had a $1500 deductible with a $5k out of pocket clause. What I have found out now after trying to use it is that the new insurance is that I have to pay out $1500 before they pay a dime. Then they will pay 80% up to the $5k where then they would pay 100%.
It turns out that the insurance is basically for a person to get a co-pay to see their PCP and to get a co-pay at the pharmacist. IMO that is not much insurance and seems damn expensive for $135 a month.
I can get better insurance for cheaper through TrumpCare. I am trying to get my employer to allow me a "life event" to get out of this crap insurance.

Third Eye · 01-09-2020, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

Man I hate the insurance game bullshit.
This new insurance sucks. It is United Healthcare by UMR. We had Blue Cross Health Advantage before. Both insurances had a $1500 deductible with a $5k out of pocket clause. What I have found out now after trying to use it is that the new insurance is that I have to pay out $1500 before they pay a dime. Then they will pay 80% up to the $5k where then they would pay 100%.
It turns out that the insurance is basically for a person to get a co-pay to see their PCP and to get a co-pay at the pharmacist. IMO that is not much insurance and seems damn expensive for $135 a month.
I can get better insurance for cheaper through TrumpCare. I am trying to get my employer to allow me a "life event" to get out of this crap insurance.

I’m somewhat confused as to what you thought it was going to be. I mean, that’s how deductibles work. Not trying to be a dick, but that’s just the way it works. Sounds like you actually have a decent plan. I’m this day and age, a $1500 deductible is pretty low.

Chief Roundup · 01-09-2020, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Third Eye

I’m somewhat confused as to what you thought it was going to be. I mean, that’s how deductibles work. Not trying to be a dick, but that’s just the way it works. Sounds like you actually have a decent plan. I’m this day and age, a $1500 deductible is pretty low.

The Blue Cross Health Advantage, the insurance we had in 2019, had the same deductible but they paid 80% on the way to the deductible not only paid after that deductible.
I had an x-ray a few months ago I had to pay $59 as my portion of that and it is the first imaging that I had had done under that policy.
Now, with United Healthcare through UMR new to us in 2020, I have to pay out $1500 before they will start to pay the 80% on the way to the maximum out of pocket of $5000.

stumppy · 01-09-2020, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

The Blue Cross Health Advantage, the insurance we had in 2019, had the same deductible but they paid 80% on the way to the deductible not only paid after that deductible.
I had an x-ray a few months ago I had to pay $59 as my portion of that and it is the first imaging that I had had done under that policy.
Now, with United Healthcare through UMR new to us in 2020, I have to pay out $1500 before they will start to pay the 80% on the way to the maximum out of pocket of $5000.

Then what you had before was $1500 in coinsurance, not a deductible. Anytime you see the word deductible it means that's what you have to pay before the insurance company will pay anything.

BryanBusby · 01-09-2020, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chief Roundup

The Blue Cross Health Advantage, the insurance we had in 2019, had the same deductible but they paid 80% on the way to the deductible not only paid after that deductible.
I had an x-ray a few months ago I had to pay $59 as my portion of that and it is the first imaging that I had had done under that policy.
Now, with United Healthcare through UMR new to us in 2020, I have to pay out $1500 before they will start to pay the 80% on the way to the maximum out of pocket of $5000.

Well now you know why they got rid of that old plan. Also I don't think you quite fully understand the plans.

11-13-2019, 07:06 PM
Chief Roundup Admitted Planet Junky Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $-1428373	Medical Insurance Enrollment questions Alright it is that time of year again. The college I work at it changing insurance companies from Blue Cross Health Advantage to UMR that is using United Healthcare. The new company is pushing the High Deductible Health Plan. I am now trying to figure out if it is worth it for me to switch from my PPO/FSA to the HDHP/HSA. I am not sure how to figure out the costs that would be different. They cannot provide me information ahead of time as to the "discounts we will get at our PCP" over what paying full price would actually cost. They cannot provide me information as to what prescriptions that I take will actually cost with the southern scripts, mail order company, that we will be required to use. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hoping that there is a medical insurance agent/consultant on here!!!
Posts: 19,556

11-14-2019, 11:16 AM	#32
GoHuge The Truth Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10006072	I'm an insurance broker and in the Med Supps and Med Advantage plans I always put my client in supps if they can afford it. I get paid exactly the same per policy regardless if it is a supp or Med Adv plan. Main difference is that a private company is going to take over all your Medicare benefits with med adv policies. Positives....for lower income people it's usually better than OG Medicare as they only pay roughly 80%. With Med Adv the biggest downside is they almost always have a network you must stay in and you have to get a referral from your PCP to do anything like getting any kind of imaging or need to see a specialist....some require one for the policyholder to wipe their ass...could be mistaken on that one, but you get the point. Out of network fees I've seen as low as 40% coverage. They tell you what pharmacy you have to go to as well as using their formularies or pay a higher copays elsewhere. Which means it's take it or leave it on each plan. Most Med Adv plans work like an HMO and don't cost you anymore than your part B monthly premium....usually. They are taken over by a private company. Now to the super shitty, they have copays for doctors and about everything you have done. They also have an annual out of pocket max of roughly $5300 to over $7k a year. Get really sick and a person living on $1200 a month from Social Security has an extremely tight budget and no plan for a catastrophic event. I personally think they are dogshit and will only recommend them if we can't get a better option for the client. The PPO plans aren't much better. They give you more freedom as in what doctors and facilities than can use. These plans also allow for much better coverage out of network so they travel better for people that aren't to **in old to travel, but with that comes a higher premium. Most of the decent PPO plans are going to cost another $40 all the way up to $100 on top of your $134 Medicare premium...which is stupid. A lot of doctors and facilities don't accept a lot of Med Adv plans as their level of reimbursement is so shitty that they just refuse to deal with them. Humana is hit by that the most because they are so God damn cheap. Now the smart way of doing it. If I have a client enrolling into Medicare part B for the first time as their primary insurance is they have 6 months before, the month of, and 6 months after that when they are in what's called Open Enrollment. Unlike private insurance for people under 65, they are allowed to deny coverage if someone can't pass through underwriting for a pre-existing condition. Beauty of Open Enrollment is the insurance companies can't ask you any questions about your health or medications. They have to take you even if you weigh 500 lbs with diabetes, a substance abuse issue, cancer, and still smoking like a chimney. Once OE is over though any time they want to make a change they have to go through underwriting. Being a broker I can usually find a carrier that I can get them approved through. Some are just ed though for things like being on an opioid medication, any chronic condition, stent placement in the last 2 years, pacemaker in the last 3, cancer in the last 5 years, etc. Diabetes is real bitch too as almost every carrier is different in what they allow. That is why it is imperative to get your client in the best possible med supp that fits their budget as it's more than likely going to be the last insurance policy they'll ever be able to buy if they have serious health issues. I can't list a single negative thing about having OG Medicare as your primary and a med supp secondary....other than cost. Probably the simplest part that confuses policyholders the most until you pound it into their head as many times as necessary. If a medical provider accepts Medicare....they accept your supplement....period. Doesn't matter if it's a carrier they don't accept. The way this works is the provider bills Medicare and Medicare bills your Supplement for the rest. Another positive is guaranteed renewability as long as you pay your premiums. Could run up $2 million in one year in medical Bill's and they can't drop you or raise your rates. Rates are based on 3 factors.....age, gender, and geographic location...so another piece of mind plus. Then travel is a big one. Medicare is accepted by 98% of providers across the country. So again if they accept Medicare....they accept your Supplement. Plans F, G, and N even cover you internationally for the first 60 days you are out of the US. Other benefit is you are in complete control of your healthcare. No referrals, networks, wondering who accepts your coverage...all those things that suck about Med Adv. Now the downside is obviously going to be higher premiums with supps as they pay for so much more. You will be paying probably $90-$150 more a month than if you have a Med Adv plan. I already told you that Med Adv plans have a minimum $5k out of pocket max, so if you can afford a supp it's a no brainers. The biggest reason is with all these copays and out of pocket you pay with Med Adv....you can't budget for your healthcare expenses as there are too many unknowns...and that's shitty because 80% of seniors have Social Security as their main or only source of income. If you're healthy that's great, but we all know father time is undefeated and will eventually gonna kick your ass, and have yet to see a old person get healthier as they age. You get sick at 70 and all of a sudden Med Adv sucks and you want to jump on the Supp program to stop the bleeding, but you ed yourself 5 years ago in OE and can't get through underwriting for a supp. Then things become really messy and frankly very sad when you have to tell them sorry. Last part which is something that the government got right in developing a healthcare program is making each letter med supp plan standardized. The different plans are A, B, C, F, G, K, L, M, and N. They all suck except for F, G,and N. If you have plan F you will never see a doctor bill and pay any out of pocket cost from a medical provider....of course that means plan F is going to be the most expensive. The best plan is plan G. It's exactly the same as plan F other than you have to pay your part B yearly deductible which is only $185. Reason it's the best is over the course of the year plan F is about $400 a year more expensive than plan G. The only thing you get is you spent $400 to cover $185....which doesn't take a scholar to figure out you are paying $20 more a month with plan F over plan G for the exact same coverage. Stupid, but as a broker it's your job to give people all their options and steer them in the right direction that fits them and their budget the best. Plan N is a good option for some people to are extremely healthy and wanna save a few bucks. It's exactly like plan G other than when you go to the doctor or ER you will have copays. Up to $20 for your doctor and $50 for an ER visit. Easy way to help someone decide between G and N is ask them how many times a year they see their doctor. I would say there is about $200 a year difference between G and N. If you go to the doctor 7 times a year you take that times 20 to get the true savings. In that scenario they are only $5 a month...and if they end up sick and are having to go to the doctor a lot....plan N can become more expensive than plan G which you just explain it's $5 a month more for plan G, but they are much better protected for what is always an uncertain thing, especially with old folks. I mentioned standardization earlier. What that means is that every plan letter plan offers the EXACT same coverage regardless of the carrier. So if plan G with Mutual of Omaha is the least expensive....pick that one. Again stupid to pay more for the exact same coverage. Some people are stupid and say "hey I've always had Blue Cross my whole life and never had an issue." Well good for them, but different players for different products. Blue Coss is one of the more expensive plans in the Med Supp market. You gotta just beat it into their heads that they are in a different market now and Blue Cross and a lot of other names people are familiar with suck in med supp. Last thing....if you go supp over Med Adv, you will have to get a part D drug plan. Nationally they run between $16 to $35 a month. The advantage there is you get to choose the best plan for you and the medications you take, an option not offered when you go Med Adv. In closing if you can afford to go the supp route absolutely a hands down no-brainer. With plan F and G a person can budget their healthcare cost to the dollar because no matter what they are covered at 100%. Certainty is the most priceless commodity you can offer someone. Unfortunately not everyone can afford a supp and have to go Med Adv. Can't budget that with copays and big out of pocket maximums. Just a mathematical certainty that at some point in your retirement years on your fixed income you are gonna get **ed. Can't think of anything else in the med supp vs. Med Adv....or more appropriately private company takeover plans debate. Happy to answer any questions anyone has though. Doubtful, but possible I left something out...happens.
Posts: 3,991	1 0

11-14-2019, 11:21 AM	#34
DementedLogic Starter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Seattle, WA Casino cash: $7215080	My company's PPO and HDHP have the same out of pocket max. For family PPO it is 1000/7000 For family HDHP it is 3000/7000 They are both 80/20 after deductible with all preventive care covered 100%. I save $2,000 per year going with HDHP, plus my company puts $500 into my HSA. I can't see any reason why I would ever go with the PPO.
Posts: 855

11-14-2019, 11:21 AM	#35
ChiefBlueCFC Veteran Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: KCMO BABY Casino cash: $7940410	I had an FSA a few years ago and switched it to a HSA last year. Big difference between them (at least with our plan) is that FSA funds are all available immediately, but you have to use it or you lose it. With the HSA, funds were available as they were deposited into the account. The nice thing is that funds carry over from the previous year. i'm sure that this has been brought up in the thread or you are aware of this but just thought I'd share my experience. Good luck! __________________ WE FIRED BOB SUTTON
Posts: 2,736

11-16-2019, 12:16 PM	#40
scho63 Politically Incorrect Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Casino cash: $-780000	Steal some illegal immigrants identity and apply for EVERYTHING so you will be covered for FREE! __________________ *"The only difference between sex for free and sex for money is that sex for free costs you a WHOLE LOT more!"* ~Redd Foxx~ ~~2018 2019 2020 20212022 2023~~ 2024 Adopt a Chief - Clark Hunt and Brett Veach "The men who drafted Patrick Mahomes"
Posts: 54,959	0 1

01-09-2020, 07:56 PM	#41
Chief Roundup Admitted Planet Junky Join Date: Oct 2000 Casino cash: $-1428373	Man I hate the insurance game bullshit. This new insurance sucks. It is United Healthcare by UMR. We had Blue Cross Health Advantage before. Both insurances had a $1500 deductible with a $5k out of pocket clause. What I have found out now after trying to use it is that the new insurance is that I have to pay out $1500 before they pay a dime. Then they will pay 80% up to the $5k where then they would pay 100%. It turns out that the insurance is basically for a person to get a co-pay to see their PCP and to get a co-pay at the pharmacist. IMO that is not much insurance and seems damn expensive for $135 a month. I can get better insurance for cheaper through TrumpCare. I am trying to get my employer to allow me a "life event" to get out of this crap insurance. __________________ Fanaticism is nowhere. There is no tenderness or humanity in fanaticism.
Posts: 19,556