health insurance costs, family plan

[SixFive]

I was just curious, ELVIS mentioned his health ins had been raised several times in a few years. What do you all pay for your health insurance, specifically, a family plan, and is it good.

I FINALLY have good insurance (pays 100% for anything inpatient or outpatient with ZERO deductible) for the first time since my HMO back in 1998.

I pay 212 bucks every 2 weeks for it, however. Thanks for any responses.

 

[MadJack]

what plan is that and i wonder if it's available in maryland? mine is going to $780 a month starting july 1st, with $150 deductable per person prescriptions and $500 deductable on the other shit.

sickening!

 

[Mr. KANE]

Please let me know the name and number for a good plan hmo for self employed people

 

[SixFive]

mine is a BCBS plan. My employer contributes an equal amount, so I guess that equals to a little more than 900 bucks a month. The company I work for just had an ownership change, so this is the new company's product.

The old insurance was a 70/30 plan that sucked all the way around. It cost 95 bucks every 2 weeks with an employer contribution of around 200 bucks a month.

 

[Mr. KANE]

Thanks,

does anyone know of any plans I can get on my own without connected to work or org.?

 

[MadJack]

ok, mine is bcbs too. that explains it. i use to have that plan you have about 3 years ago but every f'in year they bump it up so much that little by little they take something out every year to keep the price down. total ripoff. not sure what i'm going to do. $900+ and even $700+ is totally ridiculous. maybe i'll just get some kinda cheap plan to protect us from the big illnesses and save the rest to pay scripts and drs. they're making a fortune from me because i dont even use the damn thing except for about $200 a in meds a month. sheese!

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Clint I pay $115 a month for plan from BC BS
$2,500 deductible no RX(prescription drugs)
Have had same plan for 15 years and they never had to pay a dime on me,however flip side I have never had claim other than bi-yearly physical. I figure roughly I have saved enough by going this route to pay $2,500 deductible about 7 times if necessary.
However would not suggest this route for married people because of maternity and children also would not recommend it for women who are prone to costly female operations in later years.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
this guy takes his pet bird to the vet and says I think my parrott is dying. Vet checks it out and says I can't find any problem.
The guy says I don't know are you sure? The vet rolls his eyes,leaves brings back a cat who licks the bird and strolls off.
Vet said, yep nothing wrong. Bewildered the guy says,Well I am glad you're sure cause I'm not. Vet rolls eyes again,leaves and brings back Labador Retriever who sniffs the Parrott and walks away.Vet says you see. Man says hell no,this ridiculous. Just give me my bill and let me out of here. Vet returns with bill for $140.
The man about shits and said ,thats robbery you only charge me $40 last time for office visit.. Vet said thats all the charge was today, the extra $100 was for the cat scan and lab report.

 

[djv]

DTB LOL. Sad thing is bills from clinics have that look to them. And anyone whos been in a hospital latley that can understand there bills is lucky.
I pay $652 a month and all is covered. The drugs are copay at 8 and 15. A reguler eye test is included once every 18 months. And the glasses are coverd but not the frams. Mind is up from 480 to 652 last two years.
I do however have to go to this one clinic and hospital for my needs. I dont mind that because its a very good one. I have over 200 doctors to choose from. Many of them speclisit.
But still the cost has to slow the jumbs in price are nuts.

 

[Iminforabuck]

You guys just blew me away with this thread. I have no idea what plan I have at work.....but it only costs me 20 bucks a month. I've never used it.....but I heard the deductible was like a grand. I just added my wife on the plan when we got married...and now its costing me 40 bucks a month. She has a preexisting condition (diabetes)....and they said they wouldnt cover anything related to that for a year......but after reading these numbers from you guys.....I dont think I'll be complaining.

I sure wish someone could figure out the answer to fixing this ridiculous problem in this country.

 

[MadJack]

She has a preexisting condition (diabetes)....and they said they wouldnt cover anything related to that for a year

that's bullshit. somebody correct me if i'm wrong but they HAVE to cover her since she joined a group. this was put into law about 7-8 years ago? something like that.

 

[Iminforabuck]

If youre right, I need to be having a talk with somebody tomorrow morning.

 

[Spock]

WOW

did not realize health insurance costs so much in the US.

Does'nt the company play all the insurance cost. From the answeres I assume no. Also looks like the cost for self employed people for full coverage is ridiculous.

I know the medical services south of the 49'th are more better than up here. But the cost seems crazy for a person who has average income. No wonder so many people are turning to madjack's for extra income to pay off the costs

Medical stuff is covered by the govt. Company also has its own insurance [no payments from me]. My company upgrades me to a private room in hospital if I am in hospital. Dental insurance have to pay $50 deductible every year.. I think they cover upto $1500 per year for dental costs. Chiropracter also is covered. Eye test also covered. $250 for vision [glasses, contact lenses etc.] upto $250 every 2 years. Prescription medicine have to pay $40 deductible every year.

hmm .. will have to stay up here looks like.

Good luck guys.
Spock

 

[AR182]

i am not up to date on health ins., like i used to be, but there are plans that have a 11 month(not 1 year) pre-existing condition clause like iminforabuck has mentioned. so i think it is common.


ins. is protection against catastrophic loss. most people in this forum are relatively young, so chances anything major happening to you is slim. if you want to get your premiums down, you might want to increase your deductibles, similar to dtb.

 

[Iminforabuck]

i am not up to date on health ins., like i used to be, but there are plans that have a 11 month(not 1 year) pre-existing condition clause like iminforabuck has mentioned. so i think it is common.

Sounds to me like our company agent just rounded off then....cause he told me a year. Oh well....hopefully she'll be alright in that amount of time and it won't matter.

 

[MadJack]

ok, i knew there was something to this. i had previously been insured when i started my own group. i assumed that everybody that joined the group was exempt from pre-existing conditions waiting period. here's the ruling/law...

Pre-Existing Conditions
A pre-existing condition is a medical condition diagnosed or treated before joining a new plan. In the past, health care given for a pre-existing condition often has not been covered for someone who joins a new plan until after a waiting period. However, a new law?called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act?changes the rules.

Under the law, most of which went into effect on July 1, 1997, a pre-existing condition will be covered without a waiting period when you join a new group plan if you have been insured the previous 12 months. This means that if you remain insured for 12 months or more, you will be able to go from one job to another, and your pre-existing condition will be covered?without additional waiting periods?even if you have a chronic illness.

If you have a pre-existing condition and have not been insured the previous 12 months before joining a new plan, the longest you will have to wait before you are covered for that condition is 12 months.

To find out how this new law affects you, check with either your employer benefits office or your health plan.

 

[yyz]

I get it all for $0, but they are going to make us start paying starting with the new contract.

Drugs are $17.25 a pop, or $5 for genaric.

 

[MadJack]

my job pays 100% of my health insurance. only problem is, it's MY company

any insurance guys out there that have suggections for me and my $700+ per month bill? this sux!

jack@madjacksports.com

 

[SixFive]

that's bullshit. somebody correct me if i'm wrong but they HAVE to cover her since she joined a group. this was put into law about 7-8 years ago? something like that.

If she has had continuous insurance coverage, then it can not be a pre-existing condition. That's how all this HIPPA bullsh.. started off as a noble thing then got bastardized into what it is now.

 

[SixFive]

Spock, it's high. There's a term here called insurance poor.

I have known and still know some folks that work full time hours just for the family health care coverage. This is over half to 2/3rds a check for some people!!

The only bright side is most employers take it out pretax, so therefore it is a benefit that is nice come tax time.

 

[Iminforabuck]

If you have a pre-existing condition and have not been insured the previous 12 months before joining a new plan, the longest you will have to wait before you are covered for that condition is 12 months.

Bingo......Thanks Jack. She didnt have health insurance for the year and a half leading up to her going on my plan.....so that explains it all. Thanks for doing the research.