Affordable Health Insurance?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Lacey

I guess that's why there are so many uninsured folks huh? Seems like our government could do a "group plan" for all folks like a regular employer would? Where we all would pay a percentage and them the rest.

It's difficult, because the unemployed are often the most sick. The saftey net is in place for low-income parents, children, seniors, and people with disabilities through Medicad.

[joyful]

My husband just started a new job that did not offer health benefits. He knew a health insurance broker through a networking organization that he belonged to and we used this broker to sign up for individual coverage.

We have 80%/20% coverage with a $2500 deductible and additional $2500 out of pocket maximum per year plus dental coverage through Humana for $489 a month for my husband, me and our 2 young children.

Doctors visits are not subject to the deductible, only a $35 copay for primary dr. and $50 copay for specialists.

I was really surprised that we were able to get it that affordable. From all the stories I had heard, I was really expecting to pay closer to $900 per month.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Lacey

I guess that's why there are so many uninsured folks huh? Seems like our government could do a "group plan" for all folks like a regular employer would? Where we all would pay a percentage and them the rest.

That's the Democratic plan. I'm a government employee and know quite a bit about it. It's all through private insurers managed by YOU just like your current insurance. It's just the government does what an employer would do. Since cost will be spread over millions of individuals the cost will be rather low. The industry doesn't like the idea....because then they'd have to compete with it, that means they'd have to lower their costs.

[George]

My pastor uses
http://www.alliantinsurance.com/
It is a consortium for clergy or small businesses.
I think you have to have a minimum of 2 employees which you could list you as one and your husband as a second employee.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by joyful

My husband just started a new job that did not offer health benefits. He knew a health insurance broker through a networking organization that he belonged to and we used this broker to sign up for individual coverage.

We have 80%/20% coverage with a $2500 deductible and additional $2500 out of pocket maximum per year plus dental coverage through Humana for $489 a month for my husband, me and our 2 young children.

I was really surprised that we were able to get it that affordable. From all the stories I had heard, I was really expecting to pay closer to $900 per month.

I'm a government employee and our program is through UHC. Our family has an HSA plan with an annual $4000 deductible and the government front loads it with $3000 every year (tax free by the way). After the deductible is met we have 100% coverage. Since it's an HSA the account is managed as a line of credit. We plan on using at least $700 of it for Christmas money. Of course since it's not health care related we have to pay taxes on what we spend.

Cost...$40 a month.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I'm a government employee and our program is through UHC. Our family has an HSA plan with a $4000 deductible and the government front loads it with $3000 every year. After the deductible is met we have 100% coverage.

Cost...$40 a month.

One sure thing... The Government plan costs far more.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

One sure thing... The Government plan costs far more.

Actually it doesn't. Cost analysis was already performed and it's actually quit inexpensive compared to most plans available on the private market. I will give you this much...the traditional package was VERY expensive as far as cost to the government. But the HSA plan is actually reducing costs as we shop for care and treatment. And don't get me on the OPERS retirement program. I'll be set if I retire as a government employee.

[Aquila]

And essentially....thats the plan....treat you all like employees spreading the cost over hundreds of millions of people minimizing the cost to all.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Lacey

I guess that's why there are so many uninsured folks huh? Seems like our government could do a "group plan" for all folks like a regular employer would? Where we all would pay a percentage and them the rest.

That is called socialism. I dread the thought of the Federal government providing health care for all. It will be run like everything else the government does - inefficiently and with employees that don't give a care about customer service.

I think you have to weigh in the cost of health care insurance on your own as part of your total compensation when considering jobs. If the job without insurance is not paying at least a few hundred dollars per month more than one with insurance it may not be worth it.

I work for a company with around 65,000 employees and even with that kind of group buying power my PPO plus premiums were about $360 per month so this year I moved to one of those health savings account programs combined with health insurance with a high ($2500) deductible. My company gave my wife and I $1500 in a health savings account towards that $2500 deductible and paid 100% of health care until we depleted that $1500 (actually $1700 because they gave us an extra $200 for doing a health survey). We have to foot 100% of the $1,000 gap ($800 in our case) between the money they company gave us up front for medical care and that $2500 deductible then the insurance takes back over covering 90%.

Just a few short years ago my PPO covered 100% after my small co-pays!

[MawMaw]

Originally Posted by CC1

That is called socialism. I dread the thought of the Federal government providing health care for all. It will be run like everything else the government does - inefficiently and with employees that don't give a care about customer service.

I think you have to weigh in the cost of health care insurance on your own as part of your total compensation when considering jobs. If the job without insurance is not paying at least a few hundred dollars per month more than one with insurance it may not be worth it.

I work for a company with around 65,000 employees and even with that kind of group buying power my PPO plus premiums were about $360 per month so this year I moved to one of those health savings account programs combined with health insurance with a high ($2500) deductible. My company gave my wife and I $1500 in a health savings account towards that $2500 deductible and paid 100% of health care until we depleted that $1500 (actually $1700 because they gave us an extra $200 for doing a health survey). We have to foot 100% of the $1,000 gap ($800 in our case) between the money they company gave us up front for medical care and that $2500 deductible then the insurance takes back over covering 90%.

Just a few short years ago my PPO covered 100% after my small co-pays!

Yes, that's what we are mulling over. The newer job most definitely would pay a few hundred dollars more each month, but considering the cost to have to pay several more hundred dollars extra each month for health care, I just don't know if it's worth the job change.