• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Health insurance costs for 2014 - didn't expect that

Page 8 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.
Doppel said:
I work for a big ole fortune company as well and they are pushing us to some HSA stuff, of which I have no familiarity. But it sounds similar. I won't know how my premium is impacted until next month but I am bracing for impact.
Click to expand...

HSA's are great if you are young and don't have kids. It is "real insurance" where you pay small monthly premiums to guard against unforeseen accidents or illness, as opposed to the abomination we have now where you pay hundreds or even thousands a month to cover everything from band-aids to gender reassignment.
 
QuantumPion said:
HSA's are great if you are young and don't have kids. It is "real insurance" where you pay small monthly premiums to guard against unforeseen accidents or illness, as opposed to the abomination we have now where you pay hundreds or even thousands a month to cover everything from band-aids to gender reassignment.
Click to expand...

Oh, and I suppose you think the free market can provide bandaids for a reasonable price? Without government intervention, bandaids would cost $50 each!
 
Engineer said:
Sorry, but these have. Again, they were very low to begin with but it was a crappy policy. The rates have more than tripled and the deductible has nearly tripled.
Click to expand...

You apparently had a change of policy. Your same policy didn't triple in price.
 
alkemyst said:
You apparently had a change of policy. Your same policy didn't triple in price.
Click to expand...

If my wife were to choose the same policy (as far as this year's deductibles, prescriptions, etc), it would be 6.5 times the cost.

The policy that she currently has is the bottom of the line policy. That policy has now moved up to 2nd from the bottom and has a 6.5X premium cost.

Again, the rates were low to begin with so relatively speaking, it's not huge. Regardless, the multipliers are what they are.
 
Engineer said:
If my wife were to choose the same policy (as far as this year's deductibles, prescriptions, etc), it would be 6.5 times the cost.
Click to expand...

Doesn't make sense, but you are not providing details either.

So you had a crappy policy that is now 6.5 times the old rates so you went with a better policy at 3 times the price?

Is this group insurance or private and how did your situation change since your last renewal?
 
alkemyst said:
Doesn't make sense, but you are not providing details either.

So you had a crappy policy that is now 6.5 times the old rates so you went with a better policy at 3 times the price?

Is this group insurance or private and how did your situation change since your last renewal?
Click to expand...

Haven't went with anything yet. This is Kentucky State insurance. She works for the school system.

What details do you want?
 
alkemyst said:
https://personnel.ky.gov/Pages/HealthInsurance.aspx

Any of those plans look decent...doesn't list the costs though.

What are the premiums for an Employee or Employee +1?
Click to expand...

A "Parents Plus" premium for the bottom plan is $73 per month (up from $20 per month). The deductible is $1,750 per person / $3,400 per family (up from $600/$1200). After deductibles (no co-pays mind you), the plan pays 70% (down from 75%). Prescriptions are now 30% - after deductible. Previously, they were 25% with a min-max rate depending on generic, formulary, etc.

Don't remember the others right off hand.
 
Last edited:
Engineer said:
A "Parents Plus" premium for the bottom plan is $73 per month (up from $20 per month). The deductible is $1,750 per person / $3,400 per family (up from $600/$1200). After deductibles (no co-pays mind you), the plan pays 70% (down from 75%). Prescriptions are now 30% - after deductible. Previously, they were 25% with a min-max rate depending on generic, formulary, etc.

Don't remember the others right off hand.
Click to expand...
Those costs have to be subsidized by the state.

There is no such thing as healthcare insurance that costs $240 annually.
 
dank69 said:
Aren't those costs after being subsidized by the state?
Click to expand...

Yes. The state's portion went up significantly but not nearly as much as was passed on to the employee (and not counting the rise in deductibles, removal of co-pays (replaced by deductible first), rise in prescriptions (now after ALL deductibles)).

Don't know if ACA had anything to do with this or not but it's a larger rise in costs (out of pocket) and biggest drop in benefits in the last 6 years (as a matter of fact, it's more than the last 6 years combined).
 
Last edited:
dank69 said:
Those costs have to be subsidized by the state.

There is no such thing as healthcare insurance that costs $240 annually.
Click to expand...

The employer is always paying a high portion of the insurance.

This policy was very cheap though at $20 a month, and still cheap at $73...

This is a plan that was designed for those banking on they don't get sick.

I am curious what the gold tier Kentucky plan runs.
 
alkemyst said:
The employer is always paying a high portion of the insurance.

This policy was very cheap though at $20 a month, and still cheap at $73...

This is a plan that was designed for those banking on they don't get sick.

I am curious what the gold tier Kentucky plan runs.
Click to expand...

Never said it wasn't and never said that it was designed for anything else but. I specifically said it was very low to begin with.

I said that the premiums had tripled ( I guess I should have said that my wife's portion had tripled for Dank - sorry) and that the deductibles had nearly tripled (plus other stuff).
 
dank69 said:
Yes. Your premium didn't triple. Your contribution did. HUGE difference. OP is claiming that his premium tripled for the same coverage.
Click to expand...

Yes, I understand you know (see my post above yours). Sorry for the confusion, and you are indeed correct.

Not sure what % my wife's employer's part went up. Will look.

(not sure how to figure deductibles and lower coverage in on that though).
 
raildogg said:
So I just got my letter about my 2014 plans and was surprised to find out that a similar plan to what I have now costs more than 3x in 2014. Wow. I knew my premium would go up quite a bit but not this much. I guess open enrollment begins October 1st so we can shop but this is too much. Not sure if I qualify for a federal subsidy or whatever other thing they are offering.

So this government mandated healthcare doesn't turn out to be cheaper - not one bit. At least this is what I have experienced. I'm sure many others will have different experiences.

There are some additional benefits that the ACA requires but I don't believe they offset the monthly premiums.
Click to expand...


The law says if your employer offers insurance and you elect to option out and get insurance from the ACA pools you WILL NOT Qualify for a incentive or subsidy.
 
pcgeek11 said:
The law says if your employer offers insurance and you elect to option out and get insurance from the ACA pools you WILL NOT Qualify for a incentive or subsidy.
Click to expand...

There are exemptions to that. Don't know specifically what they are but have read that there are.
 
Engineer said:
Yes, I understand you know (see my post above yours). Sorry for the confusion, and you are indeed correct.

Not sure what % my wife's employer's part went up. Will look.

(not sure how to figure deductibles and lower coverage in on that though).
Click to expand...

I think it was a right-sizing...nothing to do with ObamaCare. It's insane all these government backed policies out there that cost < $100 per month and often extended into retirement.

What's really said is our Representatives and Senate can do a short term and look forward to life time uber coverage.
 
alkemyst said:
I think it was a right-sizing...nothing to do with ObamaCare. It's insane all these government backed policies out there that cost < $100 per month and often extended into retirement.
Click to expand...

My wife gets no retirement insurance. As for right sizing, may or may not be. I think it's just the state's way to get more back.

My insurance is FREE to me, so should my employer 'right size' it? It's far better than my wife's (I have co-pays, etc). It went up 60% for my employer too....

Her insurance was always considered a high deductible plan and now is an even higher deductible plan with higher out of pocket amounts, and again, the state's contribution went up quite a bit too (not nearly 3 times though).
 
Engineer said:
My wife gets no retirement insurance. As for right sizing, may or may not be. I think it's just the state's way to get more back.

My insurance is FREE to me, so should my employer 'right size' it? It's far better than my wife's (I have co-pays, etc). It went up 60% for my employer too....

Her insurance was always considered a high deductible plan and now is an even higher deductible plan with higher out of pocket amounts, and again, the state's contribution went up quite a bit too (not nearly 3 times though).
Click to expand...

They seem to have decent policies on that state page.

You are lucky to still have free insurance. Our's used to be free. Then it went to $25/pay period, then $50. Now, it's been hovering around that rate but they have reduced the plan. We have a golden plan now for those that have chronic medical visits. It works out to about $5k-6k a year (Emp +1) vs the $1400ish I pay now, there is no $4000 out of pocket expense, although you do have to come up with $1500 on the better plan. Pretty much everything is paid at 90% and the first like $10k is just co-pays ($10 / $20 specialist).

If you know you are going to need a surgery, it's the better plan to be on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top