Health insurance with your job

[MeddyDuo]

Ok I got hired and their sheet that they gave me says:
Health insurance benefits are available the first of the next month after an employee has finished 90 days of employment.

So I don't need to ask about the forms until then right? I don't want to fill them out late...

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: k1pp3r

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
Can you turn down the health insurance if you don't want it?

Sure, but why would you?

Because maybe your SO has better insurance and will cover you on it. If you turn down the insurance, you get more of your paycheck in your pocket.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
Ok I got hired and their sheet that they gave me says:
Health insurance benefits are available the first of the next month after an employee has finished 90 days of employment.

So I don't need to ask about the forms until then right? I don't want to fill them out late...

Why not fill them out now, so you don't have to remember to do it before the deadline?

 

[MeddyDuo]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
Ok I got hired and their sheet that they gave me says:
Health insurance benefits are available the first of the next month after an employee has finished 90 days of employment.

So I don't need to ask about the forms until then right? I don't want to fill them out late...

Why not fill them out now, so you don't have to remember to do it before the deadline?

I didn't get any paperwork yet, just a sheet with info about the benefits. So I am just assuming that they will give me the paperwork when I need to fill it out, right? I shouldn't have to ask for it?

 

[kranky]

It would be a good idea to ask the HR department that question.

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo

I didn't get any paperwork yet, just a sheet with info about the benefits. So I am just assuming that they will give me the paperwork when I need to fill it out, right? I shouldn't have to ask for it?

Well, it depends how crappy the HR is at your company. You should ask HR what you need to do, sometimes a benefits company will send you stuff in the mail to fill out, sometimes they will send you to a web form you fill out. Every company is different, there are no strict guidelines for the process to sign up, just strict guidelines on what they can ask of you when you do sign up. The last 2 companies I have worked for have had enrollment done through a website.

 

[MeddyDuo]

One more thing - It says that health insurance will cost $115 a month. I thought that it was supposed to be free and that's why it's called a benefit? Would I be better off just getting my own, or what is the average rate?

 

[kami333]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
One more thing - It says that health insurance will cost $115 a month. I thought that it was supposed to be free and that's why it's called a benefit? Would I be better off just getting my own, or what is the average rate?

It's a benefit cause you can get it through their group rate and they probably cover some of it.

Depends on your age and coverage. I pay $93 a month for a $30 copay, $25 prescriptions, $2000 deductible for individual health insurance. This is for a 25yr old male, it goes up lot once you get older and have family. My gf gets her's through work and pay similar for lower deductible, lower copay and dental (having dental is huge plus).

I'm thinking of switching to a HSA type insurance since I don't have prescriptions and rarely go to the doctor.

 

[rainglue]

I didn't have to get a checkup to sign up for health insurance thru my company. Also, when the time came that i was eligible for health insurance, they sent me via snail mail a package detailing the different plans that were offered. Health insurance is currently costing me about $110/mo, so I know how you feel. It does cost a lot of money and I haven't even used it since I got it (a year ago). I'm young and healthy also, but I didn't even hesitate when the plan was offered to me. Just so you know, if you don't have an employee-sponsored health insurance plan, it may cost about $400-600/mo (these include prescription drug coverage).

 

[quikah]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
One more thing - It says that health insurance will cost $115 a month. I thought that it was supposed to be free and that's why it's called a benefit? Would I be better off just getting my own, or what is the average rate?

Seems kind of high, co-pay? Deductable? Go get some quotes for self insurance. I just did one at kaiser for 19-24 yr olds, get $67-$194 depending on what you choose.

 

[MeddyDuo]

Originally posted by: quikah

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo
One more thing - It says that health insurance will cost $115 a month. I thought that it was supposed to be free and that's why it's called a benefit? Would I be better off just getting my own, or what is the average rate?

Seems kind of high, co-pay? Deductable? Go get some quotes for self insurance. I just did one at kaiser for 19-24 yr olds, get $67-$194 depending on what you choose.

I don't know what co-pay or deductable is. I'm assuming deductible because at the bottom it says "Deductible $500/$1000 After the deductible is met, it is 90/10"
So what does that mean anyways?
And it looks like kaiser doesn't give coverage in Wisconsin, so where else should I look for a quote?

 

[erub]

Co-pay is the amount that you pay each time you go to the doctor, out of pocket. Usually ranges from $10-50.

Deductible is how much you pay before they start to cover anything. Not sure why there are two deductible amounts. But assuming the deductible is $500, then after the $500 they pay 90%, you pay 10% of all charges (maybe up to $1000, after which they cover all?)

 

[MeddyDuo]

So I have to pay the first $500 and then 10%, or they pay the first $500 and I just pay the 10%?

 

[Uppsala9496]

Do yourself a favor and go into your HR department and have them explain it to you. They have a fiduciary duty to do so.

 

[EagleKeeper]

You pay the first $500, then 10% for the rest of the bills.

Depending on plans, preventive physicals may count against the $500 limit.

As self employed I have options to select plans between $400 and $600 for myself and wife.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: MeddyDuo

Originally posted by: huberm

even if they save your life??

Ok I'll rephrase: I hate going to the doctor.
I can't even remember the last time I was sick, and I eat only healthy stuff, so I don't really need to go there.
And since I'm young I don't see why I would need health insurance either.

That is one of the most inane, self-centered things I have ever heard. Typical of a teenager, though.

Since young people tend to think they are "bulletproof", they tend to engage in risky behaviors.

Health insurance will pay for setting that broken leg or arm from snowboarding, skiing, mountain biking, etc.

 

[AlienCraft]

Originally posted by: hopeless



Even being young and eating healthy doesn't guarantee that something couldn't happen & medical bills pile up in a hurry.

My wife just had to have surgery in Aug and we now have around $20,000 in medical bills. One test alone was $3500. We also had to charge around $2500 between the surgeon, the anesthesiologist and the hospital just to get the ball rolling so she could have it done.

I think Chris Rock said it best, "In case crap happens." It's better to pay a little per pay check and never use it, then to not have it and need it. [big]Especially when they hear no insurance they want money up front.

[/big]

Remember, medical service is not guaranteed, it's not a right, but a service to be purchased, at least in the US.