Health insurance WOES - $611.80 per month

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Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: NascarFool
Kaiser was soaking me for $770 a month. Their service sucked too. I now have BC/BS and we pay $0 for it because it is part of my wifes benefits at work (Director of Nursing at a nursing home).

What an awesome benefit. I wish I was in a position like you.
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: Hacana
I just recently started up Individual Health Insurance for myself through Regence Blueshield and it's costs me $106 monthly.

What plan do you have?
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: Looney
Originally posted by: Mojoed
Originally posted by: mwtgg
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
$0

Canada pwnz j00

- M4H

It would not be wise to start this. ;)

Please correct me if I'm wrong here! From what I've heard, Canadian health care pays the price in a different way. Supposedly it's real low quality. At this point I don't even care what the quality is, my wallet feels pw3nd. :(

It's not 'real low quality'. It's not even low quality. We have the exact same technology as in any US hospital... and our MDs are trained similarly... we even have a braindrain problem where physicians are getting their educaiton in Canada, then bailing to the US for the big bucks.

A hospital in Canada looks similar to a hospital in the US. I doubt you're going to be able to tell the difference. True, people with money in the US, would be able to buy access to treatment quicker than they would be able to get it in Canada, where your income doesn't matter... but treatments are based on the urgency of it and your place in line.

There are some delays and shortages of equipment in some hospitals... but that's different than NO equipment. And the delay isn't as long as some people like to make it out to be. Supposedly my local hospital has a shortage of MRI scanners, but my dad was booked for one the next day.

My mom's doctor found some tumours in one of her lungs a few weeks ago. Sent her to a specialist 1 week later, did a biopsy, and then back for more test, and another biopsy a few days after that. They decided to remove part of her lung. Her surgery was booked 2 weeks after that (wasn't even life threatening), and she now has her own room for a week with a million dollar view of downtown, the mountains, the harbour... Cost: $0 (well, it costs me $2.50 an hr for parking to visit her... :) ). I'll take some pics if I can tomorrow if I remember to bring my camera when I see her.
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I use Neighborhood Health Plan (the same insurance given to those on welfare for free) it costs me close to $500 a month for 2 people. I'm also in MA.

Thanks Geekbabe :) I talked to my dad about this and we're gonna get a quote and see what the story is.
 

Hacana

Member
Dec 5, 2001
89
2
71
Originally posted by: Mojoed
Originally posted by: Hacana
I just recently started up Individual Health Insurance for myself through Regence Blueshield and it's costs me $106 monthly.

What plan do you have?

The plan I use I have is the Breakthrough 80 plan with the $1500 deductible.


You can see it here.
 
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
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81
How often are you going to the doctor? Seriously, If you don't go to the Dr. a lot just put that $611 in an intrest baring savings account or invest it.
 

PlasticJesus

Senior member
Mar 16, 2001
412
0
0
Without looking at a pay statement, I'm gonna' have to say $460 per year for family coverage (three of us; it would be the same no matter how many of us there are).

$460 per year but I don't get that $5 doctor visit you're talking about. For us it's $12. Can't complain really because I only see the doctor about zero times each year.

Generic drugs = $3 per 30 days
Brand name drugs = $9 per 30 days

This for TRICARE Prime (retired military).

The cost of health care in this country borders on criminal. That and the cost of post-high school education. It just about pays to sit at the house watching talk shows all day and then doing the Medicaid thing when you're ailing.
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
How often are you going to the doctor? Seriously, If you don't go to the Dr. a lot just put that $611 in an intrest baring savings account or invest it.

Unfortunately quite a bit, lately. I was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Some lower back issues as well.
 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: PlasticJesus
Without looking at a pay statement, I'm gonna' have to say $460 per year for family coverage (three of us; it would be the same no matter how many of us there are).

$460 per year but I don't get that $5 doctor visit you're talking about. For us it's $12. Can't complain really because I only see the doctor about zero times each year.

Generic drugs = $3 per 30 days
Brand name drugs = $9 per 30 days

This for TRICARE Prime (retired military).

The cost of health care in this country borders on criminal. That and the cost of post-high school education. It just about pays to sit at the house watching talk shows all day and then doing the Medicaid thing when you're ailing.

I never thought I'd say it, but QFT. I know many people personally who make less money than me, have less education than me, yet their NET income is greater than mine due to free health care. :disgust:
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
raise your copays unless they *really save* you money (some do well with the lowest copays due to their problems.

I pay $208 a month for me and my wife (34 and 44)...$20 co pays, 10/15 RX I think.

no limit on hospitalization, I'd pay about $100 for being admitted.

 

Mojoed

Diamond Member
Jul 20, 2004
4,473
1
81
Originally posted by: alkemyst
raise your copays unless they *really save* you money (some do well with the lowest copays due to their problems.

I pay $208 a month for me and my wife (34 and 44)...$20 co pays, 10/15 RX I think.

no limit on hospitalization, I'd pay about $100 for being admitted.

Sounds awesome. :)

What plan do you have?
 

Dunbar

Platinum Member
Feb 19, 2001
2,041
0
0
I'm forced into an HMO because I work in a different state than our corporate office. That doubles my premium from $50 to $100 a month for Bluecross (single, 28y/o.) They tell us the company pays 80% of the premium. Comparatively, yours doesn't look bad, but it's still a ridiculous amount of money.

If you're young and healthy I'd look seriously at some cheaper options. Like maybe the high deductible (10-15k) plans I've heard about.
 

Queasy

Moderator<br>Console Gaming
Aug 24, 2001
31,796
2
0
We only have to pay $150 through my wife's job for my family. We'd have to pay more than twice that through my company.

Have you looked into Medical Savings Accounts as an alternative?
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I'd say that is a little high. But not by much.

The policy you have judging from your brief description sounds like a high-end plan. You'll pay for it in premiums.

For example, go price out the same kind of coverage for an individual (no company...but in your case it would be pretty close).
 

BigToque

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,700
0
76
We get free health care in Canada (well, everyone pays taxes for it, but there is nothing additional out of pocket). I think this is awesome, but unfortunately there can be wait long wait times to receive treatment.

I really wish we would let private medical businesses set up shop. As long as they use their own facilities and machines for everything the only thing that an happen is that people who choose to pay out of pocket can get treatment right away and avoid waiting. I'm sure this would help aleviate the wait times for public hospitals as well.

Many parts of Europe have this kind of system do they not?
 

beach2nd

Senior member
Aug 15, 2002
894
0
76
I pay $76/month for my blue cross blue shield individual plan and work pays the rest. Doctor's visits for me are $15.
 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,020
156
106
I pay about $200/month for my wife and I. The company subsidizes about $400 a month per employee, so it would total about $600/month.

I pay $20 per doctor visit and $50 per prescription if it's for 90 days, or $25 if it's for 30 days. I have a $1000 yearly deductible and after that I pay 20% co-pay, up until my total out of pocket cost (co-pay plus deductible) comes to $2000, and after that everything is covered 100%.

The insurance premium at my company is on a sliding scale. People making under $30K pay a low rate, $30-$50K a bit higher, $50-80K higher still, and over $80K pay the highest. But the coverage is the same for everyone.

It's a Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan.
 

ebaycj

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2002
5,418
0
0
25 employees is more than enough to get a group plan from a smaller insurance carrier. (we have destiny health, it's a pretty decent plan, i think it's like $120 a month or so for an individual).

your dad should really look into this, it'd be like giving everyone a $500 / month raise, even though it would only cost him $120 (or less if he's really a cheap bastard and won't pay it all) a month.

 

Legend

Platinum Member
Apr 21, 2005
2,254
1
0
$600/mo?

How is that insurance? Is that not-get-rich insurance?

If you invested that money, in 10 years or so you'd have enough money to pay for any medical costs and then a house and a car and some.
 

Nutdotnet

Diamond Member
Dec 5, 2000
7,721
3
81
I pay nothing, but the employer pays $380 per month; and this is with a premium health insurance plan. Doctor visits are free, dental is free, etc....

You're getting hosed man.
 

Blayze

Diamond Member
Feb 22, 2000
6,152
0
0
Signed up for Blue Cross (Blue Advantage) a few months ago and they said my rate for their top plan was $750 a month, or $460 for the lowest.

I called and they were supposed to send me out a letter why my rate was so high, but I never got it. I did question the rate to her and asked her what it would be if I had some serious health problems (something other than allergies). I was told that the rates can go up to around $10,000 a month. I can't afford that a month so I have no health insurance right now.
 

NTB

Diamond Member
Mar 26, 2001
5,179
0
0
The job I interviewed for last week picks up 100% of the premiums for the employee :) I'd have to pay for a spouse or dependants (I have neither), but I have no idea how much that would be.
 

maziwanka

Lifer
Jul 4, 2000
10,415
1
0
wtf. i have no idea how those rates are that high unless you cover yourself without going through work or something like that.
 

Ozoned

Diamond Member
Mar 22, 2004
5,578
0
0


Here is my advice.

If you are healthy, can stand a short term risk, and are young (less than 50), purchase a private plan with a $2500 to $5000 deductible. Take the difference between what you are paying now and the new plan and put it into a HSA. Increase the contribution to the HSA annually by 15%. When and if the HSA gets to an amount that exceeds your annual deductible by 5 times, increase your deductible to a higher amount to reduce the premium even more and keep socking it away into a HSA. With a little luck (assuming a $350 per month average contribution to a HSA), in 10 years or so, your HSA should be self sustaining and pay the premium on your high deductible health insurance plan. If you are not in the financial position to pay for your deductible portion of your health care with other funds, it may take a little longer...