What is a Cadillac plan?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I've read numerous references in the media lately to "Cadillac" health insurance plans. Right here on VJ, a respected veteran member made reference to "platinum plated diamond encrusted" health insurance.

I know what insurance I have. But how do I know if it's Cadillac-quality?

In other words, what are the metrics out there that indicate a plan might be a Cadillac plan?

Is it size of premium?

Is it amount of doctors visit copay?

Lifetime out of pocket maximum?

Edited July 29, 2009 by w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r

[NickD 203]

I've read numerous references in the media lately of "Cadillac" health insurance plans. Right here on VJ, a respected veteran member made reference to "platinum plated diamond encrusted" health insurance.

I know what insurance I have. But how do I know if it's Cadillac-quality?

In other words, what are the metrics out there that indicate a plan might be a Cadillac plan?

Is it size of premium?

Is it amount of doctors visit copay?

Lifetime out of pocket maximum?

We have a plan like that, see any doctor anywhere you want, zero deductible on everything, including prescriptions, but doesn't cover OTC medications, hell, have your doctor write you out a prescription. It only costs a couple of bucks more per month. Like another 500 bucks.

Dealing with an insurance company is no different than going to a casino, you are betting you will win, they are betting you will lose, but they have rules to give them the edge. So do insurance companies, but you can pay a lot more to have some of those rules relaxed, a tad.

[mawilson 2,133]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

German health is socialist. Are you some kinda commie?

We have a plan like that, see any doctor anywhere you want, zero deductible on everything, including prescriptions.

Isn't that true for just about any PPO plan?

[scandal 951]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

German health is socialist. Are you some kinda commie?

We have a plan like that, see any doctor anywhere you want, zero deductible on everything, including prescriptions.

Isn't that true for just about any PPO plan?

Most PPOs do have a deductible, usually both a per-individual and a per-family that must be met annually before the insurance kicks in.

[almaty 19]

true dat...and yes we are socialists, comrade arijit

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

German health is socialist. Are you some kinda commie?

We have a plan like that, see any doctor anywhere you want, zero deductible on everything, including prescriptions.

Isn't that true for just about any PPO plan?

Most PPOs do have a deductible, usually both a per-individual and a per-family that must be met annually before the insurance kicks in.

I see... I've had PPO's for a few years now, the only out of pocket I've had to pay so far has been copays for doctors visits and drugs. Does this only kick in when you have a larger expense like surgery?

[mawilson 2,133]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

German health is socialist. Are you some kinda commie?

Is it really? I thought it was a mix of public and private?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

German health is socialist. Are you some kinda commie?

Is it really? I thought it was a mix of public and private?

I have no idea. This whole debate has been very confusing

[scandal 951]

Most PPOs do have a deductible, usually both a per-individual and a per-family that must be met annually before the insurance kicks in.

I see... I've had PPO's for a few years now, the only out of pocket I've had to pay so far has been copays for doctors visits and drugs. Does this only kick in when you have a larger expense like surgery?

Then you must have a cadillac plan

When your plan comes up for renewal, your employer (I presume you are insured through your employer?) will typically give you a menu of deductible choices, on a sliding scale. Usually at levels like $250, $500, $1000. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly payroll contribution. A zero deductible will cost you the most each month out of your paycheck. So if you've got the zero deductible you're still paying for it. (Unless you have an unusually generous employer who's picking up the tab entirely out of their contribution).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

When your plan comes up for renewal, your employer (I presume you are insured through your employer?) will typically give you a menu of deductible choices, on a sliding scale. Usually at levels like $250, $500, $1000. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly payroll contribution. A zero deductible will cost you the most each month out of your paycheck. So if you've got the zero deductible you're still paying for it. (Unless you have an unusually generous employer who's picking up the tab entirely out of their contribution).

We get 2 choices, a PPO and an HMO. The HMO costs twice as much so no one I know picks it. The PPO is what I have and my employer self-insures so all claims are paid by my employer, the insurance company's role is administrative only.

[scandal 951]

When your plan comes up for renewal, your employer (I presume you are insured through your employer?) will typically give you a menu of deductible choices, on a sliding scale. Usually at levels like $250, $500, $1000. The higher the deductible, the lower your monthly payroll contribution. A zero deductible will cost you the most each month out of your paycheck. So if you've got the zero deductible you're still paying for it. (Unless you have an unusually generous employer who's picking up the tab entirely out of their contribution).

We get 2 choices, a PPO and an HMO. The HMO costs twice as much so no one I know picks it. The PPO is what I have and my employer self-insures so all claims are paid by my employer, the insurance company's role is administrative only.

Don't quit your job, man!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Is it just possible that regular doctors/specialist visits and the odd MRI don't count towards my deductible, that's why I don't know?

[NickD 203]

I drove a Cadillac DTS recently - wasn't that great. I think I prefer a BMW plan.

German health is socialist. Are you some kinda commie?

We have a plan like that, see any doctor anywhere you want, zero deductible on everything, including prescriptions.

Isn't that true for just about any PPO plan?

Most PPOs do have a deductible, usually both a per-individual and a per-family that must be met annually before the insurance kicks in.

Our offered plan has no deductible, but the premium costs exceeds the maximum deductible, so in our case, pretty healthy, we elected not to take it. If we have a bad year, only have to pay $3,500.00 maximum, but with the none-deductible plan, have to pay an extra $4,400.00 per year whether we use it or not.

Also, makes you think twice before going in, when first married with our daughter in school, picked a bug from that germ infected place. Said it was just a bug, but wife insisted I go in, 460 bucks after a two minute visit, said it was just a bug. She doesn't insist I go in anymore.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

The Obama plan must be like tax for clunkers? I also wonder if the goverment will have a co-pay for the lip balm your gonna need to make it easier to suckle the govament teet?