My new crap health insurance

[justashooter 430]

My company is switching to a new healthcare plan effective Jan. 1, and I just received the materials outlining the changes. I'm not pleased.

My current plan is a BCBS PPO. I pretty much pay a $20 at doctor visits, and that's it. I pay about $150/month for my spouse and me.

The first negative is that we're switching from BCBS to Aetna, which I hear has horrible claims service. My new monthly premium will be $400/month for 2 people, with a $2,000 annual deductible and a 20% coinsurance wth a $3,500 cap. It appears that the only service not subject to the coinsurance is an annual physical, regardless of whether you are in-network.

#######!? I am really pissed and considering starting to look for a new job.

i have bcbs HMO $10. it costs about $150 a month IIRC.

[justashooter 430]

The big question is how to administer quality care at an affordable price without bankrupting the private system or bankrupting the country with a public system.

Why is protecting a private industry that tries to gouge us at every turn such a priority?

Ever price COBRA continuation of coverage if you get unemployed? You can't do that for very long.

You're supposed to save your money while you work, homeboy. COBRA won't seem so expensive then

My COBRA was more than $850 for one person. I couldn't COBRA-out - it was too much money. I ended up getting catastrophic coverage for $50 a month. COBRA seems like a great idea until you realize how much it costs.

the fed.gov is picking up 2/3 of the cobra cost for the first 9 months for some eligeable individuals since jan 09. google it.

[chri'stina 190]

Sujeet changed jobs last October and at the new job there were several options of what level of insurance you wanted to buy for family members. At the last job, there was only one option and for me and Kavi was over $600/month. It was good coverage but the monthly cost was high. At the newer job it's in the $200's a month I think for me and Kavi and we thought that was a huge relief. (Suj's is covered through his job). Now our deductibles are higher but our office visit co-pays are lower. None of this stuff is fun though.

geez lots of extra words I accidentally left in hehe

Edited September 28, 2009 by chri'stina

[HYENA 4]

Get coverage for really bad stuff and buy the rest or smuggle it overseas (antibiotics you'll need like azithromycin, birth control at your free health clinic, etc).

It's infuriating they control the drug availability and sources while forcing you into their insurance programs. Evidence drug companies AND health insurance companies have large powerful paid lobbying firms controlling our govt

[Staashi 371]

The big question is how to administer quality care at an affordable price without bankrupting the private system or bankrupting the country with a public system.

Why is protecting a private industry that tries to gouge us at every turn such a priority?

Ever price COBRA continuation of coverage if you get unemployed? You can't do that for very long.

You're supposed to save your money while you work, homeboy. COBRA won't seem so expensive then

My COBRA was more than $850 for one person. I couldn't COBRA-out - it was too much money. I ended up getting catastrophic coverage for $50 a month. COBRA seems like a great idea until you realize how much it costs.

the fed.gov is picking up 2/3 of the cobra cost for the first 9 months for some eligeable individuals since jan 09. google it.

It wasn't that way when I needed COBRA in 2001, 2006, and then again in 2007.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The big question is how to administer quality care at an affordable price without bankrupting the private system or bankrupting the country with a public system.

Why is protecting a private industry that tries to gouge us at every turn such a priority?

Ever price COBRA continuation of coverage if you get unemployed? You can't do that for very long.

You're supposed to save your money while you work, homeboy. COBRA won't seem so expensive then

My COBRA was more than $850 for one person. I couldn't COBRA-out - it was too much money. I ended up getting catastrophic coverage for $50 a month. COBRA seems like a great idea until you realize how much it costs.

the fed.gov is picking up 2/3 of the cobra cost for the first 9 months for some eligeable individuals since jan 09. google it.

It wasn't that way when I needed COBRA in 2001, 2006, and then again in 2007.

Of course not, Obama only became President this year

[AlHayatZween 2]

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around people here have to pay to have a baby.

That just boggles me.

How much does it cost?

To the original poster:

would it be cost effective for you to stop the "insurance" and just put your money aside?

How much do people use hospitals?

I cannot remember the last time I went...maybe that's why I'm asking.

The only thing I had to do medically was get shot to come and live here.

I'm not sure I'm over that.

i will let you know in a few months, Spirit.

i recently changed jobs and moved out of state during mid-pregnancy. The new insurance said they would pick up the maternity, but so far it has been a fight and i'm still left in the dark as to if they are going to pay a percentage of my remaining pre-natal care & delivery.

withthe insurance, i already know that i will have to pay $600 just for the doctor's care and remaining standard pre-natal tests. i don't yet know how much the hospital will charge me with delivery fees and overnight stays with insurance.

if the new insurance company decides just to not pay any of it (my biggest fear), i have no idea what we are going to do.

it sucks because i'm in a new state and i don't know anyone, and it seems midwives are few and far between. if i were back home, and this was the case, i would just contact a midwife and have the baby at home and to he!! with the insurance companies.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Here is a bit of a personal story: I was 27 and had never been to the docotr or had many medical probelms... At 27 I started feeling "achy" for a bit and after 6 months I got such terrible joint inflammation that I could not walk.... I had not paid for coverage because I had "saved" my money and never thought that I would get sick. After $20,000 of tests and doctors, I was diagnosed with a very severe form of degenerative Rhumatoid Arthritis. I had to have a bi-lateral hip replacements and my hospital stay was $73,000. I had nothing and ended up losing my home to pay my medical bills... At this point I could not get medical insurance because I had a pre-existing condition so had to apply for disability so I can get medicare (after 2 years)....

The costs and our system is VERY shocking to many of our SO's who have never had to deal with the reality of non-socialized medicine....

But my advice To all, the medical system can offer the best of medical service BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE!!! I am not going to argure here the benefit of gov't plan, status quo etc... But PLEASE KEEP SOMETHING! Because not having anything can cost you EVERTHING!!!! It is crazy the cost each month, but CRAZY does not even begin to explain the costs should, god forbid, something happing without it. There is NO WAY to save enough to cover you should something severe happen. ONE day in the hospital is $2,000 WITHOUT any surgery or machines!!!!!

I am back on my feet now, but it was a costly learning experience that I emplore others not to encounter!!!!

That is just tragic! Sorry to hear you were so sick.

Yes, my husband is appalled by the healthcare / health insurance situation here... and he's coming from Morocco, a "developing" nation.

[HYENA 4]

Here is a bit of a personal story: I was 27 and had never been to the docotr or had many medical probelms... At 27 I started feeling "achy" for a bit and after 6 months I got such terrible joint inflammation that I could not walk.... I had not paid for coverage because I had "saved" my money and never thought that I would get sick. After $20,000 of tests and doctors, I was diagnosed with a very severe form of degenerative Rhumatoid Arthritis. I had to have a bi-lateral hip replacements and my hospital stay was $73,000. I had nothing and ended up losing my home to pay my medical bills... At this point I could not get medical insurance because I had a pre-existing condition so had to apply for disability so I can get medicare (after 2 years)....

The costs and our system is VERY shocking to many of our SO's who have never had to deal with the reality of non-socialized medicine....

But my advice To all, the medical system can offer the best of medical service BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE INSURANCE!!! I am not going to argure here the benefit of gov't plan, status quo etc... But PLEASE KEEP SOMETHING! Because not having anything can cost you EVERTHING!!!! It is crazy the cost each month, but CRAZY does not even begin to explain the costs should, god forbid, something happing without it. There is NO WAY to save enough to cover you should something severe happen. ONE day in the hospital is $2,000 WITHOUT any surgery or machines!!!!!

I am back on my feet now, but it was a costly learning experience that I emplore others not to encounter!!!!

That is just tragic! Sorry to hear you were so sick.

Yes, my husband is appalled by the healthcare / health insurance situation here... and he's coming from Morocco, a "developing" nation.

Perfect example of corruption at its best. Look at the politicians and insurance companies...they don't have to worry. Follow the money and you know who's benefitting. Payoffs, corruption makes me sick. I'm for commie medicine...just stop this discrimination! It keeps the poor poor and the wealthy wealthy. It's a bunch of BS. no other honkey country has its wealth so varied. Top 1% need to be sent to a cauldron of hot lava then we'd have a middle class. OTher countries mock our stupidity.

Edited September 28, 2009 by HYENA

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

OTher countries mock our stupidity.

Too true.

[HYENA 4]

OTher countries mock our stupidity.

Too true.

we need a king who's peeps got it made. Once they're rich then it's all done. Our problem is electing every 4 years then having to make the wealth of all who helped, pay off bribes and do it all in a short period of time. Only way to bar corrpution is to stick someone in

hey, kill everyone and start all over? why not? LOL!

we're so screwed it's not funny

[Sprailenes 47]

My company is switching to a new healthcare plan effective Jan. 1, and I just received the materials outlining the changes. I'm not pleased.

My current plan is a BCBS PPO. I pretty much pay a $20 at doctor visits, and that's it. I pay about $150/month for my spouse and me.

The first negative is that we're switching from BCBS to Aetna, which I hear has horrible claims service. My new monthly premium will be $400/month for 2 people, with a $2,000 annual deductible and a 20% coinsurance wth a $3,500 cap. It appears that the only service not subject to the coinsurance is an annual physical, regardless of whether you are in-network.

#######!? I am really pissed and considering starting to look for a new job.

Sounds like my new health care plan!

Sucks doesn't it? God I just love being fvcked over!

And aetna sucks balls.

[HYENA 4]

My company is switching to a new healthcare plan effective Jan. 1, and I just received the materials outlining the changes. I'm not pleased.

My current plan is a BCBS PPO. I pretty much pay a $20 at doctor visits, and that's it. I pay about $150/month for my spouse and me.

The first negative is that we're switching from BCBS to Aetna, which I hear has horrible claims service. My new monthly premium will be $400/month for 2 people, with a $2,000 annual deductible and a 20% coinsurance wth a $3,500 cap. It appears that the only service not subject to the coinsurance is an annual physical, regardless of whether you are in-network.

#######!? I am really pissed and considering starting to look for a new job.

Sounds like my new health care plan!

Sucks doesn't it? God I just love being fvcked over!

And aetna sucks balls.

get a governmnent job. I am ...working on it. Soon as I'm in, I'm never leaving!

I hate everyone right now!

[Sandrila 1]

ew sometimes change isn't so good

should I count myself lucky that I don't pay out of my check for my BCBS, Personal Choice?

[lindal24 1]

Our open enrollment is around the corner...I'm kinda worried after reading this post, but I don't think it'll be as bad (or at least hope not!)

ew sometimes change isn't so good

should I count myself lucky that I don't pay out of my check for my BCBS, Personal Choice?

LOL...what change?

...I haven't seen change since our mighty one entered administration! At least with Bush we SAW his failures...lol