Health Insurance Question

[UK_K1 0]

My fiancee spoke to her HR department today regarding adding me to her employer's health plan.

The monthly cost for her insurance is $134. They want an additional $716 to add a spouse!

Does that seem like it could be right or is that as excessive as it seems to me (and her)?

Thank in advance!

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

It is often more than for the employee, but unless you are much older or have pre-existing conditions, that quote seems excessive.

[Xanax 349]

For ours it was $360 for a single, $720 for a couple per month. For a family it goes to nearly $1200 a month!

Every employer is different. Most of our friend have very cheap insurance (less than half ours) or free but I know some companies are even worse.

I would get your insurer to send out a copy of their cover and prices to confirm the numbers you were quoted.

[Lainie B 465]

My fiancee spoke to her HR department today regarding adding me to her employer's health plan.

The monthly cost for her insurance is $134. They want an additional $716 to add a spouse!

Does that seem like it could be right or is that as excessive as it seems to me (and her)?

Thank in advance!

It could be right. It varies immensely between employers. To cover myself and my husband under my employer's insurance would have cost something similar, but under my husband's employer's plan it was free for the both of us, because the cost to cover both of us was less than the allowance his employer gave him for health insurance. So I opted out of my employer's insurance, and are covered by my husband's.

Also both mine and my husband's employers offered different plans. Some were a lot more expensive than others. Does his employer offer different plans?

Edited November 8, 2012 by Lainie B

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That sounds horrible. Are you sure that wasn't the total cost instead of the employee cost?

[gzbabi 2]

My fiancee spoke to her HR department today regarding adding me to her employer's health plan.

The monthly cost for her insurance is $134. They want an additional $716 to add a spouse!

Does that seem like it could be right or is that as excessive as it seems to me (and her)?

Thank in advance!

Sounds excessive, you could get individual insurance even with precondition for less then that.

[TracyTN 237]

Usually it really jumps when you go from employee + a spouse to family coverage (to add kids or what not) - but it really does depend on the employer and insurance - and what sort of agreement they have. Welcome to the US health system, I'm afraid!

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Is it ok that husband and wife are separately insured with their respectively companies?

Mine is $444 for employee and it jumps to $1408 for employee + spouse.

Edited November 8, 2012 by Merrytooth

[Marilyn. 340]

I can't remember what it is for just a teammate but we pay about $340 a month (PPO) for both of us..

[UK_K1 0]

Thanks everyone.. unfortunately it seems that it may be right then, even though it's a ridiculous amount extra.

It is often more than for the employee, but unless you are much older or have pre-existing conditions, that quote seems excessive.

Surely that's irrelevant on an employer's health plan? I didn't think they could refuse anyone or charge more for pre-existing conditions or age? Also, we haven't yet provided any details like that.

Sounds excessive, you could get individual insurance even with precondition for less then that.

Unfortunately not, I'm diabetic and diabetes is considered uninsurable in Texas. Looks like we're going to have to stump up the money for her coverage and hope I get something better when I get a job.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Welcome to healthcare in America!

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Wow and I thought mine was bad. Around a year ago I was reeling when I learned it would cost us $405 a month for employee + spouse on the full coverage plan. My SIL works for the government and they have the best health care benefits. Something like $135 a month for two people and each additional child isn't that much more. It's the only reason she keeps her government job. My Brother said it's not that much more when you add kids to the plan but the jump is really when you add that first additional person.

[The Mean Lady 604]

I had a thread about this about 2 weeks ago you might want to sift through:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/396705-adding-to-insurance/

[Christi and Ian 24]

That is not unusual. The employer subsidizes the health insurance cost for the employee, but gives no subsidy for dependents, so she has to pay the full cost to add you. The good news is, once you start working, your employer will probably subsidize your health care, and she can opt to remove you from hers.

[UK_K1 0]

I just can't believe that it's $716, even unsubisidised.

You can get a private policy for 2 people with better benefits and a lower deductible for around $600-700. Of course, that's no good for us, due to my pre-existing conditions...