Employer-provided insurance continues to decline

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Our premiums are definitely higher than they used to be. I'm paying over $200 a month now for a PPO plan. An HMO would have run me over $300. A few years ago, I used to pay about $125 a month for a PPO.

still cheaper than here, running about $600 every 2 weeks.

I guess I'm getting a bargain for my $200/month plan that includes HMO medical, Dental, Vision (for both of us) and 5x salary life insurance.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

the group is about 200 people of which about 20 take the insurance.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

the group is about 200 people of which about 20 take the insurance.

200 is still a small group. What if the group was the entire state of Kansas? Wouldn't that work a lot better?

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

the group is about 200 people of which about 20 take the insurance.

200 is still a small group. What if the group was the entire state of Kansas? Wouldn't that work a lot better?

not going to happen as i don't work for the state of kansas. and i really doubt you'd like the taxes you'd pay if the entire populace worked for this defense contractor

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

the group is about 200 people of which about 20 take the insurance.

200 is still a small group. What if the group was the entire state of Kansas? Wouldn't that work a lot better?

not going to happen as i don't work for the state of kansas. and i really doubt you'd like the taxes you'd pay if the entire populace worked for this defense contractor

No, no. I meant if the state of kansas negotiated group rates with the insurer (or a group of insurers) and all residents of the state got those rates. Rates would be nice and low. And your employer wouldn't have to have a staff in-house to deal with this stuff, they could concentrate on making even awesomer bombs instead.

[almaty 19]

state of tennessee does this for all gov't ees ...inclusing state..county and city...it is a blessing for those working for a small town

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

the group is about 200 people of which about 20 take the insurance.

200 is still a small group. What if the group was the entire state of Kansas? Wouldn't that work a lot better?

not going to happen as i don't work for the state of kansas. and i really doubt you'd like the taxes you'd pay if the entire populace worked for this defense contractor

No, no. I meant if the state of kansas negotiated group rates with the insurer (or a group of insurers) and all residents of the state got those rates. Rates would be nice and low. And your employer wouldn't have to have a staff in-house to deal with this stuff, they could concentrate on making even awesomer bombs instead.

nice try to turn this into a state or national health care debate

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

pretty much why many of us don't take it. 3rd party insurances are cheaper than what the company offers.

Right, because your 'group' is small.

Work with me here... what if your 'group' was the entire state of Kansas? Would the economies of scale be worth it?

the group is about 200 people of which about 20 take the insurance.

200 is still a small group. What if the group was the entire state of Kansas? Wouldn't that work a lot better?

not going to happen as i don't work for the state of kansas. and i really doubt you'd like the taxes you'd pay if the entire populace worked for this defense contractor

No, no. I meant if the state of kansas negotiated group rates with the insurer (or a group of insurers) and all residents of the state got those rates. Rates would be nice and low. And your employer wouldn't have to have a staff in-house to deal with this stuff, they could concentrate on making even awesomer bombs instead.

nice try to turn this into a state or national health care debate

Do you disagree, though? Wouldn't that work out well? Just because someone works for a small business shouldn't mean they don't get to benefit from the same economies of scale that someone like myself (my employer employs over 15000 people) does.

Right?

[Jasman0717 9]

The ones that still provide insurance are pushing more of the cost to the employee.

[Kevin and 10]

My employer has a pretty great health care plan. Its under 200 a month and includes dental, health, yearly eye exams. ADD is about 10 dollars a month. In the past few years that insurance has going up my employer has absorbed the cost instead of passing it on to us.

Do you know anyone that has a health savings account? How does that work for them/you? Good idea ?

[tom&tata 2]

My employer has a pretty great health care plan. Its under 200 a month and includes dental, health, yearly eye exams. ADD is about 10 dollars a month. In the past few years that insurance has going up my employer has absorbed the cost instead of passing it on to us.

Do you know anyone that has a health savings account? How does that work for them/you? Good idea ?

HSA is tied to high deductible plan at my work.

The other one for people using PPO, we have health spending acct. We set out the amount we will put toward the account for the year & it will be taken pre tax from payroll. We use this for co-pay, OTC medicines, deductible, etc. You just need to be careful because if the balance in this spending account is not used by end of year, it would not roll over to next year.

[GabachaYucateca 0]

I swear, this topic just raises my blood pressure. Sooo stressful, especially when one works in the nonprofit field!

Question for you all...I just got a new job which provides 100% coverage for me as an individual. For me to have my husband covered, I'd be paying $277 per month. With a new ED who is married with a baby who is also paying the difference so his wife is covered, this may very well change in the next year...but can't guarantee it.

Anywhoo...my question is: is paying an extra $277 worth it or should I look into other options? Perhaps full coverage from elsewhere (which I checked into a while ago and it was less than $277, but with high deductibles) or perhaps catastrophe insurance until he starts working?

[LaL 418]

I swear, this topic just raises my blood pressure. Sooo stressful, especially when one works in the nonprofit field!

Question for you all...I just got a new job which provides 100% coverage for me as an individual. For me to have my husband covered, I'd be paying $277 per month. With a new ED who is married with a baby who is also paying the difference so his wife is covered, this may very well change in the next year...but can't guarantee it.

Anywhoo...my question is: is paying an extra $277 worth it or should I look into other options? Perhaps full coverage from elsewhere (which I checked into a while ago and it was less than $277, but with high deductibles) or perhaps catastrophe insurance until he starts working?

I think that can only be answered by yourself - but personally I would pay the $277 - I think thats quite reasonable in most places. Perhaps if you look at it in context - can you adjust your budget to fit the debit of $277 for 100% coverage, or are you willing to chance paying a lower premium and possibly get stuck with a high deductible payment should something go wrong?

[GabachaYucateca 0]

Definitely one of the things I'm considering, LaL. Especially if it's something that I could cancel once he gets a job with insurance, even if it's only partially paid for.