meh, health insurance renewal

[Turin39789]

Ok, lets try some numbers:
* Likely case, you use no medical care in the year: Silver $195, gold $2015.

* Another likely case, you use $500 of medical care in a year: Silver $195 + $500 * .2 = $295, gold = $2015 + $500*.1 = $2065.

* What about a terrible, catastrophic case: Silver you pay $195 + $1250 = $1445, gold you pay $2015 + $500 = $2515.

In no possible case is gold the better option.

Au contraire, what if he goes to the ER 500 times?

He never mentioned if deductibles are the same. On our plan deductibles don't count against your out of pocket maximum.

Possible, but not how I normally see them. Often times the cheaper plans are better deals all around, you usually pay more than you need to so you don't have high fees "out of your pocket".

 

[dullard]

Au contraire, what if he goes to the ER 500 times?

I covered that situation in my post. From the original poster "yearly out of pocket max silver is $1,250 and gold is $500". That 500 trips to the ER would cost him a total of $1,250 out of pocket with the silver. Add in the silver plan cost of $195/year and it is far cheaper than gold. This is true in all forms of insurance that I've seen: the "best" option is best for the insurance company, not for the customer. There may be exceptions, but I haven't seen them yet.

 

[Dominato3r]

I'm so lucky I live in Canada where everyone has free healthcare and doesn't have to go broke paying for insurance.

But we have to wait 4 hours in the emergency room.

 

[Turin39789]

I covered that situation in my post. From the original poster "yearly out of pocket max silver is $1,250 and gold is $500". That 500 trips to the ER would cost him a total of $1,250 out of pocket with the silver. Add in the silver plan cost of $195/year and it is far cheaper than gold. This is true in all forms of insurance that I've seen: the "best" option is best for the insurance company, not for the customer. There may be exceptions, but I haven't seen them yet.

Copays do not count towards OOP, but I agree the cheaper plans are usually the better deal.

 

[Sasiki]

Family coverage costs me $520/mo Blue Cross Blue Shield, but it costs my employer a total of $1250. I wish my company would offer a tiered health insurance plan.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

But we have to wait 4 hours in the emergency room.

That's not unique to UHC.

Triage.

 

[kami333]

I covered that situation in my post. From the original poster "yearly out of pocket max silver is $1,250 and gold is $500". That 500 trips to the ER would cost him a total of $1,250 out of pocket with the silver. Add in the silver plan cost of $195/year and it is far cheaper than gold. This is true in all forms of insurance that I've seen: the "best" option is best for the insurance company, not for the customer. There may be exceptions, but I haven't seen them yet.

He hasn't elaborated on what differences are in out of network coverage, that's probably what will make the most difference. For single people it's less of a concern, but if you have children out of state in college or something the out of network coverage can make all the difference.

 

[Vette73]

But we have to wait 4 hours in the emergency room.

Sounds like a ER in the US, unless you come by ambulance.

 

[soulcougher73]

Id go silver after reading what they offer.

 

[soulcougher73]

i'm so glad i don't have to worry about shit like this

I wish we didnt have to worry about it as well. Hell the stress of this alone probably causes some people medical problems LOL

 

[Gibson486]

But we have to wait 4 hours in the emergency room.

LOL....you still have to wait 4 hours in the ER in the US.

 

[Dominato3r]

I thought wait times were non-existent in America. Unless you come by Amberlamps or had a heart attack, stroke etc. You have to wait 4 hours here.

 

[mizzou]

He hasn't elaborated on what differences are in out of network coverage, that's probably what will make the most difference. For single people it's less of a concern, but if you have children out of state in college or something the out of network coverage can make all the difference.

Im going to a seminar on this tomorrow, needto find out what conditions my OoP max is andwhat is not considered in it.

Pretty sure im going silver, that way i take home$480 extra a year instead of a 5% take home pay hit

 

[D1gger]

As an employer in Canada, it costs me about $1,400 per year for an employee with a family for provincial health care, which provides all basic hospital and doctor care.

Another $5,000 per year covers the extended benefits which covers disablity wage insurance (long and short term), group life insurance, prescription drug coverage ($25 deductible per person per year), prescription glasses ($200 every second year), semi-private hospital room, out of country medical insurance and a few other odds and sods.

Total cost for a family ~$6,400 / year or $533/month. No cost to the employee.

Health care is not free in Canada, but is paid for by the employer (and I believe some general revenue from taxes goes to health care).