Health Insurance Deadline Near - You Covered?

Ken777 · Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:09 pm

With a January Deadline nearing for Health Insurance it might be interesting to see who is protected and who isn't.

As for me, I'm now on Medicare and Medicare Gap Insurance (which is more expensive than Medicare at around $165/month) so I'm well protected - all deductibles and co-pays covered. Same for the wife.

So where are you today? Got coverage? Deductibles and co-pays?

And. most important, do you really feel protected with your current insurance?

(Members outside the US are encouraged to join in.

)

fr8mech · Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:27 pm

Yup, I still have insurance through my employer.

High deductible ($1500/$3000), HSA plan, with a $6000 out-of-pocket cap. After the deductible, I pay 20% up to the cap.

It was a good year (medically speaking) and we were able to keep our HSA balance intact, for the most part.

My wife got booted from my insurance and her firm just changed hands and we're waiting for insurance information for her.

My kids and I are more than adequately protected. My wife's coverage concerns me.

moo · Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:28 pm

I'm covered, my government has my back...

DocLightning · Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:25 pm

On my hubby's insurance.

LittleFokker · Mon Dec 09, 2013 9:52 pm

Still covered by my company's insurance, though my company did change insurance providers for this year. I do not know if the change was motivated by the implementation of ACA or not, as I am not privy to that information. I do know that the cost of coverage for my wife and I went up a whole $3 a month. The horror.

Honestly, I don't care how sufficiently covered we are, because until this country goes to single payer like the rest of the civilized world, I have a choice of getting ripped off in monthly installments, or getting ripped off in one lump sump if/when a calamity befalls me. As long as there is a profit motive attached to healthcare, then we will be getting ripped off either way.

DeltaMD90 · Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:06 pm

Covered. I'm pretty sure everything is paid for

Ken777 · Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:28 pm

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 3):
On my hubby's insurance.

Congrats on that. Took a long time for that to be possible.

TwoSixLeft · Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:55 pm

I still qualify for coverage on my mother's employer-provided plan for five more years, thankfully, but I hope to be on my own coverage soon after finishing my education. I consider myself very lucky to have not had much occasion to use health insurance yet.

ArmitageShanks · Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:58 pm

I'm covered through my own individually purchased insurance.

threeifbyair · Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:48 pm

I'm on my university's health insurance. It is unsubsidized, so I pay 100% of the cost (~$1100 this year). The coverage is actually pretty good: $350 deductible, then 20% coinsurance up to the $3000 out of pocket limit.

So, I feel very good about my insurance. Thankfully, I've not needed to use it. The price did jump about 9% over last year but this year has somewhat better coverage.

I don't have dental insurance. Instead, I pay cash at my dentist, who has been giving me a nice discount.

einsteinboricua · Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:27 am

I'm pretty certain Boeing will provide me with health insurance once I start working there next month. I just wonder if the insurance is pretty good or whether I should look for an alternate one.

fr8mech · Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:36 am

Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 10):
I'm pretty certain Boeing will provide me with health insurance once I start working there next month. I just wonder if the insurance is pretty good or whether I should look for an alternate one.

While I don't know the specifics of the Boeing plan(s), it's almost a given that a large employer's plan will be better than anything available on the open market, for the price.

DocLightning · Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:49 am

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 11):

While I don't know the specifics of the Boeing plan(s), it's almost a given that a large employer's plan will be better than anything available on the open market, for the price.

True, but will he pay a penalty for not being insured on 1/1? If you buy insurance through the exchange, can you cancel it at will if you get a job that offers insurance for you?

fr8mech · Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:58 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 12):
True, but will he pay a penalty for not being insured on 1/1? If you buy insurance through the exchange, can you cancel it at will if you get a job that offers insurance for you?

I thought the penalty...er, tax was deferred until March or something like that due to the website 'issues'.

Come to think of it, I need to look at that also for the wife. Due to the employer change and her being booted from my insurance, she may lapse in coverage for a little bit.

WarRI1 · Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:00 am

We are both on Medicare, and company provided medical through my union contract.

akiss20 · Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:33 am

Covered both by my parent's insurance (under 26) and also the extended healthcare plan given to me as part of my RA from my university.

All set here! My university insurance is especially great for stuff done at the medical center here, which can handle most if not all of my needs.

ltbewr · Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:04 am

My current individual policy is good until mid-march 2014, but will have to get new ACA approved policy by then. My employer is a 'temp' agency so they don't have to offer ACA complainant insurance plans until 1/1/15.
I was hoping to get a policy like my HBCBS (NJ) one as to deductables, co-pays, doctor choices, pill coverage and so on and hopefully for a few $100/mo less that what paying now.

einsteinboricua · Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:38 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 12):
True, but will he pay a penalty for not being insured on 1/1? If you buy insurance through the exchange, can you cancel it at will if you get a job that offers insurance for you?

Technically, I'm still under 26 so I should still be covered under my mom's insurance. Of course, by the time the University of Puerto Rico (my mom's employer) asks for evidence to cover me (they ask for it at the beginning of every semester), I'll be working by then, so I'll be on my mom's plan until my start date.

SA7700 · Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:31 am

I am "buying down" from January 2014. Private health insurance premiums are getting out of control here in South Africa. This year they pocketed almost USD3200 for me alone. National health care is a shamble.

Regards,

SA7700

[Edited 2013-12-10 07:08:45]

Arrow · Tue Dec 10, 2013 6:43 am

I'm covered -- no deductibles, no copays; 100% covered. And no worries about pre-existing conditions fortunately, since I'm in a long-haul war with leukemia and have been for about 10 years now. Annual insurance/tax cost is about $3500 for two of us; will go up about 5% next year. No complaints.

PHX787 · Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:24 pm

So far...i'm covered in the US until FY2015...but I'm currently uncovered in Japan

(Although, that's to say that I don't have Japanese insurance. Until FY2015 i am technically covered by my american insurance as long as I go to the international hospital near the US Embassy.)

flipdewaf · Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:02 pm

All covered by my taxes and the wonderful folk of the NHS, sometimes I have to wait for a bit if its not urgent and I don't mind if really sick people have priority sometimes, my wife was in need of some urgent attention once (horse doing gymnastics) and she got helicoptered in and treated very quickly and well and people waited patiently. I'm well covered and never really have to worry about it.

Fred

Ken777 · Tue Dec 10, 2013 5:51 pm

Quoting Arrow (Reply 19):
I'm in a long-haul war with leukemia and have been for about 10 years now

Congrats on the 10 years! My wife has just past 7 years for ALL and last night we had the annual LLS Christmas Dinner. It's great to see leukemia success stories,

Quoting flipdewaf (Reply 21):
I'm well covered and never really have to worry about it.

That is what everyone needs - health care in this country would significantly improve if we had that approach.

blueflyer · Tue Dec 10, 2013 7:39 pm

Still employer-covered. Coverage has changed a lot but overall I think I come out ahead. Literally added a 0 to ER copay, meds will cost anywhere from $0 to $100 (instead of $50 max) but deductible and out-of-pocket about half of what they were and premium lowered by $15.

bjorn14 · Tue Dec 10, 2013 10:04 pm

I'm covered by the Norwegian gov't. Deductible of about $350 and then its free except for some copays of about $ 10 and some drugs aren't covered. I cannot complain about the treatment I've gotten here. My wife says its because I'm American. I'm wondering if expats have to tell the gov't they are covered to avoid being fined?

Arrow · Tue Dec 10, 2013 11:56 pm

Quoting bjorn14 (Reply 24):
My wife says its because I'm American. I'm wondering if expats have to tell the gov't they are covered to avoid being fined?

My understanding -- correct me if I'm wrong -- is that you will be dinged the Obamacare fine because in their egocentric view you don't have coverage (i.e. it's "foreign") There will be a space for it on your 1040. Not 100% sure on that but I've heard it from a few others. Just one more way the US scr*ws its expats.

Quoting Ken777 (Reply 22):
Congrats on the 10 years! My wife has just past 7 years for ALL and last night we had the annual LLS Christmas Dinner. It's great to see leukemia success stories,

Thanks -- survival is everything, right? In the new year I'm up for a stem cell transplant -- risky but my docs think it's my best chance for a long-lasting remission. And yes, my health insurance covers it.

PHX787 · Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:38 pm

Ohhhhhhhhh boy. Found out i may not be covered on my ear drops because of Obamacare.

And this goes for a lot of other people's medications as well.

what the actual hell is going on here

Aesma · Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:23 pm

By being French and/or living in France legally I'm covered by default. I can get an additional mutual insurance that will cover secondary stuff like single hospital bedroom, high end dentistry and branded glasses. I'm still on my parents' insurance for that but should get a new one soon along with my new job, cost about 20€/month.

Kiwirob · Thu Dec 12, 2013 2:32 pm

Quoting Ken777 (Thread starter):
And. most important, do you really feel protected with your current insurance?

I'm pretty happy, damn sad that a first world country like the US makes it's citizens cough up for health insurance.

Central Govt only need to provide three services, education, health, law & order (which covers defense). Everything else is a bonus.

Ken777 · Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:45 pm

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 28):
damn sad that a first world country like the US makes it's citizens cough up for health insurance

Other countries make their citizens cough up the cash via taxes, delivering universal core health care. Cheaper and more efficient than the US version (even with the improvements from Romney/ObamaCare) but we like to overpay for.

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 28):
Everything else is a bonus.

And Infrastructure is the best bonus possible as it builds an economy far better than the 3 you named.

ArmitageShanks · Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:08 pm

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 28):

Central Govt only need to provide three services, education, health, law & order (which covers defense).

According to who?

Kiwirob · Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:21 pm

Quoting ArmitageShanks (Reply 30):
According to who?

Me. Local govt (fire, local roads, garbage, sewage......) and user pays (power, water, highways) can sort out the rest.

mham001 · Thu Dec 12, 2013 8:24 pm

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 28):
I'm pretty happy, damn sad that a first world country like the US makes it's citizens cough up for health insurance.

LOL. Where do you think yours comes from? The Tooth Fairy?

casinterest · Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:19 pm

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 26):
Ohhhhhhhhh boy. Found out i may not be covered on my ear drops because of Obamacare.

And this goes for a lot of other people's medications as well.

what the actual hell is going on here

Makes no sense. You don't have prescription coverage on your plan?

As for me, I am covered, premiums have gone up quite a bit, but that is mostly due to a company decision on coverage. However I am thinking of taking my skills to another company that provides better coverage. Another thread, for another time.

lewis · Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:01 pm

I have been under the PPO option provided by my employer for the past three years. $500 deductible with a co-pay of $10 for a family doctor visit and $30 for a specialist visit. I also get dental (upto two cleaning visits a year free of charge) and vision (includes yearly check-up/prescription visit, yearly supply of contacts and part coverage for a pair of glasses a year). The only things that changed this year were our provider options but the premiums have remained pretty stable (~$180/month for my plan+dental+vision). There sure are cheaper options offered through my employer but I did appreciate the freedom to go to a specialist directly if needed after some minor health issues this year.

Unfortunately the public system in Greece does not offer coverage unless I work there and pay into the system. Haven't done that for a while so I am not covered back home anymore.

*Numbers provided are for in-network doctors and specialists.

[Edited 2013-12-12 14:05:44]

Kiwirob · Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:16 pm

Quoting mham001 (Reply 32):

LOL. Where do you think yours comes from? The Tooth Fairy?

My taxes, of course! For the 31% income tax I pay I get pretty good value for money, certainly better value than you get. I'm happy that I'm not being screwed by the US health insurance industry and that I don't have to pay for my kids university education, should they choose to go.

fr8mech · Thu Dec 12, 2013 10:21 pm

Quoting lewis (Reply 34):
Unfortunately the public system in Greece does not offer coverage unless I work there and pay into the system. Haven't done that for a while so I am not covered back home anymore.

Strange my Dad has coverage there. He hasn't worked in Greece since 1968. Moved back with Mom (God rest her soul) in 1994. My Mom had coverage and, as far as I know, never worked a day in Greece.

Quoting casinterest (Reply 33):
Makes no sense. You don't have prescription coverage on your plan?

Actually, I just heard something about Obamacare, insurance plans and prescription coverage. Wasn't really paying attention, so I don't recall what was said.

My wife has been looking for work and received an offer today. While discussing the insurance, the guy she would be working for basically told her that their coverage wasn't very cost-effective and she would probably do better on the exchange (does exchange get capitalized now?) or on the open market. I'm interested in seeing what's available and at what kind of rate/deductible. I am quite sure that we don't qualify for any subsidies.

lewis · Thu Dec 12, 2013 11:31 pm

Quoting fr8mech (Reply 36):
Strange my Dad has coverage there. He hasn't worked in Greece since 1968. Moved back with Mom (God rest her soul) in 1994. My Mom had coverage and, as far as I know, never worked a day in Greece.

I think it depends on the Public "Fund" people get registered under. I also register as a resident of another country for tax purposes and I think this also contributes to my loss of coverage. For IKA (the normal for employees under salary) the coverage is not continuous but may become so after a certain age. Some elderly do get registered under OGA, which was made specifically for the elderly and those working in agriculture. My grandmother was under that, she was receiving a small pention and healthcare even if she never worked in her life. Things have also changed recently due to cutbacks on all social security funds so things change on a daily basis.

Ken777 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 12:28 am

Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 35):
My taxes, of course! For the 31% income tax I pay I get pretty good value for money, certainly better value than you get.

New Zealand does have a good system. We have friends who moved there for a year - the husband is an MD and was about to retire and they decided to live there for a year and he would work at a local hospital. He very really enjoyed working in their system (and at the hospital he was at) and came back with a new respect for "socialized medicine".

DocLightning · Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:11 am

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 26):

Ohhhhhhhhh boy. Found out i may not be covered on my ear drops because of Obamacare.

Impossible. Absolutely impossible. I know you hate Obama and his mother and his children, but you need to stop making blatantly false claims about Obamacare. It's got its problems, but prescription coverage isn't one of them. Death panels aren't one of them. People being denied life-saving treatment because of Obamacare isn't one of them. Hospitals laying off 14,000 staff because of Obamacare isn't one of them.

It's possible that they might make you change drugs within a class (floxin otic instead of ciprofloxacin otic, for example) but they cannot, under the law, exclude entire classes of medically necessary drugs. And, as before, if you absolutely need to be on something even though it's not on formulary, then your doctor can submit a prior authorization request and explain why it is medically necessary and they have to cover it. I have done it many, many, many times myself. Sometimes, I even have to spend 60 seconds of my (admittedly precious) time and write a letter of explanation.

WarRI1 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:35 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 39):
Impossible. Absolutely impossible. I know you hate Obama and his mother and his children, but you need to stop making blatantly false claims about Obamacare. It's got its problems, but prescription coverage isn't one of them. Death panels aren't one of them. People being denied life-saving treatment because of Obamacare isn't one of them. Hospitals laying off 14,000 staff because of Obamacare isn't one of them.

Hey Doc ! Just because you are a qualified Doctor, treat people, work in the system, know the ropes, who knows better, you or the haters of the Law? Obviously they must, or must they? I think I know. Common sense tells me so.

DocLightning · Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:39 am

Quoting WarRI1 (Reply 40):
Hey Doc ! Just because you are a qualified Doctor, treat people, work in the system, know the ropes, who knows better, you or the haters of the Law? Obviously they must, or must they? I think I know. Common sense tells me so.

I mean... you'd think that the law might affect...oh...all aspects of my waking life. So it might behoove me to, yanno, know things about it. And stuff.

WarRI1 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:55 am

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 41):
I mean... you'd think that the law might affect...oh...all aspects of my waking life. So it might behoove me to, yanno, know things about it. And stuff.

I, after much mind searching reached that same conclusion. I just cannot understand why others cannot. Does not wisdom and experience count?

[Edited 2013-12-12 19:08:29]

bjorn14 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 1:08 pm

Darn Kiwi Rob...how do you only pay 31%. I PAY 36% I assume you are still in Norway.

PHX787 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 2:34 pm

Quoting DocLightning (Reply 39):
Impossible. Absolutely impossible

nooooooooooooo, it is possible.

Did u read the damn law? I told yall this was gonna happen.

the coverage of prescription drugs is not going to be covered under certain plans, especially grandfathered plans. The drugs not covered are typically specialty drugs- i.e., ear medication, arthritis meds, pacemakers.

apparently, allergy meds and contraceptive meds are covered.....

DocLightning · Fri Dec 13, 2013 6:13 pm

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 44):
the coverage of prescription drugs is not going to be covered under certain plans, especially grandfathered plans. The drugs not covered are typically specialty drugs- i.e., ear medication, arthritis meds, pacemakers.

OK, what specific medicine do you claim will not be covered?

DeltaMD90 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:36 pm

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 44):
the coverage of prescription drugs is not going to be covered under certain plans, especially grandfathered plans.

Wait, don't "grandfathered plans" mean they are pre-ACA (and not bound by the ACA's guidelines?)

fr8mech · Fri Dec 13, 2013 8:54 pm

Quoting DeltaMD90 (Reply 46):
Wait, don't "grandfathered plans" mean they are pre-ACA (and not bound by the ACA's guidelines?)

You know what was interesting about my plan before I went HSA? The prescription insurance was separate from my health insurance. I paid a flat $10 or $25 (generic vs. name) and the cost did not go against my deductible or my cap. Now, under the HSA, it's all rolled into one.

Quite possible, what's happening is that folks are now having to satisfy the deductible before gaining any benefit on their new government approved health plans, when in the past all they paid was a prescription co-pay.

[Edited 2013-12-13 12:57:13]

Ken777 · Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:10 pm

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 44):
the coverage of prescription drugs is not going to be covered under certain plans, especially grandfathered plans.

By definition a "grandfathered plan" will be exactly the same as it was before the ACA.

I believe that those plans will slowly change, or at least have continual rate increases until the policy holders no longer want to keep paying. That, BTW, is the same as it was before the ACA.

pacificjourney · Fri Dec 13, 2013 9:28 pm

[Quoting KiwiRob (Reply 35):
My taxes, of course! For the 31% income tax I pay I get pretty good value for money, certainly better value than you get.

New Zealand does have a good system. We have friends who moved there for a year - the husband is an MD and was about to retire and they decided to live there for a year and he would work at a local hospital. He very really enjoyed working in their system (and at the hospital he was at) and came back with a new respect for "socialized medicine".

But Rob, what about the aircraft carriers, stealth fighters, nuke subs. Don't you feel like half a man, half a country ?

Who is online

Popular Searches On Airliners.net