Anyone Else Worried About Health Premiums Going UP?

[bdcp]

DH's company has such a good plan that the gov is taxing it higher. It's considered a "cadillac" plan and for that reason, the gov wants more money from the co. Currently they have absorbed it (we pay nothing, but that will change for sure in the next couple of years). As a result of "Obamacare". We also know of several doctors who are retiring due to the burdens that will be placed on them. One of many is that the diagnostic codes that are currently being used are going to increase exponentially and if a doctor uses the wrong one, they will be fined heavily.

Anyone who thinks they won't be affected, is wrong. This "plan" is nothing more than a road to single payer nationalized healthcare. Do a little research, the average family is going to pay thousands more per year out of pocket with this "plan". I'm angry this is being forced down everyone's throats and really doesn't add any benefit.

Medicare will be changing also. Don't think it won't. The cost of medicare is going up faster than the COLA's most people are getting on their pensions.

I'm amazed that some are still drinking the kool-aid., now that it's been passed, we know what's in it.

 

[bdcp]

We had our benefits meeting last week. My family coverage was raise from $176 every 2 weeks to $255 every 2 weeks. An increase of $2054 a year and the co pays and deductilbles went up.

Oh, and about

"If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor"

I can't. My doctor pulled out and is joining a Physicians group that takes Medicare only.

A lot of people are going to find out they were fed many lines that just aren't true.

 

[TwoAtDisney]

Let's look at a few figures here. Medicare is $104.90 a month and covers 80%. You can add to that drug coverage if you need it and supplemental to pick up the 20% medicare doesn't cover. It's a great deal. And because I retired with healthcare benefits I am reimbursed for what I pay for medicare and I also have my prescription drugs and supplemental coverage covered. My healthcare now becomes my supplemental when I reach medicare age next year. My husband has it now. I would love to see medicare for all.

Judyat, I'm sure you recognize that Medicare is a good deal for you. It is not a good deal for most, since most do not have - "retired with healthcare benefits I am reimbursed for what I pay for medicare and I also have my prescription drugs and supplemental coverage covered. My healthcare now becomes my supplemental when I reach medicare age next year." I'm sure you realize how lucky you are & thankful for this godsend.

Actually, since my Medicare premium is auto deducted from my SS check, I didn't realize it was that much. So, in my previous post, I understated the health insurance premiums for DH & I by about $50 a month for each of us.

My DHs Medicare supplement is just shy of $300 month. Mine is about $260 a month. And every year it goes up at least $20 to $30 a month. Then add on the $104 you quoted, plus our RX premium, plus our annual out of pocket - no way that can be called a "good deal"! Yes, preferable to "losing the farm" over a serious health incident, but $15,000 to $18,000 annually can not be called a "good deal"!

I would love to see Medicare "coverage" for everyone, but I would not like to see Medicare, Medicare Supplement, & Medicare RX premiums for everyone because everyone could not afford it, as luckily my DH & I can - & yes, we are thankful for that. I doubt there are very few people who can afford $15,000 to 18,000 a year for health costs for 2 people!

Also, a very important note - If anyone does not add Medicare Supplement and/or Medicare RX when he/she begins to receive Medicare coverage, he/she will be harshly penalized $-wise if it's ever needed. For instance, my uncle received great health care benefits, such as yours, when he retired. Then his company decided not to pay retiree health benefits any longer. He was in his 70s & had a serious heart condition, so he could not get non-Medicare coverage anywhere. He had to pay big bucks in order to join the Medicare system.

 

[JenniferinFL]

Not really worried about it, our health coverage options can't really get worse. My husband is a welder, but his company hasn't offered health insurance in years now. Where I work I'm labeled "part time" despite working 40 hours per week and thus can't get health insurance.

The cheapest coverage we could find independently was $700 for the two of us and we're in our 30's without pre-existing conditions. So, we simply do not have health insurance at the moment.

As of October 1st, it looks like we should be able to sign up for a better plan than we've ever had for around $200 for the whole family.

But, I'm in the south where health insurance through work is either completely nonexistent or only available to a privileged few. For instance, where I work the upper management has access to a better plan for cheaper than the regular full time people. Out of a staff of 300, only 4 people have access to a plan like the new "silver level" plan. Some have access to something similar to the bronze plan for 25% of their wages and the rest of us have access to nothing. Pretty much the way it is across the board around here.

 

[mrzrich]

.

As of October 1st, it looks like we should be able to sign up for a better plan than we've ever had for around $200 for the whole family.

Wondering where you got this figure. Doesn't sound right to me.

 

[JenniferinFL]

Wondering where you got this figure. Doesn't sound right to me.

Used the calculator to figure out subsidies and expected costs. Obviously could still be some fluctuation, but that's what it looks like for us. But, we're definitely below the poverty line.

 

[DianeW]

Ours went up $200 a month. Yeah. That's my Disney money. I'm not amused.

Oh, and I pay $800 a month. Yes, that's my husband's employer sponsored PPO.

 

[manning]

Not really worried about it, our health coverage options can't really get worse. My husband is a welder, but his company hasn't offered health insurance in years now. Where I work I'm labeled "part time" despite working 40 hours per week and thus can't get health insurance.

The cheapest coverage we could find independently was $700 for the two of us and we're in our 30's without pre-existing conditions. So, we simply do not have health insurance at the moment.

As of October 1st, it looks like we should be able to sign up for a better plan than we've ever had for around $200 for the whole family.

But, I'm in the south where health insurance through work is either completely nonexistent or only available to a privileged few. For instance, where I work the upper management has access to a better plan for cheaper than the regular full time people. Out of a staff of 300, only 4 people have access to a plan like the new "silver level" plan. Some have access to something similar to the bronze plan for 25% of their wages and the rest of us have access to nothing. Pretty much the way it is across the board around here.

Get ready for the shocker. If your company has more than 50 employees they will have to give you health insurance or cut you're hours to 30 hours a week. That's the new part time.

 

[twinnersmama]

At the company I work for, the 30 hour/week people were turned into 28 hour/week so they did not have to give health ins.
Us full-timers had two choices for health insurance -- pay the same premium and be able to go to HALF the hospitals/doctors or pay 2x as much to go to any doctor.

Plus Deductible tripled...

Salary ... remained the same ...

 

[ORDisneyfans]

I just received a notice from our carrier. We are self employed so pay out of pocket. Are you ready... Went up from $775 for family of four to $935! Oh and here's the best part, they doubled our deductible from $2500 to $5000. Yea I am not amused either! All of us are healthy no pre- existing conditions!

 

[tar heel]

A close friend of mine received a letter from her DH's employer stating that if their spouse had health insurance available to them at work, the spouse needed to switch on to their own plan. The only way they could keep the family plan is if insurance wasn't available to the spouse.

You mean there are companies that don't have that requirement? Covering a dependent who has an insurance eligible job has been a firing offense at my DH's employer for many years. Periodically, they do audits.

 

[Pooh2]

Our premium did not change much but our deductible went up by $6000 for the family. Not sure who is getting the "affordable" health care.. This law has been a complete financial disaster for everyone I know.

 

[Judyat]

The ACA does not go into effect until January 1. How can you say it's a disaster. Compare your plan to the state health exchange ones. You will probably be able to get a lot more for a lot less. Having your kids on your policy to age 26 is a great plus as is no pre-existing conditions and people cannot be dropped from their plans. Insurance companies need to spend 80% of what they take in for healthcare. Annual physicals with no copays. They can't charge women more than men. The list goes on and on. If your plan now has been giving you the runaround look at the plans starting next Tuesday. Many states have published rates and plans online. If you are an individual and make up to $46,000 you will get a subsidy from the healthcare exchanges to help pay for it. For a family it's up to $96,000. There are people spreading rumors that are not true. Wait and see. This law gives people rights that they do not have right now. How can anyone be against that? Take a look at www.heathcare.gov for more information.

 

[dansamy]

The ACA does not go into effect until January 1. How can you say it's a disaster. Compare your plan to the state health exchange ones. You will probably be able to get a lot more for a lot less. Having your kids on your policy to age 26 is a great plus as is no pre-existing conditions and people cannot be dropped from their plans. Insurance companies need to spend 80% of what they take in for healthcare. Annual physicals with no copays. They can't charge women more than men. The list goes on and on. If your plan now has been giving you the runaround look at the plans starting next Tuesday. Many states have published rates and plans online. If you are an individual and make up to $46,000 you will get a subsidy from the healthcare exchanges to help pay for it. For a family it's up to $96,000. There are people spreading rumors that are not true. Wait and see. This law gives people rights that they do not have right now. How can anyone be against that? Take a look at www.heathcare.gov for more information.

If you're eligible for coverage through your employer, you are ineligible for the subsidies. You can't pick fruit from both trees.

 

[Sagginit]

mine is fine. it goes up a bit each year, but that's inflation. i was full time part time for 2 years when i got out of college. not having health insurance and being unable to afford anything on my salary sucked.

my mother just had a part time job at a small company and she was paying more for the insurance than her take home pay per week was. she quit the job and took a new job without insurance, she is going to sign up for a plan that she can afford thanks to obamacare.

the reality is our health care system is broken. any attempt to fix it is fine by me. i mean we use coupons and shop around for food, vacations, and other things in our lives, but how many of us every question a medical bill? do you know how much a hospital will charge for something like asprin? once i swear they billed my insurance company $10 for a tylenol that i never saw or had (i was there with food poisoning)

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I've been with my company for 11 years, my premiums more than doubled this year. From 2002 - 2012 my premiums (I'm single) went from $12 a month to $54 a month, this year they went from $54 a month to $132 a month.

I work for a great company and still get great benefits relatively cheap but only because I'm grandfathered in, they eliminated health insurance for all new hires. We were also warned any grandfathered in part time employees who fall below 29 hours average (over a quarter) will lose their insurance and not be eligible to re-enroll until they become full time.

The 29 hour rule is causing a lot of part time employees in Vegas to go from working 35-40 hours a week to 25-30 a week, 2nd jobs are becoming a norm for people to survive reduced hours.

They also started a "wellness program" that requires a yearly physical and blood work, if you opt out of the wellness check it adds another $50 a month to your premium. Personally I like this idea as a way to cut costs, I just wish they would have implemented it prior to doubling our premiums.

 

[lvillotta1]

This topic Hurts bad!!!! In the last 5-8 years over 1/4 of my income has gone to pay premiums,deductibles and hospital bills. I am a single mom of 2 girls and also an RN. We all know nurses are raking it in!!!! I have probably paid out anywhere from 40-50,000 dollars!!!!!!! I constantly have medical bills sitting in my bill rack every day. BUT somehow I have managed. I just accepted a new RN job for 24/hrs a week and the system considers this FT with FT benefits. $1500 OOP and then 80/20 max $6000. The absolute best insurance I have ever had!!!! My monthly premium is $354. Just maybe this next year I can catch a break.

 

[Planogirl]

Our company's coverage is available to anyone working 25 hours per week or more. We pay pretty high premiums but it sounds we're lucky to be covered.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

You mean there are companies that don't have that requirement? Covering a dependent who has an insurance eligible job has been a firing offense at my DH's employer for many years. Periodically, they do audits.

LOL! That shows how very different companies can be, doesn't it? Both my company and my DH's company are happy to cover a spouse, no other requirements necessary.

 

[dansamy]

This topic Hurts bad!!!! In the last 5-8 years over 1/4 of my income has gone to pay premiums,deductibles and hospital bills. I am a single mom of 2 girls and also an RN. We all know nurses are raking it in!!!! I have probably paid out anywhere from 40-50,000 dollars!!!!!!! I constantly have medical bills sitting in my bill rack every day. BUT somehow I have managed. I just accepted a new RN job for 24/hrs a week and the system considers this FT with FT benefits. $1500 OOP and then 80/20 max $6000. The absolute best insurance I have ever had!!!! My monthly premium is $354. Just maybe this next year I can catch a break.

Sure, if $40k/year for 5 people is "raking it in". Then subtract $6k/year for insurance. Then deductibles. Then co-pays. Yep. I'm rich!