CDHP vs PPO insurance plans?

[nkereina]

I'm starting a new job that only offers a Consumer Driven Health Plan (a.k.a. high deductible plan) and I will be opening a Health Savings Account with it. My previous employer only offered a PPO, so this will be my first experience with a CDHP.

I'm a healthy adult, always make my routine visits, have one recurring generic prescription, and I'm not shy about making a doctor's visit if I feel sick for a while. Seems like I might be the ideal person for a CDHP based on what I've been reading.

For those that have switched from one kind to the other, what have been the biggest pros and cons for you? Which option did you prefer?

 

[maxaroni]

We also have a high deductible plan, along with high premium cost even though it is through an employer. DH and I both work for small companies and it is very hard in these economic times for our employers to pay more than 30-40% of the premiums. We have been pretty fortunate so far but did need an ER visit this year and paying $3,000.00 for ER/doctor.

I'm starting a new job that only offers a Consumer Driven Health Plan (a.k.a. high deductible plan) and I will be opening a Health Savings Account with it. My previous employer only offered a PPO, so this will be my first experience with a CDHP.

I'm a healthy adult, always make my routine visits, have one recurring generic prescription, and I'm not shy about making a doctor's visit if I feel sick for a while. Seems like I might be the ideal person for a CDHP based on what I've been reading.

For those that have switched from one kind to the other, what have been the biggest pros and cons for you? Which option did you prefer?

 

[smadath]

We are on a CDHP that is a PPO. Basically, deductibles are higher (now $3000/$6000 as opposed to the $1500/$3000 they were a few years ago - Con), and we have the HSA card (pre-tax $ taken from paycheck and placed in the HSA account for medical expenses), which is a Visa 'credit card'. Your medical plan should include a list of expenses that can be covered with it. Or, the IRS website should also have a list. We pay 100% of costs until we meet the deductible, then pay a percentage (usually 20%) after that until we hit $6000, then they cover 100%.

Other than that, we see whichever doctors we choose, without referrals, and whether they are in network or not. We try to get in network so it counts against the deductible, but that's not always possible. The one good thing is that you do not lose the pre-tax money put into your HSA account if you quit (Pro). It stays with you for your use until the account is depleted or you get another job.

I was intimidated when we first started on the CDHP, but turns out it's not really different from what we doing before. We just use the HSA card, and have another form to fill out at tax time. For the record, I do keep all receipts associated with the HSA, just in case the IRS would want to audit, but so far no issues with that!