Have to pay own health INS. Do you? Trying to budget cost?!

[Krischaser]

I have to start paying for my own health insurance on my own--work will reimburse 200 of it. I am a family of five with three boys. I am trying to budget how much it may cost. Does anyone have a rough example? Also is this starting to be the norm when it comes to health INS now? The boys get stitches from craziness once a year and sick about 4 or 5 times a year. Also one of our boys is 14 months old. Thanks

 

[Plumeria9]

Yes, I have to pay for my own health ins. as DH's workplace does not cover his family unless we pay (and it's a lot!). It is more tricky to get individual health coverage than it used to be. But, I just switched from Blue Cross Blue Shield of TX to an Aetna plan thru Costco. Just for my own coverage I am saving $135/mo. I went down to a $5k ded. plan, from a $2500k ded. because I never really go to the Dr., except 1 week ck a year, and maybe a few other times a year, so I never got close to the ded. anyway. I figure w/ that savings I can possibly afford to even go to the Dr. if an issue comes up now!

It was relatively painless to apply for the Aetna thru Costco. If you are a member, check to see if they offer it in your state. Also I was comparing w/ coverage thru USAA, as it was less expensive, but I wanted the dental coverage I also bought w/ the Aetna plan, since I never had that before.

My previous health insurance agent was always pushing the Health Savings Account coverage, but I didn't really want to think about my health coverage that much. Trying to find a bank/institution to keep the HSA money in, and that costs a few bucks per month too, plus all of the other accounting related, I wasn't going for it, but who knows, it may work for you.

As you can tell, I have had to deal w/ health insurance coverage hunting for a while now, so if you have any questions please feel free to ask. Best of luck to you.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'd say that on average, for good coverage comparable to what you would get in a large group, you should budget at least $1000/month.

PS: If you belong to any professional associations (or could join), look into whether or not they offer a group plan. Sometimes that it is a good lower-priced option than going totally independent.

 

[Marionnette]

I'd say that on average, for good coverage comparable to what you would get in a large group, you should budget at least $1000/month.

^This.

But it will vary from one state to the next. And a family policy will cost the same whether you are covering one child or many more.

 

[Sbacer]

I have recently been forced into retirement and it will be over 900 for the 2 of us a month. Still waiting for actual statement- with 8,000 a year deductable - but we are both high risk due to cancer so am considering us lucky!

Sandy

 

[rumblytumbly]

I pay $916/month (just went up from $670/month) for myself and my two children ages 6 and 7. This is for Regence Blue Shield in Washington state. It was the only non-catastrophic plan they offered. Other plans were less expensive but did not have Rx coverage and were catastrophic plans which I belive means that if I had to change insurance for some reason our pre-existing conditions would not have been covered for a number of months. I understand Group Health is less expensive, just not sure I want to do that quite yet.

 

[anotherdismom]

try ehealth.com at least here in WA in gives several companies and options, so you can weigh deductables and all of that. The critical piece for me was the max. calendar year out of pocket. I want to know how bad it will be if the worst happens. I found a reasonably priced plan that pays all but copay for up to 4 visits per year w/a deductable and max. I could deal with.

I will agree with others though that you are looking at about 1k per month for the family.

 

[bjscheel]

DH and the girls are with BC/BS Wellmark in Iowa. It is $262/month. The deductible is $3300/year. Up to that amount we have to pay everything. If we would hit the deductible, then it pays for everything. We never have much for medical costs, so it works for now. I figure we can handle $3300 a year if it ever came to that. I just went to their website to get quotes and application.

I am covered through work, so I suppose it would cost more to have both of us on it?

 

[Krischaser]

Bump

 

[MELSMICE]

We pay almost $18,000 a year for health & dental insurance. We are a family of 5, but the amount of family members doesn't matter with our plan. It's just a family plan.

We have good coverage, but it just keeps going up & up. It's crazy.

 

[mtblujeans]

We pay a little over $12,000 a year for 4 of us in our family. Our deductible is $5,000.00 per person and $10,000 family, annually. It is just medical thru BC/BS. No prescription, no dental, no optical. And it keeps going up and up, too.

 

[Rantybaby]

I left my company in Aug 2010, as a single I am FULLLY covered for 4 more years under CURRENT group plan. I pay $175 quarterly for Long Term Care coverage until 65. I'm 47 now.

 

[Krischaser]

That is crazy!!! I budgeted 800 and that is a huge strain especially coupled with childcare.......I am really scared now!

 

[dfchelbay]

I have to start paying for my own health insurance on my own--work will reimburse 200 of it. I am a family of five with three boys. I am trying to budget how much it may cost. Does anyone have a rough example? Also is this starting to be the norm when it comes to health INS now? The boys get stitches from craziness once a year and sick about 4 or 5 times a year. Also one of our boys is 14 months old. Thanks

Have you looked into Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan? You should be able to get decent coverage at not a high cost. Check out the cost of a family plan and individual adult policy, with separate for children, etc. Change it around to see which way is best for you budget and coverage wise. Also, is it possible for your husband to get coverage at his job for just him, or the entire family. Sometimes it cheaper for a spouse to pay a little thru work than to go out for full coverage on their own. We used to all be covered in my family through my husbands job, but the employer kept paying less and less each year, and it ended up costing more to stay with that policy than for me and the kids to go off on our own. It is less expensive for my DH to stay with insurance at work and we have Blue Cross Individual Plan, we pay for completely. The costliest part of BCBSM coverage is for the adults and not for the children.

Feel Free to PM for questions. We've been on our individual plan for about four years now.


ETA - I just ran you and three children, I made you 35, with a 10, 5, and 1.5 year old, with a $2,500 per year deductible. It says it's $311.40 per month for Flex Plan 2500. I added another adult, age 38 and it costs $464.23 for all five

Individual Care Blue Plus is $645.34 for the four of you...with 38 year old husband its $948.26

So, just put in your actual ages and decide which of the plans is best for your family and see how much it costs.

 

[Krischaser]

Thanks for giving me some hope you almost nailed all our ages lol dh and I are both 39. We both work for same company so they offer no INS. Just a reimbursement of 200 a month and only one reimbursement per family. Do I go to bc/bs site. Were all the plans on everyone separate or as a family? Thanks my dh is upsetting me because he states we don't need it and we could pay as we go---- ugh! I know better!!

 

[wangmichelle]

I live in this place, must pay $1,500 per person per year, or tall a number, I think each place should not identical, because you have the concrete to related unit do consulting, I wish you good luck!!!

 

[Friendly Frog]

Do you have to submit a medical history to apply for private insurance or will the company do their own research? I am not sure I could remember all the tests and stuff I have had done and because my insurance changed at work each year, I have had way too many different insurance companies and doctors.

 

[dfchelbay]

Thanks for giving me some hope you almost nailed all our ages lol dh and I are both 39. We both work for same company so they offer no INS. Just a reimbursement of 200 a month and only one reimbursement per family. Do I go to bc/bs site. Were all the plans on everyone separate or as a family? Thanks my dh is upsetting me because he states we don't need it and we could pay as we go---- ugh! I know better!!

The plans I ran were for the whole family. The premium is for all five members of your family. Its Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. MAKE SURE YOU"RE ON BCBSM. The states run them separately. Then just go to compare rates I think its called. Fill in DOB for everyone and it should give you an estimate. Somewhere on the site is a description of all the different plans, whats covered, deductibles, etc. They have books too at all their offices. I don't know where you're located in Michigan, but there is a corporate office in Southfield, or you can call and have one snail mailed to you. The booklet is so much easier, than flipping and clicking around on the website. Or, just print out each of the different Plans, then you can read them like the booklet. Also, you don't have to wait on any pre-existing conditions either.

 

[dfchelbay]

Do you have to submit a medical history to apply for private insurance or will the company do their own research? I am not sure I could remember all the tests and stuff I have had done and because my insurance changed at work each year, I have had way too many different insurance companies and doctors.

You fill out the application as best you can. They will be running your medical history themselves. They will find whatever it is you've forgotten...even if you've switched insurance companies a lot. They'll find it with your Social Security Number on the application.

 

[Krischaser]

What does the phrase 80percent covered after deductible mean? Also any other advice? Thanks