how I hate insurance

[Dznypal]

my DH starts medicare this month--so hes off Obama care--(hes lucky)

so it just leaves me on it-- so we figured for me the cost should be half of what is was since its just me on it so our insurance broker called to say that its only $17 cheaper then when we were both on it

(my DH took the call) he said its because I don't fit some paramiter

how stupid can this get!!! Im going to get back to the broker cause as far as I think woulndt this count as a life changing event where your supposed to be able to make changes for things like wedding baby kid out of college or too old to be on parents insurance

I am so tired of either getting screwed on taxes or insurance

thanks for letting me vent

 

[fla4fun]

Well, for any of the insurance plans I am familiar with, there is a base rate that covers one person, and then for a small amount a family member is added. So if you are the only one insured now, you would pay the base rate, not half of what you paid together.

it does stink though

 

[low-key]

on paper mine is great, in reality it is great until you use it

 

[mjkacmom]

DH is insured through work, we are keeping dd23 on it even though her company offers health insurance because she doesn’t cost us any extra.

 

[HadesFan]

DH is insured through work, we are keeping dd23 on it even though her company offers health insurance because she doesn’t cost us any extra.

That's the best thing to do. Just make sure that your company doesn't have any restrictions on that. My husband's employer would charge us more if any member of the family was eligible for insurance elsewhere. More companies are starting to do that. We had to sign a statement every year that no one in our family was eligible for insurance at another job. I actually had a part time job and it meant that my hours were limited, because if I had worked more I would have been eligible for insurance. If I turned it down, my husband's employer would charge more for me, that would have taken care of any extra money I would have made. His insurance was better so I wasn't about to take what my job offered.

 

[Searc]

DH is insured through work, we are keeping dd23 on it even though her company offers health insurance because she doesn’t cost us any extra.

If she is eligible for insurance at her job, it may cost you more.

 

[mjkacmom]

If she is eligible for insurance at her job, it may cost you more.

I told him to look into this in the fine print, there is a policy about spouses, but he doesn’t think children. I did a google search and couldn’t find anything but will keep looking. We pay the same for one child or five children, very large financial services company. I’ll have him call HR.

 

[sam_gordon]

I told him to look into this in the fine print, there is a policy about spouses, but he doesn’t think children. I did a google search and couldn’t find anything but will keep looking. We pay the same for one child or five children, very large financial services company. I’ll have him call HR.

I don't think a google search will work. It will depend on the policies for that insurance company. Checking w/HR is the best bet.

 

[mnrose]

That's the best thing to do. Just make sure that your company doesn't have any restrictions on that. My husband's employer would charge us more if any member of the family was eligible for insurance elsewhere. More companies are starting to do that. We had to sign a statement every year that no one in our family was eligible for insurance at another job. I actually had a part time job and it meant that my hours were limited, because if I had worked more I would have been eligible for insurance. If I turned it down, my husband's employer would charge more for me, that would have taken care of any extra money I would have made. His insurance was better so I wasn't about to take what my job offered.

Same here. There would be an "extra fee" if this was true. I have to certify that every person on my insurance is not eligible to be covered by another employer's policy.

 

[RamblingMad]

I get it. This is why I invest in UNH. Folks are so terrified of public healthcare that I make good on this investment. Meanwhile, my friends in Norway are laughing at how ridiculously expensive my healthcare costs.

 

[tvguy]

I get it. This is why I invest in UNH. Folks are so terrified of public healthcare that I make good on this investment. Meanwhile, my friends in Norway are laughing at how ridiculously expensive my healthcare costs.

There is no free lunch. Norway's base income tax rate is 38.5%. THAT, IMHO is ridiculous. You wouldn't hit that rate in the U.S. until you have $500,000 in earned income.

 

[RamblingMad]

There is no free lunch. Norway's base income tax rate is 38.5%. THAT, IMHO is ridiculous. You wouldn't hit that rate in the U.S. until you have $500,000 in earned income.

And how much do you spend for healthcare?

We just like to pay more for it than everyone else. And I make good dividend income off of people’s fear of public healthcare.

 

[tvguy]

Hard to have an honest discussion here about the Affordable Healthcare Act because of the restrictions on Political discussions.

But a few random (and hopefully non-political) comments about healthcare.
1) The Affordable Healthcare Act has change the playing field, in some great ways, and in some pretty awful ways.
2) For a friend who was diagnosed with cancer, and no health care through her work, it has provided critical coverage at an affordable price with a subsidy.
3) It took months to find anyone that ACCEPTED her insurance. Thankfully Covered California, our version of AHC has advocates to help with that. The closest hospital and Doctors that would accept it were 150 miles away.

I work for a major corporation. We have an additional surcharge if you cover a spouse who has a health care option at their work. Only employer I have eve worked for with this setup. Going to HR for help would be no help at my employer or my wife's. They have nothing to do with administering benefits. Healthcare, 401k are all handled by outside independent contractors. HR will only refer you to those contractors.

Interesting to see how different companies in different parts of the country handle health care.

 

[tvguy]

And how much do you spend for healthcare?

We just like to pay more for it than everyone else. And I make good dividend income off of people’s fear of public healthcare.

Yes, we do pay more for health care than anyone else. But we also expect more, and faster access. And we expect to see a Doctor, not a Physician Assistant, or Nurse Practioner. My neighbor had knee replacement surgery and had to wait 3 weeks. My Uncle in Canada had to wait 11 months. When I get sick, I go see my Doctor. When my family in Canada gets sick, they go to the local drug store and the Pharmacist treats them.
Our healthcare premiums cost just under 5% of our gross income. Our combined state and federal income tax rate is 27%, so combined that is 32%. Far less than the base tax rate in Norway. So they pay for their care likely at a higher rate than us.

 

[Squirlz]

My Wife and I were just this minute talking about that. We pay around $1500 a month for insurance and we only spent about $2300 for actual health care last year. It's ridiculous.

 

[Skippy918]

Yes, we do pay more for health care than anyone else. But we also expect more, and faster access. And we expect to see a Doctor, not a Physician Assistant, or Nurse Practioner. My neighbor had knee replacement surgery and had to wait 3 weeks. My Uncle in Canada had to wait 11 months. When I get sick, I go see my Doctor. When my family in Canada gets sick, they go to the local drug store and the Pharmacist treats them.
Our healthcare premiums cost just under 5% of our gross income. Our combined state and federal income tax rate is 27%, so combined that is 32%. Far less than the base tax rate in Norway. So they pay for their care likely at a higher rate than us.

Don’t forget to add in your deductible and max out of pocket. Those could easily make that 32% jump up much higher. Many policies have max out of pocket at 5-10k.

 

[tvguy]

Don’t forget to add in your deductible and max out of pocket. Those could easily make that 32% jump up much higher. Many policies have max out of pocket at 5-10k.

Good point. But I still pay less.

 

[RamblingMad]

Good point. But I still pay less.

I pay less only because my income is high.

 

[RamblingMad]

My Wife and I were just this minute talking about that. We pay around $1500 a month for insurance and we only spent about $2300 for actual health care last year. It's ridiculous.

I add it all together and divide by my gross income.

Premiums are high, so I’d rather have it be public with some cost controls. Right now, healthcare cost increases make up a good chunk of inflation. And those higher premiums get passed onto shareholders. UNH increases its dividend about 20% per year. It’s insane.

 

[mjkacmom]

For our family of 7, we pay $10,000 max a year in premiums, deductibles, and we usually reach our family max. Most years insurance has paid out way more than $10,000, surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, ambulance rides, hospital stays...