How much is YOUR Ins. going up in January?

[Ashton7]

My employer is keeping the cost the same for employees. I don't know if they are paying more though.

Our company did a huge overhaul to the plans offered last year, in part to prepare for the HCA. We went to mostly high-deductable plans with HSAs/HRAs, where the company funds the HSAs/HRAs each year for us with a significant portion of the annual deductible. It actually resulted in lower rates, and people feeling happier about their coverage. It did result initially in a lot of confusion as people figured out how they worked, how to get expenses submitted, etc. but in the long run, it's worked out well.

This is the type of plan we've had for a couple of years now. We do have a choice of a more "traditional" plan but it is more expensive. The plan can be confusing (my SO still doesn't understand it so I just have to administer our healthcare stuff) but it really does work out cheaper in the long run for us. We have used up our HRA funds every year so far and hit the "donut hole" where we have to pay $750 out of pocket before the regular 80/20 insurance kicks in ... but it still works out better not having to pay the co-pays every time we go to the doctor. I have ongoing health issues and now so does my SO so the co-pays over the long run would work out to a lot more than $750. The only hard part is when you have to get thru that out of pocket. Last year we even met our max out of pocket total ($1500) but after that the insurance paid 100%. I'm hoping the plan stays the same but we haven't had our sign-up period for next year yet.

 

[johde]

This is the type of plan we've had for a couple of years now. We do have a choice of a more "traditional" plan but it is more expensive. The plan can be confusing (my SO still doesn't understand it so I just have to administer our healthcare stuff) but it really does work out cheaper in the long run for us. We have used up our HRA funds every year so far and hit the "donut hole" where we have to pay $750 out of pocket before the regular 80/20 insurance kicks in ... but it still works out better not having to pay the co-pays every time we go to the doctor. I have ongoing health issues and now so does my SO so the co-pays over the long run would work out to a lot more than $750. The only hard part is when you have to get thru that out of pocket. Last year we even met our max out of pocket total ($1500) but after that the insurance paid 100%. I'm hoping the plan stays the same but we haven't had our sign-up period for next year yet.

In my searching around for information, I had run across the blog post on why if you're paying for your own insurance, getting one without a copay will probably be cheaper in the long run. His basic premise is with a copay plan you'll probably pay more in extra premium than you get in extra benefits. And so far, in my experience that pretty much been true. My current HSA plan is $179 a month. A plan with the same deductible and $30 office visits and prescription copay would probably be around $230. That's $50 a month or $600 a year extra. Right now, all my prescriptions cost less than the copay. A Dr. visit to my family Dr. charges $80 for a basic office visit but the insurance company has negotiated that down to $53. So I pay $23 extra a Dr. visit under my plan. I would need a lot of office visits to makeup $600 more in premiums. On top of that, once I reach my deductible, my insurance pays 100%, the Copay plan is 80/20 for another $2,500. So, if something bad happens I'm also out more money on the copay plan.

 

[Sadie22]

double post

 

[Sadie22]

Our deductible is going up $100, but the cost of one of my prescriptions has gone down, so we will end up paying $80 less on usual costs in 2014.

 

[kirstenb1]

I'm a little jealous of some of you. I stopped working full time back in 2003. Back then I paid $700 a month in premiums for 3 of us. And I worked for a major national brokerage/ merged with commercial banking firm.

Things have really changed since then. Dh's insurance took over, and every year they try to get everyone into the high deductible plan. He's changing jobs in 1 week, and I am scrutinizing each of the new options. For us, it just looks like insurance is shifting the way they collect money from us.

 

[Belle0101]

We just filled out the paperwork for our insurance today. It's through DH employer.

2012 I can't remember what we paid, maybe $30 something bi-weekly?
2013 HSA2 Plan $42.88 bi-weekly
2014 HSA2 Plan $59.52 bi-weekly

We have Employer + Spouse + 1 Child.

(If I figured it right, it's a 39% increase. $42.88 + 39% = $59.60.)

2012
Individual Deductible $2400.00
Family Deductible $4800.00
Out of Pocket Maximum $4800.00
The Plan paid 100% of the allowed amount(s) after the deductible was met

2013
Individual Deductible No longer applicable
Family Deductible $6000.00
Out of Pocket Maximum $8000.00
The Plan pays 80% of the allowed amount(s) after the Family Deductible is met.

2014
Individual Deductible No longer applicable
Family Deductible $6000.00
Out of Pocket Maximum $8000.00
Out of Pocket Maximum $8000.00
The Plan will pay 80% of the allowed amount(s) after the Family Deducible is met.

As if that weren't enough, some services are going to be harder to get due to more strict qualifications and shortages within certain specialties.

 

[southcarolinagirl]

Mine is going up about $700 next year. I think ins co are using this obamacare stuff as an excuse to fleece the rest of us!!

 

[Robbi]

Mine is going up about $700 next year. I think ins co are using this obamacare stuff as an excuse to fleece the rest of us!!

No, insurance companies now must cover pre existing conditions. That's expensive so we all have to pay for it through premiums.

 

[Michigan_tinkerbell]

I 100% LOVE my ins. We pay $80.00 (yes80) everything is covered at 100%. Our meds are at most then each. It's a self funded policy so our owner pays out if his pocket.

I do feel bad for everyone with high payments and sucky Ins. We use to have really bad Ins when I worked for the Insurance company.

 

[JoeyGiangola]

Got a letter from my insurance company (anthem) and because of Obamacare they are no longer offering my plan. I can have it till next October but after that I will need to find new coverage. What stinks is that all the coverage out there is way worse than what I have! What I have now is perfect $1500 deductible $40 co pay and $230 a month, however this is going to go way up next year when I switch to a higher deductible and higher monthly payment and not as good pf coverage for doctors. Lucky me.... I really wish this health care bill did not pass because it is hurting people like me who have coverage that they can now afford but next year will not be able to.

If your health insurance plan is not grandfathered with Anthem, they should have provided you with the option to "extend" your current plan until Dec. 1 2014. Health insurance companies are calling this process an early renewal. While it's not much longer than your current Oct. date, it will still save a few extra bucks.

As Johde wisely pointed out and was kind enough to share blog post on copays, I might question if you have the "perfect" health insurance policy? I would simply ask how often you find yourself at the doctors office each year to help figure out the answer?

Also, I'm assuming you do not qualify for any tax credits of subsidies inside the Health Insurance Marketplace? If you do, it doesn't matter what Anthem does with your current policy you will more than likely find your health insurance to be extremely more affordable there.

 

[dansamy]

I guess we're moving to the HDHP. I have to switch ALL of dh's doctors to "tier 1" providers. I.e. Our hospital's doctors. This is a major pain and a huge undertaking. He has primary, psych, neuro, pain management, endo, nephrologist, etc. If I continue to choose to see tier 2 doctors for him, the FAMILY deductible, that must be met before ANY insurance payments, TRIPLES to $6000!

 

[ceemys]

For years and years I have complained about the high cost of my companies insurance. It went from awesome to everything is OOP. I just received our 2014 benefit schedule. The deductibles and co-pays are the same. My premium is going up $15 per month.

Monthly premium - $269.00
Calendar year deductible - $3750.00
After that, it is 80/20 until the maximum OOP is reached.
Maximum OOP is $7500.00

The only time I used everything up is 3 years ago when my little one fell down one step and broke her jaw in 2 places and had her mouth wired to keep 6 teeth in place. I paid everything OOP. I was ticked off at my insurance company because all they 'discounted' was $500 out of a $7500 bill. They didn't even pay the 80% on the part over the $3750 because even though the surgeon takes CIGNA medical, her type of injury was covered as 'dental'. Even though a dentist would not touch her. sigh. So I had to meet the $7500 OOP versus the $3750.00.

I do like my HSA now. It rolls over and it is not a use or lose like the FLEX health care. I am contributing enough that I should have my deductible covered by end of next year.

After hearing about others premiums and health insurance, I will definitely say the grass is not greener on the other side and I will not complain.

 

[Lucky4me]

Ours is not going up at all.

 

[A_Princess'_Daddy]

I guess we're moving to the HDHP. I have to switch ALL of dh's doctors to "tier 1" providers. I.e. Our hospital's doctors. This is a major pain and a huge undertaking. He has primary, psych, neuro, pain management, endo, nephrologist, etc. If I continue to choose to see tier 2 doctors for him, the FAMILY deductible, that must be met before ANY insurance payments, TRIPLES to $6000!

I'm really sorry that this is happening to you and your family! What a pain!

 

[sherreis]

My premiums are going up by 24%.

We have a deductible of $2700 for a family and a $10,000 out of pocket. This is a company with 100,000 employees. They keep telling us what wonderful insurance benefits we get because they pay for preventive care. My response is even a woman who weighs 130 lb., eats right, exercises every day, etc, can wake up and feel a lump in her breast.

 

[dansamy]

I'm really sorry that this is happening to you and your family! What a pain!

Overall, the plan itself isn't the worst. It's the fact that I am going to have to move all his doctors. He sees 3 specialists 4 times a year each. 2 more specialists 1-2 times each. Primary care 2-4 times per year. Urgent care usually twice a year for the "man flu". The high deductible plan will be less expensive in the long run considering the amount of health care he requires. But it sure feels brutal up front, especially considering that it's only $100/mo cheaper than the plan that has a (slightly) lower deductible & copays that you pay for everything but they don't count towards either your deductible or the out of pocket maximum.

I should qualify that it's only less expensive if he moves doctors. If we stay with all his current doctors, either plan will cost far more.

 

[MonsterWDWmom]

If your health insurance plan is not grandfathered with Anthem, they should have provided you with the option to "extend" your current plan until Dec. 1 2014. Health insurance companies are calling this process an early renewal. While it's not much longer than your current Oct. date, it will still save a few extra bucks.

As Johde wisely pointed out and was kind enough to share blog post on copays, I might question if you have the "perfect" health insurance policy? I would simply ask how often you find yourself at the doctors office each year to help figure out the answer?

Also, I'm assuming you do not qualify for any tax credits of subsidies inside the Health Insurance Marketplace? If you do, it doesn't matter what Anthem does with your current policy you will more than likely find your health insurance to be extremely more affordable there.

Thank you I will talk to Anthem about extending until Dec 1. As for my co pays I do not go to my doctor that often, and yes I do not qualify for a subsidies. I have been trying to get onto the insurance website and of course I bumped into every problem that was known. Thanks again I will look into extending until Dec 1 2014.

 

[bas71873]

Thank you I will talk to Anthem about extending until Dec 1. As for my co pays I do not go to my doctor that often, and yes I do not qualify for a subsidies. I have been trying to get onto the insurance website and of course I bumped into every problem that was known. Thanks again I will look into extending until Dec 1 2014.

This is what we were able to do with Anthem. My letter said for X amount (which was about $40 more than our current monthly payment) we could keep our current plan until Dec. 1, 2014, BUT, I had to send the form in by November 15th to lock that in! After speaking with a friend in the insurance biz, she advised me to take this offer so we have the year to see what changes, how things shake out, what new plans make it into the offerings. So that's what we did.

 

[Music City Mama]

We just received our info this week and our premiums went up minimally (what they normally go up every year) -- about 4%. Our deductible per person went up by what it normally goes up, too -- about $20 (it's $625 per person or $1,250 per family). Out of pocket maximum = $6,250/$12,500. Our co-pays and co-insurance remained the same. Breathing a sigh of relief.

 

[Janet Hill]

0. DH's health insurance is funded through his union dues so we don't pay a separate amount for insurance.

That doesn't mean you aren't paying more for insurance.

Companies typically negotiate a wage with the union. This total wage is then allocated to pension, running the union hall and health insurance, etc. My husband's union just negotiated a .75/hour wage increase with the companies and all .75/hour is going to the medical fund and his deductibles are increasing.

All in an increase of ~ $6k/year for insurance and no increase for take home pay. Well except of course for those who work at the union hall they seem to be able to get an increase every year.