UGH!!! Health Insurance! How Much Did Your Premiums Go Up?

[ktlm]

Our open enrollment isn't at the end of the year. Ours is in April.

So at this point we have no idea what the cost will be.

Don't know who your insurer is, but don't be so sure. Our office plan is supposed to go to April too. A bunch of Federal laws went into effect yesterday. A couple of weeks ago BC/BS basically told us we had to renew now on one of their new offerings or our whole office would be dropped in April. We had no choice. Ours went up 25% last April, and now it is going up 20% again. That is the full company price-- there was an individual breakdown as well and some of the individuals had theirs go up by 80 or 90%. We were basically offered to stay on the same plan for that increase, or we can go with the cheaper plan, but the cheaper plan has a small network that knocks out over 1/2 of the hospitals in our metro area and a lot of providers. On one side of town, none of the hospitals are on the cheaper plan. People that lived on that side of town would have to drive 20 or 30 minutes to the closest in plan hospital- even though there are hospitals on that side of town. My employer insures the employee, but the employee has to pay for dependents. Mine is going up to around $2,000 a month for a family of 3. I honestly don't know how some of the smaller businesses are going to be able to afford insurance for their employees with the increases.

Several of my self-employed and self insured friends have been posting on facebook, and most of their premiums are being raised between 50 and 90%. One persons went from $529 a month to $1100 a month.

 

[wishuponastar42]

Mine is going up $14/month. If you include the employer paid part it went up a total of $55/month, but it is divided up the same way the rest of the premium is (roughly 75% employer, 25% employee). For reference, I do work for the federal government and have a High Deductible family health plan. Although we have a $3000 deductible, the insurance plan pays half of that into our HSA and then I take a pre-tax deduction for the other half.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

Don't know who your insurer is, but don't be so sure. Our office plan is supposed to go to April too. A bunch of Federal laws went into effect yesterday. A couple of weeks ago BC/BS basically told us we had to renew now on one of their new offerings or our whole office would be dropped in April. We had no choice. Ours went up 25% last April, and now it is going up 20% again. That is the full company price-- there was an individual breakdown as well and some of the individuals had theirs go up by 80 or 90%. We were basically offered to stay on the same plan for that increase, or we can go with the cheaper plan, but the cheaper plan has a small network that knocks out over 1/2 of the hospitals in our metro area and a lot of providers. On one side of town, none of the hospitals are on the cheaper plan. People that lived on that side of town would have to drive 20 or 30 minutes to the closest in plan hospital- even though there are hospitals on that side of town. My employer insures the employee, but the employee has to pay for dependents. Mine is going up to around $2,000 a month for a family of 3. I honestly don't know how some of the smaller businesses are going to be able to afford insurance for their employees with the increases.

Several of my self-employed and self insured friends have been posting on facebook, and most of their premiums are being raised between 50 and 90%. One persons went from $529 a month to $1100 a month.

Our open enrollment is in April, our insurance company has confirmed this.

 

[jo-jo]

Three more years and my husband qualifies for Medicare. I just hope that we can run the clock out before our bank account runs out.

My DH told me to hurry up and get old.

Insurance for me went up about 28%. I go to dr a few times a yr for meds check and the normal preventive tests. We are going to look into the high deductible plan.

 

[manning]

The people I know who pay the outrageous amounts either work for small businesses (which could be a college-educated career) or are self employed like Lawyers who have their own practice, doctors, property managers, etc. It is getting harder and harder for the mom and pop and small businesses to be able to provide insurance or even afford it for the owners etc.

When small employer goes out of business it affects the employee--they lose their job.

 

[ldo]

as a kid, in the 60s and 70s, my dad had a high paying job, but it was a small business which did not offer health ins. We had a high deductible plan for major illnesses. We only went to the Dr. when we were super sick (fever of 104, etc.) and NEVER had a physical as a kid/teen that I recall. Seems like we'll all be going back to that soon.

 

[manning]

Talking with someone approaching 90. He said this insurance mess started during WW2. Prior to that,even though, not cheap medical cost was manageable and you could negotiate with doctor.

During the war the government froze pay raises. To get around this companies started medical plans to attract people. It has gotten out of control. Understand there are doctors will greatly reduce their fees if you pay in cash. How do they do it? They save a bundle from reduced insurance paperwork.

 

[wendow]

as a kid, in the 60s and 70s, my dad had a high paying job, but it was a small business which did not offer health ins. We had a high deductible plan for major illnesses. We only went to the Dr. when we were super sick (fever of 104, etc.) and NEVER had a physical as a kid/teen that I recall. Seems like we'll all be going back to that soon.

I actually don't mind this kind of plan. We are not 'rush to doctor' types at all. A HDHP can work well for many people. My oldest dd got sick about 18 mos ago and we have *lived* in the doctors offices ever since. Before that we never went to the doctor and were content with a HDHP. Our family deductible is 10k and we have met over half that so far this year and we have many specialist and tests scheduled over next couple of months. So, we will probably meet 8k or so. We would not have done the HDHP again this year had we known how long she would be sick and that doctors would be so clueless to figure her out. However, when I compare premiums to upgrade our plan to better coverage, the cost difference is about the same as what we have paid OOP for care.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I actually don't mind this kind of plan. We are not 'rush to doctor' types at all. A HDHP can work well for many people. My oldest dd got sick about 18 mos ago and we have *lived* in the doctors offices ever since. Before that we never went to the doctor and were content with a HDHP. Our family deductible is 10k and we have met over half that so far this year and we have many specialist and tests scheduled over next couple of months. So, we will probably meet 8k or so. We would not have done the HDHP again this year had we known how long she would be sick and that doctors would be so clueless to figure her out. However, when I compare premiums to upgrade our plan to better coverage, the cost difference is about the same as what we have paid OOP for care.

That is my health life every year.

I am at the doctor's office 10- 12 times a year, the ER once or twice, plus multiple blood tests and x-rays. I've had at least one surgery every year since 2010. This year I even had an ambulance ride. I'm expensive.

 

[nene0182]

Ours went up $4/month with no change in plans.

 

[wendow]

That is my health life every year.

I am at the doctor's office 10- 12 times a year, the ER once or twice, plus multiple blood tests and x-rays. I've had at least one surgery every year since 2010. This year I even had an ambulance ride. I'm expensive.

I am so sorry. This has been a really rough year and a half for us...financially and emotionally (my dd is 16)...I cannot imagine living with chronic health problems year after year. You poor thing And it does really take a toll on your finances.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

So, for those of you who say that your rates are the same or going down, is that with keeping the same plan? or is it because your employer changed the available plans? or your employer is taking care of the increase.

And for those who work for the government or have union plans, I'm jealous. You guys seem to be insulated from the cost increases.

Ours is going up $200/month in our state, and it has a $10,000 deductible. The employer is keeping the same plan with the same company. This is not a tiny company. This is a nationwide healthcare provider. Employees in other states see different rates, or so I have been told.

 

[Mom3girls]

I don't know how much our rates are going up but I can tell you I have been very happy with our current plan and won't be changing a thing. My 16 yo has been going to specialists at CHOP bc her thyroid is greatly enlarged. 18 months, 4 specialist visits and 3 thyroid ultrasounds. She will now be on medicine for the rest of her life and will continue to be monitored for this. Older daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 11. Wore 2 different specialty back braces, many specialist appts at CHOP and lots of X-rays. NEVER paid out of pocket except for copays. Oldest is now being evaluated for Hashimotos Thyroidism like her sister. We consider ourselves to be very lucky our kids health issues have been fully covered!!

 

[coffeecassie]

Ours went up 85%. We will be paying $800 more a month next year. Makes my stomach turn.

 

[dadtoagirl03]

I'm negotiating my company's group policy at the moment. The initial increase was 19.75%, but I've got it down to 12% so far. I'm going to have to make plan changes to get the increase any lower. Our carrier lost several hundred million dollars last year in the ACA exchanges so they're making it up this year.

 

[Dakota731]

And what they neglected to tell you with Obamacare is that they can't not insure you for pre-existing conditions, but they CAN charge you astronomical monthly fees to insure you!!

 

[BigredNole]

Ours was about flat through work. I am on the High Deductible plan. Its not outrageous after running the numbers. If something catastrophic happens, the out of pocket maximum for the family is $7,500. Company puts $1,500 into our HSA and I put in another $200 a month. We should have some odd $5,000 in it at the start of 2017. That means if something catastrophic happens, we will have enough in the HSA to cover most of it and go on installments for the rest of it.

I have 2 coworkers that retired. Their premiums went from $1,700 to $2,300 a month. They are working through a group on expatriating. They visited places in Belize, Panama, and I want to say west coast of Mexico. Health insurance drops to about $250 a month, 2 bedroom villas with twice a week house cleaning is $1,400 a month (includes electric, water, trash, and housekeeping). It will cost less to live in a resort community of expatriates than health insurance alone. RT flights back are not outrageous. They always have something to do in the community and daily activities schedule at the pools, gym, community center, tennis courts, and golf course.

 

[BigredNole]

Understand there are doctors will greatly reduce their fees if you pay in cash. How do they do it? They save a bundle from reduced insurance paperwork.

In my state, they interviewed a doctor that closed her practice. When she sat with a business adviser, 75% of her expenditures was insurance related. They ran numbers if she didn't have to deal with insurance companies. Cutting her fees and taking no insurance, she would be back to making a survivable income. She worked with the adviser and attorney to create a new practice. The new practice takes no insurance. It is a membership office. You must be a member, sign a contract for the monthly fee, and you come in whenever you can. Membership fees ranged from $12-$70 per month based on age and conditions. It capped out at 700 members with an average fee of $33 a month. As part of the membership, there is complete waive of any malpractice against the doctor, PA, and facility. This means she does not have to cover insane medical malpractice insurance and lawyers. She went from a staff of herself, PA, Nurse practitioner, and 8 insurance filers to herself and her PA. She negotiated with generic prescription providers to offer cheap alternatives for most needs. Prescriptions run on average $5-$10 and are filled in the office. Lab work is an additional fee, but generally low. In the end, she said her income went from about $70,000 a year to $125,000 a year. All profits she makes goes to the facility for better equipment and paying down rent/mortgage.

 

[DisAuntie]

No changes in our plan through DH's work and no changes in monthly premiums. We pay less than $300 a month for our family with an HSA and a family deductible of $6500. I don't think we've ever met our deductible, since we rarely go to the doctor.

 

[bjscheel]

I was pretty glad to get a letter the other day with DH's new premium. It went up $35/month but I was just happy to see the plan continue. It seems expensive to me but is a pre-ACA plan and compared to what is out there now, it's a bargain. It still stinks to pay out $500+/month for something we've never really used. We haven't met our deductible except for maybe 2014 when we might have gone over by a few hundred. Though the EOBs do show discounts so maybe we saved some having insurance. Mine is covered 100% at work but DH and girls are on a plan we got ourselves. I'm afraid what it will be like if our plan is discontinued.