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davejh23 (< 20)

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October 16, 2012 – Comments (7) | RELATED TICKERS: UNH

It's that time of year when most of us have to review our health insurance options, changes, etc... and make our selections for the coming year...at least if you have health insurance through your employer.  My selections are due in by the end of this week and I first checked out the options this afternoon.  I was shocked! 

Monthly premiums: +67%

Well care co-pay: From $15 to $0...the only highlight.

Primary care co-pay: +67%

Specialist co-pay: +167%

Out-of-pocket max (individual): +67%

Out-of-pocket max (family): +150%

Out-of-pocket max (individual) - out of network: +150%

Out-of-pocket max (family) - out of network: +275%

The prescription drug provider has changed, but I haven't had a chance to check out the details there yet. 

There is a low premium, high out-of-pocket max, HSA plan, but apples-to-apples, the EPO/PPO option premiums are up a ridiculous amount while offering far worse coverage than before. 

Is everyone else seeing the same thing?

FYI - The providers I'm talking about are United Healthcare and Blue Cross / Blue Shield

 

 

7 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On October 16, 2012 at 6:25 PM, davejh23 (< 20) wrote:

I just did some quick calculations:

Our family had significant medical expenses this year.  Our out of pocket expenses ended up being ~6.85% of our gross income...not crippling, and not enough for a deduction, but enough to sqeeze the budget a bit. 

If we have a similar year next year, our out of pocket expenses will end up being ~11.65% of gross income...this will eat up most of our current disposible income.

I'm counting on payroll tax increases eating up any raise that I might receive, so this is starting to scare me a bit.  Lets hope we all stay healthy.

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#2) On October 16, 2012 at 9:11 PM, HarryCarysGhost (99.78) wrote:

Yes I am seeing the same thing, For the past year my boss has been deducting $50 beans from my check for the healthcare he can't cover (he put's in $250 pr/mnth)

16 yrs I've been there used it once.

Were trying to find a cheaper plan, but I think my best bet might be to get private insurance.With the bossman cutting me a check every month...?

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#3) On October 16, 2012 at 11:03 PM, awallejr (82.46) wrote:

Actually my expenses have decreased despite my health issues.  I dropped BC/BS and replaced it with Easy Choice HMO.  I am still not sure how Obamacare will play as an option to use.  I need to buy the Cliff Notes.

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#4) On October 17, 2012 at 10:49 AM, drgroup (68.36) wrote:

There is nothing in my healthcare cost that have not skyrocketed. Where is the more affordable healthcare promised by obama?

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#5) On October 17, 2012 at 11:51 AM, EnigmaDude (96.95) wrote:

No - seeing just the opposite

We use Cigna and it looks like our premiums are not going up at all.  With more than 1,000 employees I was surprised that our healthcare insurance is NOT going up!  A lot of that is due to wellness programs and an emphasis on healthy lifestyles and has nothing to do with politics or "Obamacare".

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#6) On October 17, 2012 at 8:42 PM, HarryCarysGhost (99.78) wrote:

I forgot to add that the reason it wen't up so much is my 60 year old foreman was added to the plan after his wife was laid off from corporate Micky D's and he no longer had that insurance.

Hope that makes more sense (it's a small shop six employees)

Not hi-jacking the thread but if anyone has some words of wisdom please enlighten.

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#7) On October 18, 2012 at 7:27 PM, rd80 (99.10) wrote:

Employee healthcare contributions are going up 15% across the board at my work place.

Also, healthcare flex spending account set aside was reduced from $5k to $2.5k.  According to the benefits info, the reduction was due to the Affordable Care Act.  

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