Hospital Insurance for Nurses

[cdale56]

Just curious if other hospital insurance plans treat their nurses like mine does? Is what my hospital is doing to us the same as what other places do too? My hospital somehow insures itself and has instituted a 500 dollar admission co-pay if admitted at this hospital or $1500 at any other hospital. (no exceptions) my hospital also charges $300 for MRIs and CT Scans, $600 if not done at this hospital. It also just raised copays for stuff like office visits and PT from 25 to 35 dollars. 100 out of pocket for ER vista

Do other hospitals make nurses pay stuff like this?

[Tait, MSN, RN]

While it used to seem that nurses should be able to get the best insurance, with employee discounts as well, it sure doesn't look like that anymore.

Last time I was on my work insurance we had a $150 co-pay for the ER, $30 at specialists/PCP, and I couldn't tell you if I actually got my discount on my cholecystectomy.

This was about two years ago.

Tait

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

When I started as a hospital nurse, I paid $35 every other week for insurance. My only out-of-pocket costs were co-pays that were $10 for all out-patient appointments and meds. ER visits were $100 but at the time - in 2007 - there were no co-pays for radiology or inpatient stays.

In 2010, insurance changed significantly. Co-pays for specialists were increased to $25, hospital admissions were $250, and High-tech scans (MRIs, CTs, PETs) were $100. It so happened that this was the most challenging medical year of my life and I had something like 16 specialist appointments, 3 MRIs, one hospital stay and, in the end, my out-of-pocket costs (on top of insurance premiums) were over $1000. I remember doing the math at the time and realizing that had everything happened a year earlier, my out-of-pocket costs would have been less than half of what they were. In the email that was sent by the hospital administration to explain these changes to us, they called them part of "$60 million dollars worth of improvements." That a hospital considers cutting health insurance for its employees to be an improvement is laughable. Premiums were also increased at that time and in the course of 3 years, I went from paying $35 per pay period to $45 to $75.

The craziest change, IMO, came in 2012 when they changed the insurance plans to say that the co-pay for MRIs would be waived at "free-standing Blue Cross preferred MRI facilities." So, the hospital would be willing to pay the entire cost of an MRI done at an independent imaging center not connected to a hospital but in order to have the test done there- at the very hospital that is providing your insurance- it would cost $100. If that's not backwards, I don't know what is. Prescription benefits were also changed and chronic meds were only covered for 3 months supplies and they HAD to be filled at CVS. While the hospital was making these changes, they were also making statements to the press opposed to new "tiered insurance plans" (because, as the highest cost provider in the state, they were worried they would lose business from people who would need to pay more to use us) saying some nonsense about how plans that restrict people's choices negatively affect care. Yet that's what they were doing to us.

[amoLucia]

Many, many moons ago, at the hospital where I worked, I had my cholecystectomy, too. Whatever the insurance didn't cover was Professional Courtesy from the hospital and my surgeon & anesthesiologist. Things have way, way-changed since those good ole' days.

To OP - haven't had any experience with programs such as yours. The major disadvantage I see is that you have to pay more if you choose to go outside the hospital network. Big problem if you really prefer other providers for whatever reasons.

It all comes down to your making a choice - the lesser of all the evils. Nothing says that employers MUST provide great benefits. Technically, benefits are a 'gift' from mgt. You probably can opt to work without benefits, if you've got coverage elsewhere.

It all comes down to who makes the profit and who pays for it.

And if you think it's problematic now, wait if you have to go COBRA, and then if you go private pay (and you're not Medicare).

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I pay $250 co-pay for ER, and $250 for CT scans done at my hospital. Otherwise it is $500 for each at a different facility. I have paid $35 for a doctor's visits, and $50 for a specialist visit for years now. My premiums are fairly cheap, tho. My best friend is a school-teacher; she pays $2 to $5 for an office visit, and $2 for a new pair of eyeglasses!

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

AmoLucia, I remember those "good old days," too. I remember when doctors would waive the co-pay as a professional courtesy.

[amoLucia]

AmoLucia, I remember those "good old days," too. I remember when doctors would waive the co-pay as a professional courtesy.

My primary did so too. And my dentist gave me 'courtesy' also.

[amoLucia]

I pay $250 co-pay for ER, and $250 for CT scans done at my hospital. Otherwise it is $500 for each at a different facility. I have paid $35 for a doctor's visits, and $50 for a specialist visit for years now. My premiums are fairly cheap, tho. My best friend is a school-teacher; she pays $2 to $5 for an office visit, and $2 for a new pair of eyeglasses!

I'll bet that your friend is a member of her professional teachers' union. I know folk, current & retired teachers, with those phenomenal union benefits.

[RainMom]

Haven't had to use my insurance much since getting it, but it seems pretty good. Deductible waived for any services at hospital or with hospital's preferred providers; just pay 10%. So a recent office visit cost me $12 & a 2-3 view ankle x-ray last year only cost about $50. So far, I'm pretty happy with it!

Also, I received an additional 20% discount from the oral surgeon last year when my son's wisdom teeth were removed just because I work at the local hospital he is affiliated with. Sweet!

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Well, mumblemumble years ago when I had my first baby my total discharge bill was $12.35 for the TV rental. The copays you list are pretty much what my insurance requires now.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We are lucky as ours covers 100% as long as we go to the hospital my hubby works at. ER is $50, PCP appoint cost nothing, specialist $35. Our eye is covered under medical and we have decent dental. But our premiums are dependent on meeting goals for the hypertension and weight loss programs my hubby is enrolled in.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

Many, many moons ago, at the hospital where I worked, I had my cholecystectomy, too. Whatever the insurance didn't cover was Professional Courtesy from the hospital and my surgeon & anesthesiologist. Things have way, way-changed since those good ole' days.

To OP - haven't had any experience with programs such as yours. The major disadvantage I see is that you have to pay more if you choose to go outside the hospital network. Big problem if you really prefer other providers for whatever reasons.

It all comes down to your making a choice - the lesser of all the evils. Nothing says that employers MUST provide great benefits. Technically, benefits are a 'gift' from mgt. You probably can opt to work without benefits, if you've got coverage elsewhere.

It all comes down to who makes the profit and who pays for it.

And if you think it's problematic now, wait if you have to go COBRA, and then if you go private pay (and you're not Medicare).

Oh my GOD professional courtesy!!!! Oh my God!!!! I forgot all about those..