Insurance, Insurance, Insurance

[rmsm]

So I have assumed that its better to get private insurance. Currently, the hospital I work for I don't pay anything besides my co-pay and deductible with is less than 250. I have an amazing dental plan as well. I don't understand many private insurance and the deductibles are crazy high. I am thinking to get all my check ups done before I quit my job so I have a baseline for everything. So how do you just choose a insurance. I know its good to have your own medical and dental insurance if you change agency to agency. Is there any other insurance you guys get like accidental etc? My current hospital pays for all that so I don't pay for nothing extra. What insurance do you guys have?

Thanks!!!

[NedRN]

Your true cost of your group health insurance policy is perhaps $500 to $800 a month (ask your benefits person for the COBRA value). If the hospital wasn't providing insurance, they could pay you more. You need to understand that before you can properly evaluate your options. High deductible insurance usually lowers your total annual cost and it is your annual cost you want to be concerned with, not what a single doctor's visit is going to cost.

You can COBRA your current insurance for 18 months, but it is likely you will do better on the healthcare exchange, or directly with a private insurer, or look at agency insurance (usually crappy) once you know the real cost of insurance. I'm not so sure about dental insurance costs, or whether it is worth it for most people, but I understand it is available on the exchanges as well.