Is your health insurance affordable?

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2011

I once worked at a facility that charged $496 semi-monthly ($992 monthly) for family health coverage (employee, spouse, and at least one child).

amarilla, RN · Sep 28, 2011

Our health insurance is affordable, (IMO, coming from the insurance field previously), but the coverage is lacking. The highest benefits are reserved for inner circle providers - mostly those connected with the hospital and throughout the county. I live nearly an hour away and driving back for care isn't practical for my needs.

When I read through the terms and conditions, that sealed the deal. I decided to stay per diem and purchased my own coverage through Oxford. We live modestly so the monthly expense isn't a big deal at all.

YMMV - I am married but have no children.

Good luck!

Jmiami · Sep 28, 2011

wow. I can't imagine how that would be affordable unless you had a solid two earner household. It's interesting to me how as an RN you daily put your health at risk to do your job, yet some employers don't provide affordable health insurance coverage. The economy sure is what it is these days though and I suppose being offered any sort of plan is better than none at all )

FLmomof5 · Sep 28, 2011

When I worked for major employers family coverage was $300-400/pp. That was fine. Smaller employers get charged more for a smaller class of covered folks. (This is because the healthy basically cover the costs of the unhealthy.) Smaller employers would charge about $1K/mo for family. It was cheaper to have $ in a pre-tax medical account and pay as you go.

I am blessed that I am now married to a military man. My healthcare is of no cost to me and I don't have to worry about employer provided coverage. But since the dental coverage is no better than my employers, I choose to pay for that. This was I have no out of pocket charges for dental work.

IF you are healthy, the only coverage you should have is catastrophic. It is cheaper to pay for medical one event at a time than $12k per year! If you have a family and someone with issues or you are older, paying the $12k will be a bargain when those age related issues creep in. In the past year, I have been diagnosed with (congenital) cardiomyopathy, I have a nodule on my thyroid that they want to biopsy (most likely benign) and could potentially have bi-lateral acoustic neuromas..... glad I have the coverage!

xenogenetic · Sep 28, 2011

I work for the State of Connecticut and chose their best family plan (Anthem) and it costs $200.00 per month. Unbelievable dental coverage for $22.00/month. If you work for the Uconn health center (huge hospital here) you are also considered a state employee and in addition to state health/dental benefits your kid(s) also gets to go to any of the state university for free! I believe that if you are looking for the best benefits State government employment is hard to beat.

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2011

My hospital system has their own health insurance system as well, so I think that helps keep costs down. Its very affordable, and a pretty good plan as well. It's 1% of your salary for an individual, 2% for adding a significant other and 2.5-3% for a family. There are several choices deductible/coverage wise as well.

Dental, life, and a few other options can be added on for extra charges.

OP, you should be considering benefits when you look for a job. Always ask before accepting a position. If you'll be paying 1/2 your salary or more in benefits, it might not be the best job to take.

flightriskRN · Sep 28, 2011

Since I am not married and have no kids, but insurance is very affordable. It is about $120/month for health,vision, and dental, which I think is a very good deal. I still have to pay a small copay for office visits and for prescriptions, but it is worth it. I do not use a flex spend account.

xtxrn, ASN, RN · Sep 28, 2011

I'm on Medicare because of disability; I have a LOT of preexisting conditions.

I have to pay about 100/month for part B coverage (doc offices, blood sugar supplies)

225/month for supplemental insurance to cover all that Medicare does not.

70/month for part D (prescription drug plan)....all out of disability pay.

But, it's either pay all of that, or have to file bankruptcy again (due to medical bills, and providers no longer being willing to take payments).

I'm glad to have anything after the first two years of no coverage, and Medicaid only covering VERY low income limits (like not enough to cover rent let alone anything else- like meds to keep me out of the hospital or ED- god forbid the ED ).

linearthinker, DNP, RN · Sep 28, 2011

My husband covers us and his is paid for entirely by the firm, we have no cost. However, I do buy LTD and life insurance through my employer. I pay just under $15 a pay period for the LTD and 5X my salary. I would have no out of pocket cost to cover myself if I bought their health insurance plan, but to add my family would have cost about $500 a month.

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Sep 28, 2011

I am employed by a small hospice company. My insurance is very affordable ($200/month) which includes major medical, dental, vision, wellness checkups, etc. My deductable is $550/year and Rx are free. There are 6 hospitals in the area and all but one takes our insurance (and I wouldn't go there anyway). I'm satisfied.

DookieMeisterRN · Sep 28, 2011

For a family of 4 I pay something like $30 per pay check Q2 weeks. Personal deductible is $750/yr, max out of pocket is $2,000, dental is free for my family, Rx benefit, one free CBC per yr, different plans to choose from that include vision, chiropractic, and acupuncture. Dr visits are $10. I feel very fortunate to have affordable health/dental insurance!