What do you pay for health insurance?

GadgetRN71, ASN, RN · Apr 17, 2008

This is for individual coverage: BC/BS, no need for referrals, $15 dollars for office visits and urgent care walk-ins, $50 for ER which is waived if you get admitted. RX coverage which is $5/$20/$30-depending on the formulary of preferred drugs. I pay $15.35 per pay period and we get paid weekly. No deductibles.

I also get my dental insurance through my hospital.

anniesong · Apr 17, 2008

I have coverage through BC/BS and I'm the only one on the plan, no referrals needed, no deductible, provider network includes my state and I think two states near me as well, $10 copayment, Rx coverage of $3 for generic and $6 for others. I pay $7.70 per pay period (biweekly).

Dental is free (since it only covers me) and covers 80% of the cost of visits and procedures.

lamazeteacher · Apr 19, 2008

Agree, and work on the managed care side, that's a pretty good rate for family!
Much of it is to do with the employer group itself and it's 'buying power' like anything else; have a sis in Florida who pays over 400 for her family! And from what I've heard, when they had needs, coverage was not as robust as what I have for less than half the cost.

It's very important to read the health insurance policy very carefully, and then ask what cap the insurance company has on the coverage. To my dismay, I almost took the insurance offered by the HH agency where I worked "per diem", for $325./month (that was 5 years ago); then I found the cap it would pay/year, was $1750.!

But we all pay far too much, to keep those "fat cat" insurance execs in their fancy offices, making millions/year. I'm for cutting out those middle people, and going for a "single payor" system similar to those in Canada and Great Britain. The complaints coming from patients about care in those countries is greatly exaggerated (usually by MDs who are afraid they might not get their million + a year).

The other main difference is that hospitals in those countries are very clean, but don't have decorator lobbies with matching furniture. They do have the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment, but it's not in every hospital, trying to outdo each other for monetary gain.

I don't care to go to a hospital where I'm unaware of much going on around me, due to whatever got me there, and have a bill that's exorbitant- not because I'm helping to cover less fortunate peoples' healthcare, but expensive, enormous fountains splashing huge quantities of water (during a drought) are down the hill before you get up to the hospital, and you can't hear that "white" noise in the hospital anyway. It would be better to pipe the sound of waves into everyone's room to help them relax......

We have to make priorities here, and it's clear to me that our healthcare $$$ aren't serving us well. Also, our doctors were primed, when they entered medical school, to make a fortune. In Canada and Great Britain and all the other civilized countries that have government paid - not run! - healthcare plans, the doctors are in medicine because they care a lot for others' wellbeing, and are dedicated to do their best for them.

Canada yielded to doctors' braying that they want more money than the taxes witheld can pay, so many have signs in their offices announcing that the patient is responsible for the extra they charge. Why not just get a "tip" jar?

If you think you're not paying for unemployed, indigent and illegal immigrants' healthcare, just look around the waiting room of a hospital's emergency room any day. The reason they're in emergency, and have become seriously ill due to lack of preventive measures, is that no private doctor would see them earlier, and now their conditions have become more expensive to treat.

The healthcare insurance companies have caused employers to pass on costs to employees, when just a few years ago, the employee and their family were fully covered by one person's employment. BC/BS/Anthem rules that anyone who is over 55 must be charged $1,000/month more than the average employee, so those experienced personnel are suddenly without their jobs. That company also dictates that Medicare cann0t be the "primary" insurer of those over 65, so they can get another $2,000 + per

month. I was told that by friends who own their own company with 15 - 20 employees, and they couldn't afford their own health insurance (being of the aforementioned ages), so they retired and left their business in the hands of their son. :bluecry1:

CHATSDALE · Apr 19, 2008

lamaze teacher

i got mixed signals about canada

1, the doctors are paid a fixed amount

2' the doctors require an amount over the fixed amount

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Apr 19, 2008

that sounds great to me but check out the hospital benefits. my husband just had surgery to the tune of $80,000. we have to pay 20% or $16,000 and my husband lost his job just days before his surgery. talk about being up a creek. i'm working 60 hours a week trying to make ends meet. we have $15 co-pays for doctors visits and only $2 , $5, or $10 for prescriptions.... but the hospital benefits...

lisa333 · Apr 19, 2008

I'm a 23 yr old student in SF, and I pay $83/month. It's a high deductible plan ($2700) but worth it to me since I'm reasonably healthy and just like the security that I won't go deep into debt if anything terrible happens. FYI, I would gladly pay high taxes to insure that no one I know has to go without health care.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 19, 2008

No payment coming out of my check for GHI, $15 co-pay for doctor's visit, 1199 union for prescriptions for family, no co-pay for scripts, but for a chronic illness, I have to mail in the script for them to provide monthly refills. I don't have to mail in for antibiotics or one time scripts. 100% pay for eyeglass and dental, but I have to use their providers. I am a civil servant, so, our benefits are currently great. I can see how benefits may decrease later on, though.

lamazeteacher · Apr 20, 2008

My husband is self employed and my rate just went up $150 per month! So now my monthly cost is $1500. This is only for a family of 3. I can't wait to get through school and get a job!

You'll have a shorter wait for much less expensive healthcare coverage, if you write the candidates for President, urging them to support a "single payer" program for all Americans (not government run by idiots, or "socialized medicine", but trusted government officials handling the money (collecting and dispensing it, and their computers and clothes searched as they go home - just kidding) only. Health professionals are planning it in Washington now (see [email protected])

It's criminal (yet legal) that health insurance executives have annual multimillion dollar salaries (lest the company seem too profit driven), and they capture your spending money earned through your sweat and tears for their gain, which could be given the merchants you would be patronizing for things you want for your pleasure/needs. In other words, enhancing the wellbeing of the people who need/deserve it most, in our country. :mad:

lamazeteacher · Apr 20, 2008

Bi-weekly deduction is $176.31 (CIGNA) for family of 4. No deductibles, no referrals necessary, $25 for Primary Care or Specialist, $100 ER visit.
They are the best insurance we've ever had -- they pay the provider quickly, we've never had a problem. We had Aetna before and they would not pay until we got collection notices! We are grateful to finally get a good carrier.

The key to your post is the statement that you've "never had a problem" - health problem. The merit of any company, is their performance in adverse (expensive) circumstances. Many HMOs function so well for the people able to prevent severe illness, but when the costs rise, so do the employers' premiums, and jobless you go......... :nono:

lamazeteacher · Apr 20, 2008

lamaze teacher
i got mixed signals about canada
1, the doctors are paid a fixed amount
2' the doctors require an amount over the fixed amount

No, you got it!

At first the programs tried to prohibit overcharging (that is, charging more than other physicians planning payments/charges thought was equitable).

However, some clever legal maneuvering must have reversed that and "overages" are permitted now, which has necessitated supplementary health insurance policies, the cost of which is borne by the citizens who wish to be seen by the gougers..... who usually have a reputation that supports their greed.

That's according to my retired sister there. I don't know if employers have been persuaded to pay the premiums, or not. I'll ask my neice, who is a pain management physician there. Her husband owns a large business with many employees.....

lamazeteacher · Apr 20, 2008

I'm a 23 yr old student in SF, and I pay $83/month. It's a high deductible plan ($2700) but worth it to me since I'm reasonably healthy and just like the security that I won't go deep into debt if anything terrible happens. FYI, I would gladly pay high taxes to insure that no one I know has to go without health care.

You are young, wise, and have your eyes wide open! How I wish others like you would follow your lead AND vote for the presidential candidate who comes up with a health care program benefiting us all.

I am somewhat concerned that you want health coverage for those you know - what about others? :heartbeat

Wendy_RN · Apr 20, 2008

I am somewhat concerned that you want health coverage for those you know - what about others? :heartbeat

I think you have taken what she was saying out of context.