[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

Presumably there is a way to determine whether the claim will be denied by the insurer though before doing that procedure? I assume so at least - otherwise you are stuck playing a medical /financial version of russian roulette.

Then there's the other end in that something that was told to cover a small percentage, if at all, to then find out it was covered despite having no indication that it would be.

This scenario happened to me literally today. My budgeting app sent me a notification of a refund of something I paid for out of pocket about four months ago. Not going to complain, but strange that the decision was made to cover it despite being told numerous times it wouldn't be (and it was an absolute that I needed to get this done).

Or my earlier example of the inverse: Being told that it would be covered as it was routine, but they sent it to the wrong third party which sent it to "out of network" and me needing to foot 100% of the bill.

It's a crapshoot.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

It's getting ridiculous. I'm self employed so I have to buy my own insurance. I have BCBS and my plan is going from like $560/mo to like $780. They already did this a couple of years ago which is why I downgraded to the $560 plan back then and now they are doing it again. Plus this plan has a fairly high deductible and max out of pocket.

My main issue is I take one very expensive medication and I live in FL and NC so I need a plan that will cover me in both places. A lot of the cheaper plans will only cover FL doctors. I'm really over this crap every year.

40% hike. Niiiiiiice



Well I've got to make a decision today. Looks like we are going to pursue the low premium, high deductible route and look to chase a different job with the hopes that this crap insurance will be negated by better benefits through the new (old?) employer. Just whatever we can do to have the lowest cost of coverage and roll the dice that we won't have anything drastic happen in the hopeful short pursuit of a new job.

Wild to think that I need to change jobs because of this, but the benefits result in an out of pocket delta of effectively a mortgage. It's just not sustainable. Big company has its perks vs small company it seems...

[iX nOOky]

My employer heavily subsidizes my insurance and the company is self insured. I pay about $280 a month but I have the HSA option. My wife is on my plan as she is self employed, we pay all of our bills and save the receipts if we need the money. I put the max in the HSA every year and invest it. We are very healthy which helps.

I recall an article regarding countries with free health care and taxes I might try to dig up. Basically everyone in the US that claims those countries have insane tax rates to fund health care are right, but don't consider all taxes that people in the US can pay versus other countries, such as higher state, local, vehicle, or property taxes so it really ends up being not as bad as often claimed.

[Watching The World Burn]

Originally Posted by iX nOOky

My employer heavily subsidizes my insurance and the company is self insured. I pay about $280 a month but I have the HSA option. My wife is on my plan as she is self employed, we pay all of our bills and save the receipts if we need the money. I put the max in the HSA every year and invest it. We are very healthy which helps.

I recall an article regarding countries with free health care and taxes I might try to dig up. Basically everyone in the US that claims those countries have insane tax rates to fund health care are right, but don't consider all taxes that people in the US can pay versus other countries, such as higher state, local, vehicle, or property taxes so it really ends up being not as bad as often claimed.

Yeah, honestly I doubt the difference is as much as people think, but I truly don't know. Would imagine it would vary significantly by state, since some states have no income tax / low property tax and vice versa.

I think although the difference is likely not as significant as people believe, it is fair to say that medical care is a lot more timely in the States overall as compared to Canada. It just might really screw up retirement though.

[spazzyfry123]

Originally Posted by Watching The World Burn

Yeah, honestly I doubt the difference is as much as people think, but I truly don't know. Would imagine it would vary significantly by state, since some states have no income tax / low property tax and vice versa.

I think although the difference is likely not as significant as people believe, it is fair to say that medical care is a lot more timely in the States overall as compared to Canada. It just might really screw up retirement though.

Same for others. One of my guys lives in the UK. Simple procedure he has scheduled for early January that was identified as being needed in August...of 2024. This would have been on the books and the patient in post-op within a couple weeks here.