Jack8602

Yeah not the best moment I've had! I've since invested in a full face helmet for the sport.

Fair play to doc at CareNow - in, stitched up and out within 2 hours. scar will be visible for years - it's died down a lot but it looks like i'm a bond villain, goes across top of my left eye. good conversation starter if nothing else

petitefrancaise

I think I'd probably still go and see a plastic surgeon soon to see if there's anything to be done about the scarring.

mrken30

I hit my max out of pocket last year $6k , after that it was just like using the NHS excluding the wait times. One surgery and intensive care visit will do that.

ddsrph

Harvey
Other than your recent accident how is southern Indiana working out for you? I go there often to visit friends and family in my former home of Vevay.

OldJuddian

In my mind this is the beauty of Kaiser - I don't have to worry about any bills. Every time you walk in the door there is a co-pay (typically $20) and that's all - no paperwork and no extra cost.

deadshoppingmalls

We just had our first child...all considered, we paid 2400 out of pocket on a 40k bill. Considering we're on the top tier of my company healthcare it made me weep a little, but we also had private room care for 5 days in a good hospital with incrediblely caring staff....

I just feel bad that we can afford it, and in this shitty system there are kids being born 3 zip codes over in crowded hospitals that don't deserve any different an experience than we did. You can take the socialist man out of Ireland, but not the socialist out of the man.

mrken30

Our baby with Kaiser cost $250 , I wish we could go back but I would need to change employer. Second baby in the same hospital under PPO cost around the same as you , over $2000.

jeepster

three zip codes over the care will be probably the same. The problem with American health care is ... who pays for it? If they have medicaid it's a freebee.

petitefrancaise

Our company plan was an HMO at one time ( beffore we moved here). There were so many employees that were unhappy with it that it got changed back to PPO. From what has been written here, it sounds like a no- brainer. So is the downside the lack of choice? Is that it or are there others?

Pulaski

I think if you think the NHS is the bees'-knees you'd probably like the HMO "do as your told" approach - costs are lowered by limiting the ability of patients to run-up costs that are arguably unnecessary. IMO an HD plan has a similar effect most of the time because the patient sees the direct cost and it depletes his/her HSA piggy bank.

mrken30

10 to 15 years ago HMOs around here were quite bad. There were simlar to how Pulaski describes them. Today they are much better. If it wasn't for being with an HMO previously I would not have found out about my vitamin D deficiency. My PPO provider still doesn't deem that to be a necessary test and would never have ordered it.

The best thing is you never hear the phrase "I think you insurance should cover it" and then suddenly be hit with a surprise bill.

BenK91

Me and my bank account slowly breaking by dental costs here. It's crazy and doesn't help that I need a significant amount of work done.

I have the best dental plan my employer offers and that's still terrible and only covers $1800 a year which is quite frankly nothing.

Seriously considering going to Mexico and having the work done!

petitefrancaise

Don't go to Mexico...

Do space out the treatment over a longer period of time. Ask for a breakdown of urgent - next 6 months, 6-24 months and maybe longer.

Do get another opinion, it will be different but should be in the same ballpark. If significant differences then get a 3rd. Ask to see all xrays and have them show you the problem areas.

(ex-dental hygienist)

mrken30

I got quoted out of pocket expense of $600 to have my wisdom teeth out, under HMO is cost all of $10. If HMO is not an option, put a load of money into FSA and have the work done in January if possible.

petitefrancaise

surgical removal?

that would come under the medical insurance.

Not sure if good dentists would be willing to work with an HMO for routine dental care. The whole dental insurance set-up is awful. I cannot believe just how terrible the service is for both patients and dentists