Daily Living and Thoughts
Dec 3rd 2015, 6:24 pm
#46
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 87
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
With his meds, we'd pay $5500 ($500 copay per 90 days), meds are not accounted to the deductible, so we would still have to pay $1900 before the insurance even begins to cover 80% for visits, etc.
The high deductible costs us $77 bi weekly * 26 = $2000, deductible is $2600 (normally $5000 but employer pays the rest).
One time meds for my hubby is roughly $2500, which accounts to the deductible, so then we're out $4500 and have only $100 deductible left until everything is covered 100%.
I guess it depends a lot on cash flow. If you don't have the money to pay the $2500 for meds out of pocket, then yes that's a problem (even though you could use a flexible spending account), but if you can, then the high deductible is (in our case) saving us money. My employer is not contributing to our HSA, but as said above is paying a little under half of the deductible.
Dec 3rd 2015, 9:33 pm
#47
Joined: Sep 2012
Location: Dancing round my handbag
Posts: 2,673
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Shootings are not something I spend much time worrying about - like it or not, as a purely factual observation, shootings are almost entirely gang and/or drug related, and this is especially true of the Charlotte area. Unless you go out of your way to make high risk friendships, purchase illegal drugs, or otherwise hang around the "wrong part of town" after dark, IMO you have little to worry about. ..... That said I knew nothing about murders and murderers in the UK, but since moving here I have met, to talk to, two people who were subsequently murdered, and known fairly well, two men who went on to commit three murders. 
Maybe I spend too much time in the wrong part of town. 
Curiously, among the killers and killings, only a single one was a shooting.
Maybe I spend too much time in the wrong part of town. Curiously, among the killers and killings, only a single one was a shooting.
Dec 3rd 2015, 9:47 pm
#48
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Like movie theaters, elementary schools, high schools, healthcare facilities, day centers? Maybe you don't spend much time worrying about shootings, but they happen frequently and indiscriminately. There have been more mass shootings (4+ victims) this year than there have been days.
My point was, and remains, that most shootings are drug/gang related. That there are (compared to most countries) relatively common spree shootings, doesn't alter the fact that those spree shootings are, from the perspective of any one individual, a vanishing rare occurance, and if I was prone to worrying about my premature demise it would be from a road accident, which accounts for 100 deaths per day, every day, in the US.
Life is too short to worry about something I have no control over.
Last edited by Pulaski; Dec 3rd 2015 at 9:50 pm.
Dec 3rd 2015, 9:50 pm
#49
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Joined: Oct 2007
Location: Charlotte,NC
Posts: 1,717
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Hello there,
Well after YEARS of thinking about moving to the USA and subsequent job searches from across the Atlantic (neither my husband or I are risky enough to just go there without a job), we finally have a job offer on the table. It's not perfect, but timely as my husband was let go from his previous job a few weeks ago due to a company restructure. It's a contract to hire job with a 1-year initial contract. He also received a perm job offer locally today as well....so we have a lot to think about (and more importantly, to be grateful for).
Now that there is a real opportunity in the US (the job is in Fort Mill, SC), we are starting to think about what our daily lives would be like (we are originally from the US but have naturalised in the UK and my husband has lived here for 20 years and I have been here for 13).
So, some of the things we are thinking about (well I am anyway) are how bothered we would actually be in our daily lives about guns and the horrific shootings in the US, medical care, lack of holiday, etc.
How is it for you? Do these things really bother you in your daily lives? if not, what does?
For those of you in the Fort Mill/Charlotte area - did you find it difficult to settle there? What's the traffic like? Do you like living there? Dislike? What's the good and bad we should consider?
TIA for any thoughts/experiences
Well after YEARS of thinking about moving to the USA and subsequent job searches from across the Atlantic (neither my husband or I are risky enough to just go there without a job), we finally have a job offer on the table. It's not perfect, but timely as my husband was let go from his previous job a few weeks ago due to a company restructure. It's a contract to hire job with a 1-year initial contract. He also received a perm job offer locally today as well....so we have a lot to think about (and more importantly, to be grateful for).
Now that there is a real opportunity in the US (the job is in Fort Mill, SC), we are starting to think about what our daily lives would be like (we are originally from the US but have naturalised in the UK and my husband has lived here for 20 years and I have been here for 13).
So, some of the things we are thinking about (well I am anyway) are how bothered we would actually be in our daily lives about guns and the horrific shootings in the US, medical care, lack of holiday, etc.
How is it for you? Do these things really bother you in your daily lives? if not, what does?
For those of you in the Fort Mill/Charlotte area - did you find it difficult to settle there? What's the traffic like? Do you like living there? Dislike? What's the good and bad we should consider?
TIA for any thoughts/experiences
Yes property taxes are way better than Charlotte. Gas is at $1.70 right now. Not much in the way of good restaurants but then you wouldn't be far from Ballantyne/South Park and even uptown. There's a light rail that goes uptown from Pineville.
I love it here, just got back from Hilton Head Beach, just a 3.5hr drive and will have a weekend in the mts soon. Great airport to get almost anywhere in the caribbean and across the US. Weather is good, bit steamy in July/Aug but rest of year is great for those of us who don't like the cold.
The politics is a bit draining/soul destroying at the moment but it's an election year so to be expected that all the wackos will emerge.
Fortunately haven't needed any medical care but apparently it is excellent. I take advantage of the annual checkups and they are very thorough. Also plenty of holidays so not subjected to US standards of PT but friends seem to manage ok.
All in all a great place to live.
Last edited by Orangepants; Dec 3rd 2015 at 9:53 pm.
Dec 3rd 2015, 10:01 pm
#50
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College Pa.
Posts: 1,585
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
I'm paying $470/mo for all 4 of us medical and dental, with a $400 deductible per each.
Dec 3rd 2015, 10:35 pm
#51
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
But if you don't make more than a couple of visits to the GP each, then you may be substantially over-insured. If you have access to a HD policy similar to ours you might be able to halve your premiums (dead money) and save $3,000 (tax deductible) to put towards any medical expenses either this year or any future year.
Dec 3rd 2015, 10:38 pm
#52
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College Pa.
Posts: 1,585
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
But if you don't make more than a couple of visits to the GP each, then you may be substantially over-insured. If you have access to a HD policy similar to ours you might be able to halve your premiums (dead money) and save $3,000 (tax deductible) to put towards any medical expenses either this year or any future year.
Dec 4th 2015, 12:48 am
#53
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Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,043
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
I hit my $2500 deductible through 10 sessions of PT this year. You've got a good deal there. And actually your premium sounds like a pretty good price to me.
Dec 4th 2015, 1:35 am
#54
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Joined: Jul 2010
Location: North East Ohio, USA
Posts: 1,933
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Like movie theaters, elementary schools, high schools, healthcare facilities, day centers? Maybe you don't spend much time worrying about shootings, but they happen frequently and indiscriminately. There have been more mass shootings (4+ victims) this year than there have been days.
Dec 4th 2015, 2:02 am
#55
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Joined: Feb 2013
Location: State College Pa.
Posts: 1,585
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
We only started getting deductibles even last year, as the consequence of the Obamacare tax on gold plated health care policies. Pharmacy is still free on our plan
Dec 4th 2015, 5:10 pm
#56
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Joined: Jun 2011
Location: California
Posts: 471
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Just to make you all feel better, our insurance for next year is $1262 a month (2 adults, 3 children). I almost cried as with the last company it was $290 a month and a much better plan! We can't go with Obamacare as it only covers you within the state (for Florida anyway) and my husband travels for work.
Copied from plan info -
Anthem EQ PPO 5900
$5,900 in network calendar year deductible. Once a maximum of two family members meet the deductible, it will be considered satisfied.
$6,350 out of pocket maximum that includes deductible and prescription drug maximum allowed amount. The amount is $12,700 for a family.
$35 office visit copay for the first three visits. The deductible applies thereafter.
Preventive care is covered at 100%.
The in network coinsurance level is 100% after the deductible for most services.
Prescription drugs copays are $15 / $35 / 30%, after a $500 deductible for a 30 day supply and $15 / $70 / 30%
after a $500 deductible for a 31-90 day supply.
Out of Network benefits differ. Please see your summary.
Copied from plan info -
Anthem EQ PPO 5900
$5,900 in network calendar year deductible. Once a maximum of two family members meet the deductible, it will be considered satisfied.
$6,350 out of pocket maximum that includes deductible and prescription drug maximum allowed amount. The amount is $12,700 for a family.
$35 office visit copay for the first three visits. The deductible applies thereafter.
Preventive care is covered at 100%.
The in network coinsurance level is 100% after the deductible for most services.
Prescription drugs copays are $15 / $35 / 30%, after a $500 deductible for a 30 day supply and $15 / $70 / 30%
after a $500 deductible for a 31-90 day supply.
Out of Network benefits differ. Please see your summary.
Dec 4th 2015, 7:18 pm
#57
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Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
But if you don't make more than a couple of visits to the GP each, then you may be substantially over-insured. If you have access to a HD policy similar to ours you might be able to halve your premiums (dead money) and save $3,000 (tax deductible) to put towards any medical expenses either this year or any future year.
So there's often little or no choice about policies or costs. But not always - current employer offers three plans, two traditional copay-based insurances, and a high deductible plan. The HD is by far the best choice for ANYONE, even if they max out their deductible - PPO plan, excellent doctor network, etc. I worry that grown ups don't appear to be able to do third grade math, and work this out.
The $3k you mention for the HSA is roughly the amount for a single person; a couple or family can sock away $6550 this year, free of taxes or FICA if deducted at source.
Dec 4th 2015, 7:45 pm
#58
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
But yes, you are correct, it always makes sense to max out your HSA contributions assuming you have the spare cash to do so.
Dec 4th 2015, 7:59 pm
#59
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Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Right, the $3,000 was just an example for the purposes of those numbers - for the case I was talkng about, halving the premium would give you roughly $3k of "free money" to put in an HSA.
But yes, you are correct, it always makes sense to max out your HSA contributions assuming you have the spare cash to do so.
But yes, you are correct, it always makes sense to max out your HSA contributions assuming you have the spare cash to do so.
We had to change HSA providers for the new employer, and the new one is fabulous - much better user interface, and a great choice of investment options including very low cost Vanguard funds. We have to keep $1k in cash, but the rest can be invested. I'm viewing it as another IRA.
Dec 4th 2015, 8:03 pm
#60
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Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,834
Re: Daily Living and Thoughts
Just to make you all feel better, our insurance for next year is $1262 a month (2 adults, 3 children). I almost cried as with the last company it was $290 a month and a much better plan! We can't go with Obamacare as it only covers you within the state (for Florida anyway) and my husband travels for work.
Doesn't Florida even cover emergency care out-of-state? I would have assumed it would be an Obamacare requirement. The BCBS ACA plan we took out in Arizona even covered overseas emergency care.
They really need to tidy up these ridiculous cross-state differences. How must it work for people who live right on the border of states, and live/ work/ shop across both. So pointlessly complicated.