prawn_86

Hi All,

First post here.

Actually an Aussie, but this is by far the best expat forum we have found.

We will be moving to LA in a few months and had a question about health insurance costs. I have already read through the wiki but it didn't answer all questions.

My employer offers the following (paid twice a month):
Low HMO 145 per pay check
Hi HMO 205 per pay check
PPO 325 per pay check

I am awaiting details as to what that actually covers, but 4 - 9k pa seems extremely expensive. Can anyone recommend where else to look or any cheaper alternatives? <<<snip>>> seems to have similar PPO plans for 400pm

We are a couple under 30 with no kids

Any advice much appreciated

ian-mstm

Not for the US.

Ian

nun

Agreed. The employer is probably paying at least 50% of the premium, so the OP won't find better or cheaper coverage outside of his work plan.

Make sure you look at deductibles too. On the "low plan" they might be quite large so you have to weigh that against the lower premium and your general health.

US health insurance is very expensive and complicated and comes as a shock to many moving to the US. The standard of care is usually very good, although you (or your insurance) of ten pay for unnecessary tests and treatments, so what out for that.

Bob

That's pretty cheap.

You don't really have a option, it's work based to have any worth, as private plans are a waste of money.

Got to figure in the cost of co-pays, deductibles, levels of coverage and all kinds of small print.

Giantaxe

My advice is never get a private plan if a work plan is available. I think it was brat (?) who did this and ran into a world of pain. Group plans provide you with protections that simply don't exist currently for private plans. The latter can simply get rid of you if you get sick etc. Having said that, things may change starting in 2014, due to the Affordable Care Act. That effectively extends protections that you currently have in group plans to private plans. But it's really not clear yet how the ACA implementation is going to play out.

Noorah101

Sounds about right to me. I have an HMO and my part of the premium is $203 bi-weekly, withheld from my paycheck. I also have dental insurance, at $14 bi-weekly. With my HMO, I pay a $20 co-pay whenever I see the doctor, and about $10 per prescription. My dental payment (to the dentist) varies, depending on what work I have done.

Oh, I should mention the insurance is for me and my spouse, no kids. Our ages are not relevent since it's a group plan covered by my employer.

Rene

SanDiegogirl

Does not seem overly expensive to me.

What are the deductibles? Especially for the PPO. The lower the deductible (the cost you have to pay out before the scheme starts paying anything) the higher the premium.

Sally Redux

On our choice of plans, the lowest-cost plan has the lowest co-pays and the PPO the highest.

prawn_86

Thanks for the advice everyone

Scouse Express

My father-in-law's Kidney Dialysis costs just under $5,000 per week (for three treatments) over here.

I wouldn't bitch about the cost of insurance when Health Care Providers can get away with charging these prices.


Jim

E3only

Put it this way - if you were earning 150K in Australia you will be charged 2.5% medicare levy OR 1.5% levy + Pvt Health insurance. When I was in Australia I think I was paying 1.5% and around 110 a month of shi tty pvt insurance. At 150K household income that's around ~3.5K. Remember the 110 a month is POST tax dollars so really it was ~4k a year.

Just saying.....

prawn_86

Yeh i hadnt thought of it like that. Here in Aus for a young couple we are paying just over 4k once you take the medicare levy and our private insurance into account.

penguinsix

This is our general guide to Health Insurance that might answer some of your questions on terms and the process.

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Health_Insurance