How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
#16
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Joined: Feb 2012
Location: Purgatory (PU, USA)
Posts: 860
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Peace of mind = priceless.
#17
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
You're preaching to the choir. The NHS served me well. No amount of money over here will buy that level of peace of mind, unless I win the lottery or can earn $300,000 a year. Those with stellar health insurance over here now could be laid off and find themselves staring into the 'WTF' abyss. It could happen to anyone.
Peace of mind = priceless.
Peace of mind = priceless.
#18
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Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
To Ethelred_the_Unready, so you implicitly admit that those US government workers may have a better deal?
Of course, it is true they may lose everything if they lose the job.
In my friend's case, he said that is why it is very difficult to fire any permanent workers in his organization. They rely on the unions and office politics to fight to the death. So it is very hard to sack anyone.
Of course, it is true they may lose everything if they lose the job.
In my friend's case, he said that is why it is very difficult to fire any permanent workers in his organization. They rely on the unions and office politics to fight to the death. So it is very hard to sack anyone.
#19
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
2. The cost: My wife and I in the UK both have to pay the national insurance to get access to NHS.
#20
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Yes that's why I live there. If I lost my job it's MA law that I must buy my own health insurance. Under COBRA I could keep my existing insurance for 18 months paying the full $400/month after that I'd have to buy private insurance which would be around $500/month for a $2k deductible and $4k annual out of pocket max plan. Also in MA you cannot be refused insurance or pay higher premiums because you have a pre-existing condition.
#21
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
#22
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Hi fatbrit, my question, as in the title, is only about the healthcare insurance available to government employees. I would appreciate hearing information about this particular aspect only. Not a general criticism about the whole country.
Is there any evidence that those working in the public sector in the UK have comparable package, or is it simply that US government employees enjoy better care?
Is there any evidence that those working in the public sector in the UK have comparable package, or is it simply that US government employees enjoy better care?
Last edited by jmorgnita; Nov 9th 2012 at 12:48 am.
#23
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Hi fatbrit, my question, as in the title, is only about the healthcare insurance available to government employees. I would appreciate hearing information about this particular aspect only. Not a general criticism about the whole country.
Is there any evidence that those working in the public sector in the UK have comparable package, or is it simply that US government employees enjoy better care?
Is there any evidence that those working in the public sector in the UK have comparable package, or is it simply that US government employees enjoy better care?
Generally, government employees get better health care benefits than the average employee. But you can't compare it with the UK where residency, not your employer, is the only qualification for excellent, cost-effective health care.
#24
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
There are federal, state, county and city employees. 1 federation, 50 states (+ a few odds and ends), 3000 odd counties and gawd-knows-how-many cities. So any answer is going to be a generalization.
Generally, government employees get better health care benefits than the average employee. But you can't compare it with the UK where residency, not your employer, is the only qualification for excellent, cost-effective health care.
Generally, government employees get better health care benefits than the average employee. But you can't compare it with the UK where residency, not your employer, is the only qualification for excellent, cost-effective health care.
There is a wide range of health insurance offered to US Government employees and retirees. The premiums are usually far less than those paid by people in private industry. The standard of care will be similar to that you get on the NHS. So IMHO and as a MA Government worker the NHS is better because it gives comparable care at a lower cost and there are no out of pocket expenses. FYI the level of taxation in the US is similar to that in the UK once Federal, state, and local taxes are included......and then you also have to pay for health care.
Last edited by nun; Nov 9th 2012 at 1:27 am.
#26
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Hi fatbrit, my question, as in the title, is only about the healthcare insurance available to government employees. I would appreciate hearing information about this particular aspect only. Not a general criticism about the whole country.
Is there any evidence that those working in the public sector in the UK have comparable package, or is it simply that US government employees enjoy better care?
Is there any evidence that those working in the public sector in the UK have comparable package, or is it simply that US government employees enjoy better care?
One example, I've already given. Do you think that's better?
Folks in the UK generally don't need healthcare as a benefit, so they get other benefits...holiday allowance generally being one of them that is much better than offered in the US.
#27
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Just giving my own example:-
Almost two years ago I had to go to hospital with headaches. This wound up being a 4 night hospital stay, 3 months of speech therapy, several more visits for tests and 6 months after I was admitted, I ended up getting brain surgery - this was at Johns Hopkins, which is definitely world class.
I'm a state employee, with a pretty good insurance policy (but not the best I can get), and ended up paying somewhere in the region of $1,000 of this. The biggest chunk I payed was for the therapy, but the surgery was as close to free, and many of the pills were free.
Almost two years ago I had to go to hospital with headaches. This wound up being a 4 night hospital stay, 3 months of speech therapy, several more visits for tests and 6 months after I was admitted, I ended up getting brain surgery - this was at Johns Hopkins, which is definitely world class.
I'm a state employee, with a pretty good insurance policy (but not the best I can get), and ended up paying somewhere in the region of $1,000 of this. The biggest chunk I payed was for the therapy, but the surgery was as close to free, and many of the pills were free.
#28
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
I'm very grateful for the fantastic insurance I get as a Massachusetts state worker and I have access to some of the in the world's best hospitals like Mass General. My single person premium is $50/month. There is no deductible, but I pay $15 for each doctor visit, $100 for the first diagnostic test and $250 if I get admitted to hospital. Last year I had some outpatient surgery and the cost was $115. I also have excellent dental insurance that costs $12/month and recently had a root canal. The bill was $1400 and was completely covered by my insurance.
I've much the same as a dependent under my husband's NYS healthcare provided by CSEA (the school system). Before he retired he paid no premium for either himself or me. After retirement, his is still free, they reimburse him for his Medicare payment and my insurance (the same as I have always carried) is $100 a month, so $1,200 annually. I have no deductible; it is a PPO so I can see anyone without a referral; emergency room fee is $60 and a charge of $100 if admitted to hospital as a patient. Co-pay is $10 per visit for primary care personnel and $25 for specialist.
#29
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
Based on the few examples I have read here, I would say the cost of federal/state employees insurance is better than what most of us in the private sector has. But as far as getting better healthcare in a better hospital, I would disagree with that.
#30
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Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Evanston, IL
Posts: 135
Re: How good is healthcare insurance for those government employees?
I am a fairly new fed employee and compared to the plans I had with previous employer (private sector) fed plans are better. I think I pay $150 per month for husband and myself - need to check on that. There are at least 200+ plans to choose from - all of them are listed on OPM.gov website