Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
Feb 21st 2009, 1:07 am
#31
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
The health insurance being offered may be reasonable, but I don't know that yet or what I am electing for. You would clearly know that if you had read my postings in this thread.
Feb 21st 2009, 1:11 am
#33
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
How can I make the choices and decisions if I don't understand what they are and what the implications are for this, that, this, that...?
It isn't a simple "the company pays 90% of everything and you pay the rest" kind of deal.
My HR dept just direct me to Powerpoint presentations in an email - not very helpful.
Feb 21st 2009, 1:13 am
#34
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
[just noticed penguinsix's reply - this kind of duplicates but spells it out...]
Here's an explanation of FSA/HSAs as I understand it.
You ask your employer to take some of your pay, before tax, and put it in account.
You can spend money from that account on anything permitted by the IRS - typically health-related expenses (copays etc, things from the pharmacy, dental bills etc.), child care.
Either you're given a debit card to spend from the account, or you file claims to get the money by sending in receipts.
Places like Target now print receipts that highlight and total the items that are eligible.
At the end of the year, anything you haven't spent is lost (and I believe the employer gets to keep, which would explain why they push these schemes).
So the potential up-side is that money that you spend on health-related items isn't taxed. The potential down-side is that you forfeit the money that you didn't get round to spending.
Here's an explanation of FSA/HSAs as I understand it.
You ask your employer to take some of your pay, before tax, and put it in account.
You can spend money from that account on anything permitted by the IRS - typically health-related expenses (copays etc, things from the pharmacy, dental bills etc.), child care.
Either you're given a debit card to spend from the account, or you file claims to get the money by sending in receipts.
Places like Target now print receipts that highlight and total the items that are eligible.
At the end of the year, anything you haven't spent is lost (and I believe the employer gets to keep, which would explain why they push these schemes).
So the potential up-side is that money that you spend on health-related items isn't taxed. The potential down-side is that you forfeit the money that you didn't get round to spending.
Is FSA different to HSA or the same?
Feb 21st 2009, 1:41 am
#35
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 35,082
Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
There are numerous options, choices, things to consider and ask questions about and decisions I have to make and no-one is helping me with this at the company.
How can I make the choices and decisions if I don't understand what they are and what the implications are for this, that, this, that...?
It isn't a simple "the company pays 90% of everything and you pay the rest" kind of deal.
My HR dept just direct me to Powerpoint presentations in an email - not very helpful.
How can I make the choices and decisions if I don't understand what they are and what the implications are for this, that, this, that...?
It isn't a simple "the company pays 90% of everything and you pay the rest" kind of deal.
My HR dept just direct me to Powerpoint presentations in an email - not very helpful.
Really, I understand your frustration. But no one here is going to do it for you either, and it's just going to take some time. Dedicate your weekend to learning a new foreign language.. this one.
You haven't told us any of the things that factor into making this decision, so we can't help you with breaking it all down. Did you try the insurance company 'compare me' tool I posted for you earlier?
Just accept that it's not going to be simple it is going to be frustrating, and omg, when do you need to file your US income tax return? Your head might explode.
You never did say which immigration status.
Feb 21st 2009, 2:07 am
#36
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
No. Arms waving exasperatingly, expressions of incredulity and head in hands, if you must know.
But so what? That's my prerogative and none of your business really. It's not aimed at anyone, just at the circumstances and the pressure I am facing.
I wasn't asking for that actually.
Don't be smug - it only comes back at you when you don't want it.
First you say you can't expect "no-one here" to do it for you and now you're complaining that I haven't involved the people on the forum enough.
Also, if you'd read my posts, you would clearly know the answer to the above. And yes, I did try that tool - it wasn't helpful.
Actually, it will be dead easy - I am using the one page 1040-EZ form, which will take me about 20-30 mins this weekend and I will submit the form online, so nothing to post or get lost either.
Now why can't the health insurance companies and their systems move into the 20th century, at least?
Because I don't see what that has to do with my health insurance that's why.
But so what? That's my prerogative and none of your business really. It's not aimed at anyone, just at the circumstances and the pressure I am facing.
I wasn't asking for that actually.
Don't be smug - it only comes back at you when you don't want it.
Also, if you'd read my posts, you would clearly know the answer to the above. And yes, I did try that tool - it wasn't helpful.
Now why can't the health insurance companies and their systems move into the 20th century, at least?
Because I don't see what that has to do with my health insurance that's why.
Feb 21st 2009, 2:08 am
#37
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Feb 21st 2009, 2:49 am
#38
Joined: Apr 2002
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
I'm sorry you didn't get my post in the spirit intended; I really am empathizing with you and wasn't being smug. Sincere best wishes in getting it figured out.
Feb 21st 2009, 3:57 am
#40
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
you have no choice but to sign up. Fine the charity pay your diabetes meds but what happens if you are hit by a truck? you need insurance to cover more than diabetes meds.
snowbunny told you to look at plans that were only set co-pays. She didnt mean that there was only a co-pay and nothing else - she meant only go for plans that have a set $ co-pay (like our cigna international is $10 co-pay regardless) rather than a % co-pay which could end up being hundreds for a big ticket item.
coudl you email the presentation to someone on here? so they could take a look at it and maybe explain your options in the loosest terms. Otherwise I would maybe find a health insurance BROKER and ask them if you paid them $50 would they explain it all to you.
snowbunny told you to look at plans that were only set co-pays. She didnt mean that there was only a co-pay and nothing else - she meant only go for plans that have a set $ co-pay (like our cigna international is $10 co-pay regardless) rather than a % co-pay which could end up being hundreds for a big ticket item.
coudl you email the presentation to someone on here? so they could take a look at it and maybe explain your options in the loosest terms. Otherwise I would maybe find a health insurance BROKER and ask them if you paid them $50 would they explain it all to you.
Feb 21st 2009, 11:42 am
#41
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
snowbunny told you to look at plans that were only set co-pays. She didnt mean that there was only a co-pay and nothing else - she meant only go for plans that have a set $ co-pay (like our cigna international is $10 co-pay regardless) rather than a % co-pay which could end up being hundreds for a big ticket item.
and no, I won't email the presentation. Its not what I am looking for.
I was just looking for some pointers on this forum for where I could go to speak with someone. I wasn't aiming to have this forum dissect the plans and start a Q & A.
I think I should have been clearer in my question and/or original post.
Feb 21st 2009, 2:10 pm
#42
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
I'm a diabetic as well and have POMCO with a co-pay of $20 per office visit and hospital stay. My bills for my meds run about $40 a month for my metiformin, actos, tricor (for those pesky tris that are elevated due to the disease). That is covered by the pharmacy plan and not the medical plan. So you need actually to look at that for your meds. If you order them online from places such as MEDCO which I use it is a 90 day supply for $40 for the metiformin which breaks down to $13 a month for that drug. I figure that cost into what I declare for my FSA and therefore the out of pocket expense is reimbursed to me in tax free dollars.
Feb 21st 2009, 3:56 pm
#43
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!
Hi
I am also with CIGNA and so far I can do nothing but sing their praises. I am 1 of those unfortunate people who bad health seems to follow. we have lived here a year and already I have had a hysterectomy, a fractured foot and just this week a ruptered appendix ! without CIGNA we would have been in deep deep s***. IMHO the HMO is the best plan unless you have specific drs you know already you want to see. I got his advice from people at work, they basically said that if you dont already have a pcp or know which specialist you want to see why sign up for the more expensive plan. What I have done is generally asked around my work collegues who they use as and when I have needed a dr/dentist and so far it has worked well for us. Now within CIGNA and even within the HMO there are diff plans and diff companies offer diff rates so my figures will not be the same as yours. but basically for the HMO I pay approx $30 per week to cover both me and my 20yr old DD who is in Uni my co-pay for the pcp is $20 each visit for my recent surgery the bill was in excess of $42.000 my portion of this was $1758.00 ok still a killer and we could certainly have done without it but for 2 nights in hospital and what amounted to 3 surgeons all in all I thought it was not too bad.
I am also with CIGNA and so far I can do nothing but sing their praises. I am 1 of those unfortunate people who bad health seems to follow. we have lived here a year and already I have had a hysterectomy, a fractured foot and just this week a ruptered appendix ! without CIGNA we would have been in deep deep s***. IMHO the HMO is the best plan unless you have specific drs you know already you want to see. I got his advice from people at work, they basically said that if you dont already have a pcp or know which specialist you want to see why sign up for the more expensive plan. What I have done is generally asked around my work collegues who they use as and when I have needed a dr/dentist and so far it has worked well for us. Now within CIGNA and even within the HMO there are diff plans and diff companies offer diff rates so my figures will not be the same as yours. but basically for the HMO I pay approx $30 per week to cover both me and my 20yr old DD who is in Uni my co-pay for the pcp is $20 each visit for my recent surgery the bill was in excess of $42.000 my portion of this was $1758.00 ok still a killer and we could certainly have done without it but for 2 nights in hospital and what amounted to 3 surgeons all in all I thought it was not too bad.
Feb 21st 2009, 4:00 pm
#44
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Re: Looking at getting health insurance - what an ordeal!