Medical Insurance...
#1
Medical Insurance...
Ok, I know we have discussed Dental insurance and received a mixed review, what about medical insurance here in the states?
Is it vastly different from state to state?
Not alot of people know this but usually when you come to the U.S and start work for a company there is usually 60 to 90 day waiting period before it actually kicks in, what do people do if you get sick, break a leg etc?
There is a movie called John Q (denzel washington) were his son gets sick and needs a heart transplant but because he was forced into part time work, the company changed him from a PPO to a HMO coverage, it was cheaper BUT it would not pay for his sons heart transplant, WHAT would you do in his circumstance?
How do people pay $250,000 for major surgies?
My wife took our son to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with asthma and was given a prescription for anti-biotics for his cough etc etc, anyways it cost us $150 for the medication WITH insurance
Message here is, do your homework and pray to god you never get seriously sick!
Whats your view?
Is it vastly different from state to state?
Not alot of people know this but usually when you come to the U.S and start work for a company there is usually 60 to 90 day waiting period before it actually kicks in, what do people do if you get sick, break a leg etc?
There is a movie called John Q (denzel washington) were his son gets sick and needs a heart transplant but because he was forced into part time work, the company changed him from a PPO to a HMO coverage, it was cheaper BUT it would not pay for his sons heart transplant, WHAT would you do in his circumstance?
How do people pay $250,000 for major surgies?
My wife took our son to the doctor yesterday and was diagnosed with asthma and was given a prescription for anti-biotics for his cough etc etc, anyways it cost us $150 for the medication WITH insurance
Message here is, do your homework and pray to god you never get seriously sick!
Whats your view?
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,113
Whats the point in having medical insurance, that you still have to end up paying for some of your medicine? My wifes is just the same.
#3
Originally posted by Pimpbot
Whats the point in having medical insurance, that you still have to end up paying for some of your medicine? My wifes is just the same.
Whats the point in having medical insurance, that you still have to end up paying for some of your medicine? My wifes is just the same.
#4
Originally posted by Pimpbot
Whats the point in having medical insurance, that you still have to end up paying for some of your medicine? My wifes is just the same.
Whats the point in having medical insurance, that you still have to end up paying for some of your medicine? My wifes is just the same.
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: US
Posts: 300
Originally posted by Yosser
I know, its really frustrating sometimes, we pay $400 a month for our family for medical insurance but still pay stupid amounts for medication etc. 1 in 4 familys do not have ANY med insurance in Texas! the only thing I guess they do is go to the hospital get treated but don't pay the bill, but that hikes everyones insurance costs up......Its like catch 22
I know, its really frustrating sometimes, we pay $400 a month for our family for medical insurance but still pay stupid amounts for medication etc. 1 in 4 familys do not have ANY med insurance in Texas! the only thing I guess they do is go to the hospital get treated but don't pay the bill, but that hikes everyones insurance costs up......Its like catch 22
#6
British/Irish(ish) Duncs
Joined: Jan 2003
Location: Cambridge MA, via Mississippi and Belfast Northern Ireland.
Posts: 700
Originally posted by Steff
Not good but what can I do! It's ridiculous
Not good but what can I do! It's ridiculous
Hopefully a Democrat of some kind will win the election next year, scrap Bushes tax giveaway and try to reform the system to some degree. I just hope that the Republicans in congress and the senate dont let the Insurance companies buy them and listen to the voters this time round.
Thats what you can do though make sure your congressman understands you give a damn how he votes on heath care reform and if he gets it wrong vote him out.
regards,
Duncan
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,296
We've just had notification of our policy changes effective Jan. It costs the company over $800 a month for medical coverage for hubby and me..thank goodness we don't have to pay it, but our co-pays are bumping up again this year. It was a $10 charge for each item on prescriptions and doctors visits for years but the last few years its jumped up- it went up to $15 then $20 and this year its gone up to $30. the dental coverage is a joke, we basically get $1000 per year for treatment- one root canal will wipe that out, and the vision is just as bad- it pays approx half of costs except for a free eye test.
Musn't grumble though- there are millions of people who have no coverage. However a few things really make me mad ... even when medicare kicks in for retirees- they still have to take out a supplemental health insurance (approx $1500 a year plus long term health care insurance and that can be really expensive depending on the age you first take it out) and that's after contributing to medicare all their working lives! Prescriptions aren't covered for OAPs and many can't afford the drugs they need to live- as if that's not bad enough- some States are actively blocking the sale of Candian drugs here ( which are a whole lot cheaper) to protect the pharmaceutical companies here...grrrr so there are people who are literally dying cos they can't afford the drugs they need.
John Q is a really good film actually- over the years we've heard some terrible stories.
Musn't grumble though- there are millions of people who have no coverage. However a few things really make me mad ... even when medicare kicks in for retirees- they still have to take out a supplemental health insurance (approx $1500 a year plus long term health care insurance and that can be really expensive depending on the age you first take it out) and that's after contributing to medicare all their working lives! Prescriptions aren't covered for OAPs and many can't afford the drugs they need to live- as if that's not bad enough- some States are actively blocking the sale of Candian drugs here ( which are a whole lot cheaper) to protect the pharmaceutical companies here...grrrr so there are people who are literally dying cos they can't afford the drugs they need.
John Q is a really good film actually- over the years we've heard some terrible stories.
#8
Originally posted by Taffyles
We've just had notification of our policy changes effective Jan. It costs the company over $800 a month for medical coverage for hubby and me..thank goodness we don't have to pay it, but our co-pays are bumping up again this year. It was a $10 charge for each item on prescriptions and doctors visits for years but the last few years its jumped up- it went up to $15 then $20 and this year its gone up to $30. the dental coverage is a joke, we basically get $1000 per year for treatment- one root canal will wipe that out, and the vision is just as bad- it pays approx half of costs except for a free eye test.
Musn't grumble though- there are millions of people who have no coverage. However a few things really make me mad ... even when medicare kicks in for retirees- they still have to take out a supplemental health insurance (approx $1500 a year plus long term health care insurance and that can be really expensive depending on the age you first take it out) and that's after contributing to medicare all their working lives! Prescriptions aren't covered for OAPs and many can't afford the drugs they need to live- as if that's not bad enough- some States are actively blocking the sale of Candian drugs here ( which are a whole lot cheaper) to protect the pharmaceutical companies here...grrrr so there are people who are literally dying cos they can't afford the drugs they need.
John Q is a really good film actually- over the years we've heard some terrible stories.
We've just had notification of our policy changes effective Jan. It costs the company over $800 a month for medical coverage for hubby and me..thank goodness we don't have to pay it, but our co-pays are bumping up again this year. It was a $10 charge for each item on prescriptions and doctors visits for years but the last few years its jumped up- it went up to $15 then $20 and this year its gone up to $30. the dental coverage is a joke, we basically get $1000 per year for treatment- one root canal will wipe that out, and the vision is just as bad- it pays approx half of costs except for a free eye test.
Musn't grumble though- there are millions of people who have no coverage. However a few things really make me mad ... even when medicare kicks in for retirees- they still have to take out a supplemental health insurance (approx $1500 a year plus long term health care insurance and that can be really expensive depending on the age you first take it out) and that's after contributing to medicare all their working lives! Prescriptions aren't covered for OAPs and many can't afford the drugs they need to live- as if that's not bad enough- some States are actively blocking the sale of Candian drugs here ( which are a whole lot cheaper) to protect the pharmaceutical companies here...grrrr so there are people who are literally dying cos they can't afford the drugs they need.
John Q is a really good film actually- over the years we've heard some terrible stories.
I have medical and dental insurance through my wifes company, but a few months ago it was bumped up a extra $75 a month the co-payments to see the quack is $25 a pop, add on the rising costs of medication, it talleys upto quite alot.
The dental insurance is a joke (I'm not trying to wind up the situation again)...but some insurance companys require you to pay insurance for 6 months even before you have any kind of treatment, then they cap off anywhere between $1000 to $1500 max for that year, thats equal to 1 root canal and a crown if your lucky.
It seems that all the americans I talk to about it have a "**** you jack I'm on board" attitude....meaning I have insurance I don't care if my neighbor doesn't!.
Right thats it...I'm off to run as govenor....watch out for me.
YOSSER FOR GOVENOR :lecture:
#9
Re: Medical Insurance...
Originally posted by Yosser
Not alot of people know this but usually when you come to the U.S and start work for a company there is usually 60 to 90 day waiting period before it actually kicks in, what do people do if you get sick, break a leg etc?
Not alot of people know this but usually when you come to the U.S and start work for a company there is usually 60 to 90 day waiting period before it actually kicks in, what do people do if you get sick, break a leg etc?
Patrick
#10
Originally posted by Yosser
I know, its really frustrating sometimes, we pay $400 a month for our family for medical insurance but still pay stupid amounts for medication etc. 1 in 4 familys do not have ANY med insurance in Texas! the only thing I guess they do is go to the hospital get treated but don't pay the bill, but that hikes everyones insurance costs up......Its like catch 22
I know, its really frustrating sometimes, we pay $400 a month for our family for medical insurance but still pay stupid amounts for medication etc. 1 in 4 familys do not have ANY med insurance in Texas! the only thing I guess they do is go to the hospital get treated but don't pay the bill, but that hikes everyones insurance costs up......Its like catch 22
NC Penguin
#11
Re: Medical Insurance...
Originally posted by Patrick
This is not true, you're effect cover should start the moment you take up the insurance cover - any pre-existing conditions are not covered by the new insurance for the first 60-90 days the old insurance company is responsible for those. If you come from the UK you have no previous insurance company and this 60-90 day can be waived.
Patrick
This is not true, you're effect cover should start the moment you take up the insurance cover - any pre-existing conditions are not covered by the new insurance for the first 60-90 days the old insurance company is responsible for those. If you come from the UK you have no previous insurance company and this 60-90 day can be waived.
Patrick
Then when the insurance did "kick in" there was disagreements with Tom Thumb pharamacy and my wifes carrier, in the meanwhile I was practically having a asthma attack at the counter and all they could say was "well, if you pay for the inhaler now - $145 we can rebate you when we clear this matter up'...well yeah ok, but I didn't have my check book on me at the time, so they said "tough shit"...come back later.
#12
Re: Medical Insurance...
Originally posted by Patrick
This is not true, you're effect cover should start the moment you take up the insurance cover - any pre-existing conditions are not covered by the new insurance for the first 60-90 days the old insurance company is responsible for those. If you come from the UK you have no previous insurance company and this 60-90 day can be waived.
Patrick
This is not true, you're effect cover should start the moment you take up the insurance cover - any pre-existing conditions are not covered by the new insurance for the first 60-90 days the old insurance company is responsible for those. If you come from the UK you have no previous insurance company and this 60-90 day can be waived.
Patrick
Our insurance has a lifetime limit of $500 for audiology treatment for the whole family. My son is hard of hearing and that $500 was used up after a couple of hearing tests, then we were told he needed hearing aids and had to pay $3500 for them. Everything to do with his hearing comes out of our pockets now, how crap is that?
#13
Re: Medical Insurance...
Originally posted by Yosser
What if you move from one U.S company to another? If I remember correctly the H/R manager told me it would be 90 days for the medical insurance to kick in and the company that I was leaving said all medical insurances ceased on the last day of the month!. It was my impression that I was in limbo for 3 months.
Then when the insurance did "kick in" there was disagreements with Tom Thumb pharamacy and my wifes carrier, in the meanwhile I was practically having a asthma attack at the counter and all they could say was "well, if you pay for the inhaler now - $145 we can rebate you when we clear this matter up'...well yeah ok, but I didn't have my check book on me at the time, so they said "tough shit"...come back later.
What if you move from one U.S company to another? If I remember correctly the H/R manager told me it would be 90 days for the medical insurance to kick in and the company that I was leaving said all medical insurances ceased on the last day of the month!. It was my impression that I was in limbo for 3 months.
Then when the insurance did "kick in" there was disagreements with Tom Thumb pharamacy and my wifes carrier, in the meanwhile I was practically having a asthma attack at the counter and all they could say was "well, if you pay for the inhaler now - $145 we can rebate you when we clear this matter up'...well yeah ok, but I didn't have my check book on me at the time, so they said "tough shit"...come back later.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm
Forearmed is forewarned (could lead to information overload of the grey matter though)
NC Penguin
#14
Just Joined
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 28
not true here
I work for a large "charity" hospital in Louisiana we treat everyone and worry about money later. The state picks up the tab for the uninsured, this is not true, however, for many states.
We also have a med scholl so have excellent physicians.
We also have a med scholl so have excellent physicians.
Originally posted by NC Penguin
Apparently, those without medical insurance will only get treated for free if it's an emergency medical situation...
NC Penguin
Apparently, those without medical insurance will only get treated for free if it's an emergency medical situation...
NC Penguin
#15
Originally posted by Yosser
You made some very valid points there.
I have medical and dental insurance through my wifes company, but a few months ago it was bumped up a extra $75 a month the co-payments to see the quack is $25 a pop, add on the rising costs of medication, it talleys upto quite alot.
The dental insurance is a joke (I'm not trying to wind up the situation again)...but some insurance companys require you to pay insurance for 6 months even before you have any kind of treatment, then they cap off anywhere between $1000 to $1500 max for that year, thats equal to 1 root canal and a crown if your lucky.
It seems that all the americans I talk to about it have a "**** you jack I'm on board" attitude....meaning I have insurance I don't care if my neighbor doesn't!.
Right thats it...I'm off to run as govenor....watch out for me.
YOSSER FOR GOVENOR :lecture:
You made some very valid points there.
I have medical and dental insurance through my wifes company, but a few months ago it was bumped up a extra $75 a month the co-payments to see the quack is $25 a pop, add on the rising costs of medication, it talleys upto quite alot.
The dental insurance is a joke (I'm not trying to wind up the situation again)...but some insurance companys require you to pay insurance for 6 months even before you have any kind of treatment, then they cap off anywhere between $1000 to $1500 max for that year, thats equal to 1 root canal and a crown if your lucky.
It seems that all the americans I talk to about it have a "**** you jack I'm on board" attitude....meaning I have insurance I don't care if my neighbor doesn't!.
Right thats it...I'm off to run as govenor....watch out for me.
YOSSER FOR GOVENOR :lecture:
Hey, I'll vote for you. But why stop at Govenor (any idiot can be govenor, just look at California), we need some national policy changes.