UHC = United Healthcare, which in itself is not a bad option. My former employer used UHC for a while and I don't recall anyone having issues finding providers in their area (my former employer had offices in multiple states.) However they offer both HMO and PPO plans so you'd also want to find out which your employer is offering you. For more info on definitions, here's UHC's own website:

https://www.uhc.com/understanding-he...mo-ppo-epo-pos

As others have said, also need to find out if the $770 plan is for you only, you + spouse, or you + spouse + kids. Is the monthly premium paid before or after tax (you want the former, as it reduces your taxable income.) And what about dental insurance (or vision, if anyone in the family wears glasses.) Since you know colleagues based in the US I'd strongly recommend trying to talk to some of them about the medical etc options to get some feedback on how good / competitive they seem and whether they have had any issues finding doctors etc (this could be important if anyone in the family has very specific health needs.)

With regards to things like relocation costs, can any of this be negotiated? Again, this might be something worth talking to US-based colleagues about to find out what the "norm" seems to be with regards to the company/HR department willingness to negotiate on these things.

Finally, in considering the purchasing power of the proposed salary in Indianapolis vs Dallas you remembered to figure in state taxes, right? I don't think it would be enough to change the result but you never know.

Most employees will offer a Flexible Spending Account. This account is used solely to reimburse you for medical expenditures during the year up to the amount you have pre-decided upon. For example, you decide you want to put $1200 annually into the FSA. If you get paid monthly, then $100 a month is take from your salary before taxes are calculated and placed into the FSA. These accumulated funds can be reimbursed to you after you have paid your copay at the doctor, hospital, or for drugs obtained at the pharmacy or over the counter, i.e. aspirin. You need to retain your receipts to submit when you place a claim from your FSA. You can either claim reimbursement at any point after the expenditure as long as you have the funds in the account or do as many do and wait until 1/2 year to claim reimbursement or claim reimbursement before the end of the calendar year. Note if you were like I was when still working and didn't have dental coverage or coverage for my hearing aids and glasses you can factor those anticipated charges into your FSA when determining the annual amount of tax free funds you want withheld from your salary.

Read up on Flexible Spending Accounts. (FSA)

Yes you should ask especially with a monthly premium that high.

As the other post answered, the deductible is like the "excess" in the UK. Co-Pay is what you pay above the deductible up until a stated maximum.

When I was last working in the States, my medical premium monthly cost was $250, a deductible of 3,000, and 20% co-pay with a total out of pocket of $10,000. I had a two hour procedure at the hospital, total bill was 45,000 dollars. I paid 3,000, then another 7,000 so I was out 10,000. The hospital/doctor then sent balance to insurance company, and they negotiated what they would pay.

The other issue is dental- in my experience quality of private dentists much better in UK- and costs less. I pay 16 a month and receive better benefits than I did in USA, I also pay 18 a month for my daughter now studying in USA- she needed some dental work, cost was 6,000 in USA, 2,000 here in UK.

Had a relative visiting the USA, and had to go to emergency room for simply matter- filling out the form it asked if he was a veteran, he responded yes, A few months later they sent letter stating US army VA would not pay the 2,500 bill. Relative wrote back saying he was veteran of British Army, never heard back.

I agree with your focus on Indianapolis over Dallas. As you may have already noticed, the cost of housing is substantially less in Indy than in Dallas. And metro Dallas is a huge area with the potential for very long commutes.

The previous posts condemning all of Indiana as dire are honestly mental. Indianapolis overall is a reasonably prosperous city. I'm sure there are pockets of urban blight in places, along with pockets of real affluence. Culturally it is a quintessential "middle American"/Midwest city with all that entails.

.. with Bloomington just 50 or so miles away. I think it’s a pretty nice college town, although I’ve only been there a couple of times.

My cousin's son lives in Bloomington, IN. He likes it there. He moved there a couple of years ago due to a job transfer.

Nearby Columbus is not bad either. Famous for their architecture. Home to Cummins Diesel.

I quite , I have relatives who live near Indiana including one of my children, and I lived in the region for a while- there are plenty of nice towns in Indiana. For 120k a year one can be very comfortable compared to Dallas at the same salary.While I would not live in Indiana proper, there are areas with a reasonable commute.

I have visited Bloomington, and have a family member at the university, typical college town, much different than surrounding towns.