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Taxes in Florida

Taxes in Florida

Old Sep 30th 2007, 7:15 pm
  #31  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by helens
OK, so now I'm totally confused, what sort of Health Insurance package should I be looking for, can anyone point me in the direction of some decent web-sites, I was under the impression that my company paid for health insurance, but terms such as co-pay are alien to me, so I need to read up on it. Thanks for all the help so far, I need all the feedback as I want to be prepared.
Copay is a fact of life with US health insurance. The insurance doesn't cover 100% of any medical bill. You pay a fixed amount each time you use any medical service.

An example would be ours, where we pay $15 every time we visit a physician who is "in network" (i.e. on a list of doctors who have a fee agreement with our health insurance company), $25 every time we visit one who is "out of network", and $25 for any visit to a specialist.

There are also many details regarding paying a portion (percentage or fixed copay) for certain medical procedures, and in our case there's a maximum individual and family out-of-pocket each year, so if we reach $3000 out-of-pocket as a family, the insurance covers 100% of in-network fees beyond that.

I'll point out that health insurance is changing fast, and getting radically more expensive each year. I work for a huge multinational corporation (>15,000 employees) and our insurance has gone up ~25% in cost each year that I've been working here. At the same time, the cover has decreased, leading to more potential for high costs to us for any significant medical issues.

Oh, and it would be easier to mug the armed executives of the health insurance company than it is to get the insurance to actually pay for a claim. Typically you have to claim, re-file, appeal and then appeal again if you want them to actually pay for anything major.
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Old Sep 30th 2007, 7:18 pm
  #32  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by dbj1000
Copay is a fact of life with US health insurance. The insurance doesn't cover 100% of any medical bill. You pay a fixed amount each time you use any medical service.

An example would be ours, where we pay $15 every time we visit a physician who is "in network" (i.e. on a list of doctors who have a fee agreement with our health insurance company), $25 every time we visit one who is "out of network", and $25 for any visit to a specialist.

There are also many details regarding paying a portion (percentage or fixed copay) for certain medical procedures, and in our case there's a maximum individual and family out-of-pocket each year, so if we reach $3000 out-of-pocket as a family, the insurance covers 100% of in-network fees beyond that.

I'll point out that health insurance is changing fast, and getting radically more expensive each year. I work for a huge multinational corporation (>15,000 employees) and our insurance has gone up ~25% in cost each year that I've been working here. At the same time, the cover has decreased, leading to more potential for high costs to us for any significant medical issues.

Oh, and it would be easier to mug the armed executives of the health insurance company than it is to get the insurance to actually pay for a claim. Typically you have to claim, re-file, appeal and then appeal again if you want them to actually pay for anything major.
Bloody Hell, thank Goodness for the NHS in the UK then (for now at least)
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Old Sep 30th 2007, 7:28 pm
  #33  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by helens
Bloody Hell, thank Goodness for the NHS in the UK then (for now at least)
Here's how they work ...

I could not get health insurance cos my BP was high
Now I can't get insurance cos I take BP medicine
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Old Sep 30th 2007, 9:24 pm
  #34  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by helens
Luckily my employer will pick up all the medical costs, since they already pay the US and Canadian employees and they already pay for private UK cover
I don't want to cause any alarm, but prepare to be butt raped for medical expenses.
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Old Oct 1st 2007, 10:03 am
  #35  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by anotherlimey
I don't want to cause any alarm, but prepare to be butt raped for medical expenses.
OK, so now what started as a simple tax question, has turned into an Associate Degree in Healthcare !
I just ran some quotes to get an idea of prices and it just opened up a whole new world, words like Co-Insurance, co-pay (which someone has already very kindly explained) and so many plan types. All I need is someone who'll pay my hospital or doctors fees should an emergency happen, broken arm, hear attach etc. This is a work of art in itself understanding this lot. Tell me what do most people do ? I heard lots of people don't have health insurance, but I have a daughter and it's a MUST !
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Old Oct 1st 2007, 11:02 am
  #36  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by helens
OK, so now what started as a simple tax question, has turned into an Associate Degree in Healthcare !
I just ran some quotes to get an idea of prices and it just opened up a whole new world, words like Co-Insurance, co-pay (which someone has already very kindly explained) and so many plan types. All I need is someone who'll pay my hospital or doctors fees should an emergency happen, broken arm, hear attach etc. This is a work of art in itself understanding this lot. Tell me what do most people do ? I heard lots of people don't have health insurance, but I have a daughter and it's a MUST !
It is estimated that 45 million people do not have insurance. Most are poor, some are young and stupid, and some have religious beliefs against insurance (yea, sound weird, but it is seen as gambling or trying to prevent 'God's will').

Anyway, 45 million sounds like a lot, but overall, that means about 85% of Americans do have some insurance (it is a big country after all with over 300 million people). Most get it from their employers, with the lucky ones having it fully paid by the company and most having to pay a portion or all of their health care expense.

http://www.cbpp.org/8-29-06health.htm

Do not even think of living without insurance, even for yourself. Even if you get some minimal coverage (i.e. 'just for emergencies') you'll be better than nothing at all.

A few terms to know:

co-pay -- you got that one

in network/out of network--I think you got that. Some doctors agree to be in a network of insurance, some don't. This can be annoying when you are sent to get tests at 'such and such lab' and that lab says 'oh, we're not in that plan, you need to go to this lab across town.'

deductible--the amount you have to pay first before the insurance kicks in. i.e. the first $500 of health care expenses are yours, after that the deductible has been met and the insurance company pays 100%, or 90%, etc.

premium--the amount each month you pay.

Start here:

https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi...allid=Pay23590

Input your birthday and zip code and you'll get dozens of different plans that will show different levels of coverage, deductibles and co-pays. You can start to get an idea about what to expect from your monthly paycheck.

Many small businessmen will join 'associations' like the 'Gas Station Owners Association' or the 'Chamber of Commerce' because sometimes these groups band together and make insurance plans available to their members at a slightly lower fee than you would pay just buying direct.

Here is a good primer on insurance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance

Good luck.
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Old Oct 1st 2007, 11:24 am
  #37  
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Default Re: Taxes in Florida

Originally Posted by penguinsix
It is estimated that 45 million people do not have insurance. Most are poor, some are young and stupid, and some have religious beliefs against insurance (yea, sound weird, but it is seen as gambling or trying to prevent 'God's will').

Anyway, 45 million sounds like a lot, but overall, that means about 85% of Americans do have some insurance (it is a big country after all with over 300 million people). Most get it from their employers, with the lucky ones having it fully paid by the company and most having to pay a portion or all of their health care expense.

http://www.cbpp.org/8-29-06health.htm

Do not even think of living without insurance, even for yourself. Even if you get some minimal coverage (i.e. 'just for emergencies') you'll be better than nothing at all.

A few terms to know:

co-pay -- you got that one

in network/out of network--I think you got that. Some doctors agree to be in a network of insurance, some don't. This can be annoying when you are sent to get tests at 'such and such lab' and that lab says 'oh, we're not in that plan, you need to go to this lab across town.'

deductible--the amount you have to pay first before the insurance kicks in. i.e. the first $500 of health care expenses are yours, after that the deductible has been met and the insurance company pays 100%, or 90%, etc.

premium--the amount each month you pay.

Start here:

https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi...allid=Pay23590

Input your birthday and zip code and you'll get dozens of different plans that will show different levels of coverage, deductibles and co-pays. You can start to get an idea about what to expect from your monthly paycheck.

Many small businessmen will join 'associations' like the 'Gas Station Owners Association' or the 'Chamber of Commerce' because sometimes these groups band together and make insurance plans available to their members at a slightly lower fee than you would pay just buying direct.

Here is a good primer on insurance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance

Good luck.
That's marvelous, thanks very much. Don't worry, we had no intention of going without any cover and I'm pretty sure my employer will cover it (some at least if not all) but I want to be prepared when I speak to them and failing it all, I'll try for a higher salary and pay for my own.
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