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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Sept 25 2009 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
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My dh's company is changing their health insurance policies. They are awful. Huge deductibles, limited coverage and then, on top of it all, our monthly cost is going to increase.
We are pretty healthy people. Might have 2-3 office visits a year for the whole family and dh is on a reflux med(which is included under the deductible--so we'll be out a few additional hundred dollars each year as we will never meet the deductible). So, we are thinking of declining, saving the money and buying a major medical policy.
I have also read about health savings accounts where you can put your money and it grows and you pay your own health care bills from it. And unlike the company FSA which you lose if you don't use it, you don't lose it it rolls from year to year.
Anyone have any ideas of what we could do? Any self employed that can tell us what you do?
I understand the importance of insurance and won't live without it but the costs and coverage are getting ridiculous through the company.
Thanks,
Anne
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Kath
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| Posted: Sept 26 2009 at 8:24am | IP Logged
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We just purchased our own health insurance from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. For our family of four, the premium is just over $1000 for six months. The deductible is $250 for each individual and we pay 20% coinsurance after we meet the deductible (up to $1000 per individual, then everything is covered). This is an enormous savings for us as we had been paying for our own portion of a previous employer's group insurance though COBRA.  So there are much more affordable plans out there if you are willing to set aside money for deductibles and whatnot, which of course is a great reason for an HSA.
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Katherine
Mom to ds 8, ds 5, and ds 3
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: Sept 26 2009 at 9:42am | IP Logged
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We are not dr people, so we opted for "catastrophic care" insurance. It doesn't cover basic dr visits, or "normal" medications. It does cover ER visits 100%, and kicks in for any illness/injury once the bills reach $2000 and then pays 100% of the costs. It costs us 50% of traditional insurance.
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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Nina
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| Posted: Sept 28 2009 at 2:24pm | IP Logged
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We also have the high ded plan, which cost us (a fam of 9) $350.00/month. I used to work for a health ins co, so I know that this kind of policy offers the most cost savings to the family. Also if you do go to the dr and the visit is not covered, the dr's office usually gives a discount (usually 25%) if you pay at time of service. We used to have a HSA, but for a large family, the savings are not as good as a catastrophic type,but you need to shop around. IMHO,I try to stay away from a low ded ins because they are extreemely costly and cover benefits like sterilization,IVF, and/or abortion.
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violingirl
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| Posted: Oct 02 2009 at 9:54am | IP Logged
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DH and I are both self-employed (different companies) and we have a major medical plan combined with an HSA. We just plan ahead for our well child visits, my annual OBGYN and DH's annual physical (has to have one for work). We estimate how many sick visits we will need and we've been within that amount so far. Our family doctor charges us far less than the usual visit costs because he knows we pay out of pocket, rather than an insurance company making payment.
Pregnancy is the only thing that worries me. We had regular insurance for both of my pregnancies, but a coworker of DH's wife has had 2 babies since coming to this company and said the hospital actually works out payment plans in a different way when they know you only have major med- they paid less out of pocket for their births than we did, and we were the ones with "great" insurance. If we are able to get pregnant again we will have to sort that out as we go.
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Erin
DS (2005) DS (2007) DD (2012)
Mama In Progress
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sewcrazy
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| Posted: Oct 02 2009 at 10:30am | IP Logged
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For maternity, we use insurance through the state. It only covers maternity and 2 months post partum. We struggled with using it, as my dh veiws it as a form of welfare but I figure we pay enough to the state, we might as well get something back.  They charge on a sliding scale based on your income level and number of children and it pays for everything. I have high risk pregnancies, and we couldn't even begin to afford maternity insurance.
The bills for my last child were over $70,000  We paid $300 in premiums to the state.
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LeeAnn
Wife of David, mom to Ben, Dennis, Alex, Laura, Philip and our little souls in heaven we have yet to meet
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Nina
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| Posted: Oct 02 2009 at 5:14pm | IP Logged
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In regards to the maternity, for our last child, a year ago, we made a deal with the hospital and they took 40% off the total bill. I just paid the entire bill and we got the discount.
Also for most,if not all, major med plans, if a family does(God forbid) have a serious illness,the ins will cover 100% over the deductible. With other plans, a lot of the time you still have co-pays.
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Mom to 3ds and 4dd.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Anyone do health insurance on their own??
