health insurance.

blackfaerie · 10-10-2007, 12:10 PM

i need health insurance for the year. who do you guys have? who do you recommend?

i might stick with a name i know, like kaiser or anthem, but i want the most for my money and neither job offers me health insurance so i have to pay out of pocket.

bardy · 10-10-2007, 12:17 PM

I have heard horrible things about kaiser... mainly that they are good at preventative care but if you ever actually get sick they are no good

I have a PPO with Blue Cross of California. And I had Blue Cross/Anthem as I was growing up too and I've never had a problem?

Mo · 10-10-2007, 12:42 PM

Too bad general health care is considered 'a step towards socialism' in the US.

How much do you guys pay per month for that?

ammy · 10-10-2007, 12:49 PM

i have a friend who almost died in keiser care - twice.
dan had keiser and it was rediculous.

i have blue cross/sheild ppo and <3 it.

bardy · 10-10-2007, 12:56 PM

I dont pay anything per month for my healthcare, my company pays for it

czr · 10-10-2007, 03:28 PM

i have aetna ppo

sppunk · 10-10-2007, 03:47 PM

Asking people here is pointless because it all depends on your local network and who is in and out of that specific network system.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield is typically regarded as the best overall, along with Highmark and Conventry.

MisterSquishyHalo · 10-10-2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackfaerie

i need health insurance for the year. who do you guys have? who do you recommend?

i might stick with a name i know, like kaiser or anthem, but i want the most for my money and neither job offers me health insurance so i have to pay out of pocket.

If you are looking for more options/choice, go with a ppo. They will cost more however.

If you are looking for a cheaper/managed care, go with a HMO

phaedrus · 10-10-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bardy

I dont pay anything per month for my healthcare, my company pays for it

that's a pretty naive way of looking at it. silly americans.

Mo · 10-10-2007, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phaedrus

that's a pretty naive way of looking at it. silly americans.

Kind of.

My company "pays" for my health care as well, but that's i_ncluded in the taxes I pay for with about 20% of my paycheck. Also, my company has to give 25% of my loan to the government.

MisterSquishyHalo · 10-10-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phaedrus

that's a pretty naive way of looking at it. silly americans.

Why? She might have to pay taxes, but that is a major incentive to work for some companies, full medical insurance for free or small premiums.

bardy · 10-10-2007, 05:34 PM

my company has a cafeteria plan and they give you a certain amount of money each year and you can select the different coverages you need from a list of options. I use up less than the money they allotted me so the remaining goes into my 401k before taxes

phaedrus · 10-10-2007, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterSquishyHalo

Why? She might have to pay taxes, but that is a major incentive to work for some companies, full medical insurance for free or small premiums.

it's not free for said companies.

bardy · 10-10-2007, 06:50 PM

of course it isnt free for my company, but noone asked how much my company paid they asked how much I paid

avian chaos · 10-10-2007, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ammy

i have a friend who almost died in keiser care - twice.
dan had keiser and it was rediculous.

i have blue cross/sheild ppo and <3 it.

Yeah, I have heard loads of bad Kaiser stories, too.

beef curtains · 10-10-2007, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bardy

my company has a cafeteria plan and they give you a certain amount of money each year and you can select the different coverages you need from a list of options. I use up less than the money they allotted me so the remaining goes into my 401k before taxes

that's the best deal ever!!

beef curtains · 10-10-2007, 07:17 PM

my insurance is paid for and its my state's version of Blue Cross/Shield

Its going to depend on your state - everything varies. You're best off to call a cheap health insurance agent. Go to www.daveramsey.com and look for insurance providers, he has a list of people who won't rake you over the coals

sppunk · 10-10-2007, 07:18 PM

Yeah, that's similar to what we do.

Our PPO is fully covered (no deductibles except a $60 ER admittance charge), but we have a reimbursement plan of $2,000 for things like eyeglasses, medicine (our medicine rates are $10/$20/$30) and other medical over the counter stuff.

All told it adds $17,000 or so to everyone's salary they never see.

exactlythesame · 10-10-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the antipop

Too bad general health care is considered 'a step towards socialism' in the US.

How much do you guys pay per month for that?

Has anyone here watched "Sicko"?

If so, how true were those allegations he made? I have no way of telling whether he's biased or not.

T&T · 10-10-2007, 07:51 PM

in canada we're one step closer to being socialists.

MisterSquishyHalo · 10-10-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phaedrus

it's not free for said companies.

I know, the companies pick up the tab. Its a nice benefit to have.

blackfaerie · 10-10-2007, 08:53 PM

if i was to get insurance through my primary job, i would be paying about 4oo$ a month.

i'll look into anthem and blue cross.

thanks for that link also. i heard of a website on the radio but didn't take the time to write it down.

mayday · 10-10-2007, 10:22 PM

blue cross and blue shield and aetna are good ones

ppo means you can pick your doctors so that's my preference

also always go to doctors that are "participating providers" of your insurance. some doctors will say that they "accept" your insurance. "accept" is different from participating with the insurance. if they dont participate they can balance bill you and take you to the cleaners. so always ask "DO YOU PARTICIPATE?"

and some doctors are plain old "out of network" providers so... if you have a doc in mind that is out of network you want to get an insurance that *******s "out of network" benefits

MisterSquishyHalo · 10-10-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackfaerie

if i was to get insurance through my primary job, i would be paying about 4oo$ a month.

i'll look into anthem and blue cross.

thanks for that link also. i heard of a website on the radio but didn't take the time to write it down.

400$ a month? You are not going to find alot of health insurance plans cheaper than that. Unless you have a HIGH deductible, which means insurance then would only really be good for something catastrophic.

pale blue eyes · 10-11-2007, 05:46 AM

When I was looking a while back I used eHealthInsurance.com to price a bunch of different plans all at once. They were really helpful and even served as a middle man when I had trouble getting into contact with BCBS regarding my policy.

10-10-2007, 12:10 PM	#1
blackfaerie cherrybombs, Red Bulls, and vodka. No really, I'm not a lush. Location: the liquor store, restocking. Posts: 8,883	health insurance. i need health insurance for the year. who do you guys have? who do you recommend? i might stick with a name i know, like kaiser or anthem, but i want the most for my money and neither job offers me health insurance so i have to pay out of pocket.

10-10-2007, 12:17 PM	#2
bardy Immortal Location: helllllloooooo!! Posts: 20,831	I have heard horrible things about kaiser... mainly that they are good at preventative care but if you ever actually get sick they are no good I have a PPO with Blue Cross of California. And I had Blue Cross/Anthem as I was growing up too and I've never had a problem?

10-10-2007, 12:42 PM	#3
Mo Immortal Posts: 20,988	Too bad general health care is considered 'a step towards socialism' in the US. How much do you guys pay per month for that?

10-10-2007, 12:49 PM	#4
ammy yer mom Posts: 23,180	i have a friend who almost died in keiser care - twice. dan had keiser and it was rediculous. i have blue cross/sheild ppo and <3 it.

10-10-2007, 12:56 PM	#5
bardy Immortal Location: helllllloooooo!! Posts: 20,831	I dont pay anything per month for my healthcare, my company pays for it

10-10-2007, 03:47 PM	#7
sppunk Netphoria's George Will Location: Fenway Park Posts: 37,125	Asking people here is pointless because it all depends on your local network and who is in and out of that specific network system. Blue Cross/Blue Shield is typically regarded as the best overall, along with Highmark and Conventry.

10-10-2007, 05:34 PM	#12
bardy Immortal Location: helllllloooooo!! Posts: 20,831	my company has a cafeteria plan and they give you a certain amount of money each year and you can select the different coverages you need from a list of options. I use up less than the money they allotted me so the remaining goes into my 401k before taxes

10-10-2007, 06:50 PM	#14
bardy Immortal Location: helllllloooooo!! Posts: 20,831	of course it isnt free for my company, but noone asked how much my company paid they asked how much I paid

10-10-2007, 07:17 PM	#17
beef curtains Immortal Location: I like me so much better when you're naked Posts: 21,752	my insurance is paid for and its my state's version of Blue Cross/Shield Its going to depend on your state - everything varies. You're best off to call a cheap health insurance agent. Go to www.daveramsey.com and look for insurance providers, he has a list of people who won't rake you over the coals

10-10-2007, 07:18 PM	#18
sppunk Netphoria's George Will Location: Fenway Park Posts: 37,125	Yeah, that's similar to what we do. Our PPO is fully covered (no deductibles except a $60 ER admittance charge), but we have a reimbursement plan of $2,000 for things like eyeglasses, medicine (our medicine rates are $10/$20/$30) and other medical over the counter stuff. All told it adds $17,000 or so to everyone's salary they never see.

10-10-2007, 07:51 PM	#20
T&T Socialphobic Location: montreal Posts: 10,137	in canada we're one step closer to being socialists.

10-10-2007, 08:53 PM	#22
blackfaerie cherrybombs, Red Bulls, and vodka. No really, I'm not a lush. Location: the liquor store, restocking. Posts: 8,883	if i was to get insurance through my primary job, i would be paying about 4oo$ a month. i'll look into anthem and blue cross. thanks for that link also. i heard of a website on the radio but didn't take the time to write it down.

10-10-2007, 10:22 PM	#23
mayday Apocalyptic Poster Posts: 3,354	blue cross and blue shield and aetna are good ones ppo means you can pick your doctors so that's my preference also always go to doctors that are "participating providers" of your insurance. some doctors will say that they "accept" your insurance. "accept" is different from participating with the insurance. if they dont participate they can balance bill you and take you to the cleaners. so always ask "DO YOU PARTICIPATE?" and some doctors are plain old "out of network" providers so... if you have a doc in mind that is out of network you want to get an insurance that *******s "out of network" benefits

10-11-2007, 05:46 AM	#25
pale blue eyes NOPE. Location: :/ Posts: 15,110	When I was looking a while back I used eHealthInsurance.com to price a bunch of different plans all at once. They were really helpful and even served as a middle man when I had trouble getting into contact with BCBS regarding my policy.