What insurance company are you using?

8/16/2010 7:05:53 PM

well i just switched from BCBS (my dad's employer group policy or whatever) to golden rule (a subdivision or whatever of united health care)

i've had both before. prefer bcbs but golden rule was cheaper. i don't really care for golden rule. i've had plain old united before and that was fine. but golden rule...just not a fan. i had them when i was in between college and law school. sigh. i hope it is temporary. like < 1 year temporary.

its nothing i can't handle (the pre existing stuff) its just annoying that it is even on there because i didn't think it would be/should be.

8/17/2010 12:13:24 AM

Ok, I'm sorry as I should have clarified that I was speaking at least from BCBS perspective since I worked there for a few years. With their Blue Advantage plans or even Group plans, they don't take a specific condition for each person as the same conditions apply to everyone in regards to PE's.

8/17/2010 11:29:02 AM

I am just embarking upon my post college health insurance endeavor. I have to say the information in here has been pretty useful so thanks everyone.


I am having much the same problem as khcadwal in that I have pre-existing conditions. Originally I had intended on buying a plan that was more comprehensive and expensive but had a lower annual deductable/ office visit/ prescription coverage. It seems to me that no matter which company I chose to go with they arn't going to cover the pre-existing or those medications. If that is the case is there any benefit to me getting anything other than an emergency policy? Other then the pre-existing stuff im healthy and I won't be on the plan but 6mo-1 year.

Also, I may sound like a dumbass but can someone explain to me how the annual deductible works? For example, if my deductible is $2,500, if I go to the doc for a sinus infection do I have to pay out of pocket till I hit that $2,500 mark? It would seem like that is the case but at that point why bother? I can't afford the payment on $1000 annual deductible policy but I can't afford to pay $2,500 out of pocket either.

11/8/2010 2:10:50 PM

Quote :

"Also, I may sound like a dumbass but can someone explain to me how the annual deductible works? For example, if my deductible is $2,500, if I go to the doc for a sinus infection do I have to pay out of pocket till I hit that $2,500 mark? It would seem like that is the case but at that point why bother? I can't afford the payment on $1000 annual deductible policy but I can't afford to pay $2,500 out of pocket either. "

As a general rule, yes. However some plans will pay for a routine visit, or have some other covered services.

The point of having a high deductible is that you are generally healthy(dont go to the doctor alot) and want to have a lower premium but carry a slightly higher financial risk. Most everyone can pay for their routine care, but cannot afford a major event. An accident, heart attack, etc. So in the event you have a major event that costs 100k, then you only have to pay your 1500.

11/8/2010 2:26:35 PM

Yea thats how it works for the plans im eligible for.

You do get the lower negotiated price for services through the insurance company even with a high deductible plan.

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 2:29 PM. Reason : .]

11/8/2010 2:29:07 PM

But you only get to use that rate if you are using your insurance and have met your deductible right? Or when you pay out of pocket do you pay the negotiated rate?

11/8/2010 2:42:33 PM

I fell into your situation earlier this year Jen. I had a low premium and high deductible($3500). I generally do not go to the doctor and only carried this insurance in case of a major injury. I tore my ACL and meniscus. My regular orthopedic visits for the injury only charged the copay. If i had something done such as Xray, MRI, surgery, anaesthesia, etc then the deductible kicked in. I usually had to pay 30- 40 percent of whatever the procedure was. So for example, the MRI was listed at $1300 or something around there(this was the negotiated rate). I payed about $500 and that was applied to my deductible. They did not make me pay the whole deductible up front, they collected over the course of several expensive visits and procedures. After I covered my $3500, everything else just fell under the co pays.

11/8/2010 3:28:43 PM

Healthcare is way too damn complicated in this country

11/8/2010 3:43:08 PM

^if people would start paying for the services directly the costs would go down.

Instead people want to pay nothing, or figure if they spend 100 a month on insurance they shouldnt have to pay anything else.

^^ Yeah, I should have said that you will pay the same rate the insurance has negociated for.

^^I blew out my knee too, pretty bad injury. Sorry you had to go through it too.

[Edited on November 8, 2010 at 4:01 PM. Reason : .]

11/8/2010 4:00:52 PM

so anyone had any luck getting getting insurance when they have been denied?

11/9/2010 12:53:57 PM

I thought Obama was making insurance free?

11/9/2010 3:48:37 PM

it will be for the millions more that get added to medicaid roles, even free braces. (it doesnt matter that states are struggling with paying for their current enrollees, more should just make it better)

11/9/2010 5:51:26 PM