Gamakatsu Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 United Healthcare should have sent some Vaseline out with the package. Whose brainchild are healthcare flexible spending accounts? The "free market" choices are: 1> A plan purchased on the "free market", starting at around $15K a year for crap coverage. 2> A PPO with the possibility of $5500 out of pocket over and above the $5 grand it will cost from my wife's employer. It gives you the option for an FSA with a "if you don't use it you lose it" clause. So if everybody stays healthy, somebody else grabs whatever we saved (IRS, United Healthcare, the bank, wife's employer?????) 3> An HDHP which does not pay a nickel until we spend $5600 and a maximum out of pocket expense up to $11,200 for about $3500 a year. This has the option of an HSA, but we have to do all the tax record keeping and God forbid the investments are profitable. If the contributions exceed IRS limits, we not only pay applicable taxes, but also a 6% excise tax. 4> Go uninsured. I'm leaning towards #3. No kids and I'd definitely opt for #4. Let them fight my cadaver for the money. Is it a great system or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportyguy33 Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 United Healthcare should have sent some Vaseline out with the package. Whose brainchild are healthcare flexible spending accounts? The "free market" choices are: 1> A plan purchased on the "free market", starting at around $15K a year for crap coverage. 2> A PPO with the possibility of $5500 out of pocket over and above the $5 grand it will cost from my wife's employer. It gives you the option for an FSA with a "if you don't use it you lose it" clause. So if everybody stays healthy, somebody else grabs whatever we saved (IRS, United Healthcare, the bank, wife's employer?????) 3> An HDHP which does not pay a nickel until we spend $5600 and a maximum out of pocket expense up to $11,200 for about $3500 a year. This has the option of an HSA, but we have to do all the tax record keeping and God forbid the investments are profitable. If the contributions exceed IRS limits, we not only pay applicable taxes, but also a 6% excise tax. 4> Go uninsured. I'm leaning towards #3. No kids and I'd definitely opt for #4. Let them fight my cadaver for the money. Is it a great system or what? You had to go remind me. @ hours of sitting in a meeting again for the 4th year in a Row listening to each provide give their Sells pithc knowing I'll keep the same plan but the Meetings Mandatory Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kings over Queens Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Is it a great system or what? You've got 3 choices. I've only got one. My renewal went up to over $1,700 per month. I wish I had the option of taking a higher deductible, or an HSA like you've got. Quit bitchin'...you've got options. #otterlivesmatter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamakatsu Posted November 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 You've got 3 choices. I've only got one. My renewal went up to over $1,700 per month. I wish I had the option of taking a higher deductible, or an HSA like you've got. Quit bitchin'...you've got options. Kick your wife out into the workplace. Damn, I can't believe it's up to $1700 now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kings over Queens Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 Kick your wife out into the workplace. Damn, I can't believe it's up to $1700 now. She works for me, however, if the liberal's get their way, and I lose my Simple/401k deduction, keeping her on the books would make less sense. I'm going to explore larger co-pays, dropping RX coverage, ect. I've reached the tipping point. #otterlivesmatter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassNuts Posted November 1, 2008 Report Share Posted November 1, 2008 I just finished my next years elections..I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO. There will be a $3/wk increase for me..$150/yr. As long as I stay in network, all I pay is a $25 office visit copayment, and since all my doctors are in network, that's not too bad. My only beef is with my prescriptions. We use Merck/Medco (does anyone else see the irony in Merck running a prescription plan? Musch like leaving the fox in charge of the hen house) $60 for 90 days of maintenance meds, but., again, as compared to a lot of people, I'm guessing that's pretty good. CC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamakatsu Posted November 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 I just finished my next years elections..I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO. There will be a $3/wk increase for me..$150/yr. As long as I stay in network, all I pay is a $25 office visit copayment, and since all my doctors are in network, that's not too bad. My only beef is with my prescriptions. We use Merck/Medco (does anyone else see the irony in Merck running a prescription plan? Musch like leaving the fox in charge of the hen house) $60 for 90 days of maintenance meds, but., again, as compared to a lot of people, I'm guessing that's pretty good. You have it good. Really good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjftw Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 So I'm reading his health care "plan", and apparently he just wants to give a bunch of money to everyone so they can buy healthcare. He calls it a Tax Credit, but in reading the details you don't even need to have paid any income tax in order to receive this credit. That means he's going to be giving money to people just for fun. It's just right there for you to take. In my neck of the woods we call that a handout. We call it Welfare for the lazy. We call it Socialism! John McCain wants to take our money and give it to other people! The red ***tard. You think health care is expensive now?Wait until it's free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pogy Posted November 2, 2008 Report Share Posted November 2, 2008 So I'm reading his health care "plan", and apparently he just wants to give a bunch of money to everyone so they can buy healthcare. He calls it a Tax Credit, but in reading the details you don't even need to have paid any income tax in order to receive this credit. That means he's going to be giving money to people just for fun. It's just right there for you to take. In my neck of the woods we call that a handout. We call it Welfare for the lazy. We call it Socialism! John McCain wants to take our money and give it to other people! The red ***tard. Really, I wouldn't take any campaign promises, ideas, or other things any candidate claims. They want to get elected period. Healthcare is a big issue and no one has the answers, but in the meantime, "Joe the plumber pays dearly or dies". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Hunter Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Yep, mine just came in at $1200 per month. That is with a $ 5000 deductable and 80/20 with a $2000 stop loss. up from $ 817. Can no longer afford it and not sure where or what to do. Oh well. There are going to be 43 million and one uninsured families in 2009. It is what it is and it no longer matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmjftw Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 It's all those old people driving up the cost of health care. Something should be done about them. You think health care is expensive now?Wait until it's free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadrunner Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 This is an important enough issue, that med ins. lacking swing voters who saddle over to Obama could well be a quite a factor in an Obama election victory. The Republicans did squat diddley about this issue during the last 8 Bush years; they just sat on their hands, and twiddled their friggin thumbs. The Republicans prattle off about how 'the country can't afford national health insurance', but somehow the country could afford between 500 and 1,000 billion for an unnecessary farce in Iraq. To be totally honest, the Republicans well deserve the shellacking they're going to get on Tuesday. Greedy perfidy has its price. "I think, that all right thinking people, are sick & tired of being told that they're sick & tired of being sick & tired. I, for one, am not. And I'm sick & tired of being told that I am." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Posted November 3, 2008 Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Tell your wife her gig sucks and to get a better one. “My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose.” Ayn Rand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamakatsu Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 Tell your wife her gig sucks and to get a better one. Healthcare "gigs" are not easy to come by. You either get paid the money or they take it out in insurance. She could switch to a better "gig", but be paid less money. Employers can't afford the "gigs" anymore either. We have a great healthcare system and nothing is wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamakatsu Posted November 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2008 What should KoQ and Fish Hunter do about their "gigs"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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