Anyone with private health insurance

Joeaksa · 10-18-2006, 12:34 PM

Anyone on the forum with private health insurance? Any suggestions? Have been using one company the last few years and want to change, but could use some input.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield sounds good but wondering if there are any others that I need to look at.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Do you mean 'private' or 'individual' insurance?

I had Blue Cross for a number of years, but they started ratcheting up the premiums until it was closing in on $400 a month, and I had to switch to Kaiser.

Joeaksa · 10-18-2006, 12:41 PM

Thom,

Private as in "I am paying for it!"

I am with United Healtcare now, but looking at others. Paying about $250 a month for very good coverage. Not really looking to decrease the cost as much as I am looking at getting better coverage and co-pay's.

tabs · 10-18-2006, 12:45 PM

I have Blue Cross IPO Major Medical plan with $5k deductible. They cover Office visits & prescriptions with a small deductible, but the Major stuff you gota come up with the first 5K, which isn't bad considering the cost of Health Care. All for $280 a month...

tabs · 10-18-2006, 12:48 PM

The copay on an office visti is $20.

Joeaksa · 10-18-2006, 12:49 PM

Tabs,

Whats your co-pay at doctors and for meds? I take a anti-immflamitory for an old parachute accident, and the copay for it went from $20 two years ago to $200 with the same insurance company. There is no generic for this one so I take it in the rear.

Did you tell them you smoke at all? Wonder if they would care about my monthly cigar? Do not want to raise the rates by being in a "smoker" catagory.

Edit, just saw your office copay. How about for meds?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Joe:

I went the internet route for drugs. A 3 month supply cost less than my co-pay for the drug. What are you taking?

Burnin' oil · 10-18-2006, 01:13 PM

Nationwide. I have a great plan - a $5,000 dollar deductible, $45 co-pays, limited Rx coverage, and all for only $1,000 per month. As an added bonus, the premiums go up between 15 and 25% per year. I am sooo thankful that Nationwide sponsors a golf tour and that I can help pay for it.

artplumber · 10-18-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Thom,

Private as in "I am paying for it!"

I am with United Healtcare now, but looking at others. Paying about $250 a month for very good coverage. Not really looking to decrease the cost as much as I am looking at getting better coverage and co-pay's.

Kind of tedious Joe, but you have to just check em out. The blues are even quite different state to state. Coverage ultimately is the most important thing IMO. Like some blues don't cover bone marrow transplants (for cancer) or parts thereof. This means if you need a BMT you're potentially at risk for $250K. Therefore, a higher co-pay on drugs may not be that big a deal. OTOH, UHC generally has worse hospital/procedural coverage, but better drug coverage.

Anton · 10-18-2006, 02:01 PM

$50 bucks a month for $5000 deductible through an independent agent. Policy is through Assurant Health. But I'm 27 and healthy, only spent $100 out of my HSA last year.

schamp · 10-18-2006, 02:14 PM

One of my best friends told me today his was 1600.00 a month. Thats for him, his wife and maybe two grown kids in collage. Its killing him. He is in early fifties.

Joeaksa · 10-18-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by red-beard
Joe:

I went the internet route for drugs. A 3 month supply cost less than my co-pay for the drug. What are you taking?

James,

One that I take is Celebrex, for which there is no generic so no other choices. Its the least deadly of the Cox family of drugs. I do Medco for medications now and its still costing $250 a month if I refill everything that the doc wants me to take. With the old system my copay was $20, now its crazy.

Peter,

Agree and thats why I posted. Trying to see if others have done some of the legwork already or if there was someone they are not happy with.

Schamp,

Bringing a wife of childbearing age and/or kids really runs it up the scale. I have friends in the same boat as yours is and thats one major reasons to be with a good company. Its not for the salary but the health insurance can be as much as 1/2 of the monthly benefit for some people.

I am 53 and in good health for my age (do a flight exam every six months and have for 30+ years) but as you get older things happen and we wear out.

john70t · 03:53 PM

I tried Vioxx for a back/hip/knee thing, but it did nothing for the pain but make me space out. PT, electro-muscular, etc.. also did nothing. Thosee drugs only accelerate kidney/liver failure.

Try accupunture for the long-term benefits. A good therapist will be able to find the source without being told, and there are different stlyes. It helps blood circulation and stops chronic spasming/tightness so the bady doesn't want to return to the distorted position.

Also, Glucosamine with Chondrotin (the Shiff brand didn't make me sick) may(?) increase synovial fluid/joint-lube which is causing th epain to begin with.

Joeaksa · 10-18-2006, 04:08 PM

John,

Tried the Glucso/Chron mix for 3 years and it did nothing for me. Did take Vioxx for a few weeks, then switched back to Celebrex as it worked better. Now been on Mobic for the last week just to see which one worked better. Do not like taking any medication long term.

May try to find an accupuncturist, have never done that. My problem is between C5-C6 and without meds or an operation doubt that it will get better.

gassy · 10-18-2006, 04:53 PM

Must...not...age...stop Father Time...
Acupucture worked for my knee that I busted. I can still tell when the rain is coming based on my knees...3 surgeries by 21...at 36, who needs a barometer, when I have one built in.

Christian.

artplumber · 10-18-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Joeaksa
..
May try to find an accupuncturist, have never done that. My problem is between C5-C6 and without meds or an operation doubt that it will get better.

Unfortunately, most spine operations are not particularly successful (especially in the long term), I suggest you do some investigation before deciding to have one.

As to coverage, it's hard to get impressions by asking a forum like this, because most folk don't run into catastrophic events at (most) of our ages. The only way you can find that out is by reading the fine print.

Joeaksa · 05:36 PM

Peter,

Totally agree and having been married to a heart surgeon, know more than I ever wanted to know about getting cut upon.

My old boss's Mother had the same surgery several years ago. Recovery was rough but finally everything was ok. This lasted for about 2 years then she was back on the Celebrex to relieve imflamation that caused her pain. Problem was that before the operation Celebrex took care of all her issues and she was getting the operation to get off of the medications.

Will hold off as long as possible. And keep my eyes open on policies...

artplumber · 10-18-2006, 09:27 PM

Joe,
You are falling apart! J/K man

Seriously, some of these policies are completely weird. Example: certain ones of the Blues will cover a BMT, but not the search for the donor (about 20K for an average search). It's in the fine print.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

I purchased directly from www.bcbs.com. $113 per month, 0 deductible, $35 copay per visit, generic drug and just about what any normal healthy male needs. You can get Brand drug coverage for a bit more. Dont know your age, but you can probably get good coverage there for $200 or less. Id suggest that you go there and see what they offer. There are a lot of options to go through.

targa911S · 10-19-2006, 04:45 AM

I have to think private healthcare is the next good biz to get into with all the boomers getting screwed on their retirement benefits. Try Virgin Healthcare, another Branson investment.