Quote:
Originally Posted by Noah930
Unless you're getting some horrible care and don't even know it, isn't that one of the most important factors in selecting your healthcare providers?
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Yes, exactly, I was only hoping that doctors were as enthusiastic as I am. The business model is new to me and I am hopeful it is popular with doctors.
Cogar, I suppose I did promise to explain how I did it, right? Okay, here goes...
First off, when searching for a provider based plan, location is everything. Fallon is local to me and so I will get the best price. I'm actually surprised Boston is even included in the coverage area. Using my zip code, here is a screen print using the Commonwealth Connector website...
The numbers you see on the web are averages So those numbers don't include any discounts (as noted in one of the screen shots I posted earlier). I actually started out just two or three years ago around the low $130's per month because I maxed out my co-pays and deductibles. For example, my office visit co-pays start at $60 - not $30. And all of my out-of-network deductibles were maxed to the annual limits. The biggest single savings I got however is that I went without a drug benefit. The older numbers I posted mentioned the no-rx option but the new ones don't seem to. Anyway, all of my drugs are generics and so I pay $4 each. That is actually less than the copay - So I'd literally be paying for coverage that I *couldn't use*. Dropping the drug plan was my single biggest savings. Jeez, I hope they still allow new customers to drop the rx plan - otherwise people like me would literally be paying for nothing.
Anyway Cogar, your underlying point is still well taken. Since signing up, my premiums have gone up something like what? 25%? The Bastids! It definitely pisses me off but I don't blame my provider based insurance. As for your specific questions, I pay directly to Fallon with no employer or other party involved. There is no subsidy of any kind. I live in Worcester, MA which is a *city* in Massachusetts. I know almost zero about how insurance works - like I said, I can't figure out how/why other people pay so much. All I know for certain is that given my age and especially my medical condition, NOBODY should ever have to pay more than me. My premiums should be the highest in the whole country. And yet...
Anyway, I googled the thing and hopefully the following screen print will help.
