Company medical plans

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
10/20/2016 at 01:42 • Filed to: personalopnik

Another year, another gut-punch. My premium increased by 19%, and my coinsurance by 10%. There is now flat rates for all age brackets, which slashed premiums for people over 50 compared to last year, but in turn means I am bearing the largest percentage increase, still being in the youngest bracket. I don’t think I want to complain too much, as one day I’ll be old and would like affordable insurance. But for one day, I will be a little bitter.

At least I have my health.

[sneezes]

Uh oh.

DISCUSSION (17)

RyanFrew > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 02:00

Have you explore other opportunities? Or opting out and rolling with Obamacare? < Not worth considering if you make more than $50k or so

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RyanFrew
10/20/2016 at 02:05

Well I believe the issue is that I would only get assistance if my employer didn’t offer medical insurance. I don’t know if I’m describing it accurately... something something...

You can decline employer health insurance (it’s called a waiver of coverage), but you won’t be able to get cost assistance through ObamaCare or dependent coverage through the employer plan if coverage was offered.

Birddog > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 02:05

The CEO of our company blames this on Obamacare. He also blames our low census and forced vacation days on Obamacare.

Of course, he also stood in front of us and said “our research surveys show that our employees would prefer a pizza party in lieu of cash bonuses or pay raises.”

So there’s that..

RyanFrew > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 02:07

Interesting. Still worth checking out a quote, imo.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Birddog
10/20/2016 at 02:07

We once had an insurance representative tell us that “times have been tough for all of us.”

She drove a new 740i

Birddog > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 02:11

Dang! That’s something special there.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Birddog
10/20/2016 at 02:11

Agreed — she probably was hurt she couldn’t afford the 760Li

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 02:13

I know a number of people that go on the employee-only coverage because it is cheaper to insure their wife and kids on the open market... Run the numbers and you might be surprised.

I also know people that decline to exploit one spouse’s employer because the other provides heavily subsidized health insurance, or decline their employer-provided health plan due to other options that are cheaper. The best deals I’ve seen were for members of a tribe...

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Eric @ opposite-lock.com
10/20/2016 at 02:23

Interesting idea. I have three weeks to shop and I shall do so for my wife. I would probably stay because, as you alluded to, my costs are heavily subsidized by my employer, but my wife would be only partially.

Birddog > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 02:29

I wouldn’t doubt it. It’s a lifestyle thing.

I almost feel bad for splurging on ouchless toilet paper now.

nermal > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 08:10

I’m in the same group. It’s a disaster.

It’s not my fault these dumb old people neglected to exercise and eat their vegetables. Now they’re falling apart as a result of years of neglect to themselves, and expect others to pay for it.

E92M3 > Birddog
10/20/2016 at 09:02

We had a CEO tell us how lucky we were to be able to have a potluck Christmas lunch, and that many companies don’t allow any religious celebration. (This was after having it catered for years before his arrival).

This same CEO got paid just over 1 million a year, yet asked me to provide print job reports so he could monitor how much people are printing. Getting paid hundreds an hour, and he spends his time saving $250 a year on paper.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 09:03

Insurance is one of those things that people hate until they need the benefits. I was nearly bankrupted by a couple of incidents, one which required a hospital stay for my daughter, one which required multiple MRIs for my wife. When I selected our health insurance plan, we went for the lowest payment and highest deductible. Then the insurance company fought us about whether some of the procedures were required and refused to pay. Do you have any idea how much it costs to get an MRI?

After my wife went back to work, we chose to get coverage from both employers. The coinsurance covered what the other plan didn’t cover, so we could choose high deductible plans on both sides. Then obamacare came along and the premiums for my wife’s plan doubled. That threw the whole equation out of balance. We had to create a spreadsheet with all of the plan options for both companies with premiums and deductibles and rates and expected costs and ....

In the end, we are paying a lot more money for less coverage. Thanks, Obama!

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 09:30

Similar situation here, we decided to stay with the program offered by my employeer instead of splitting as the cost difference was minimal and the program through my employer has an amazing network of doctors compared to the equivalent open market plan. The jump from you to you and spouse is significant, jumping to family is a whole new level of expensive.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 10:34

When I initially started working for this agency, I was still covered under my parents’ insurance so I opted out of the coverage from work. I realized this year that my dad’s insurance ran out when he retired... Three years ago. Oops.

At least I have my health. *sneezes blood everywhere* ...oops

Rykilla303 > Birddog
10/20/2016 at 14:41

We get that treatment too. Obamacare at least forced them to give us decent coverage for our money. I wouldn’t our old plan back even if it was less money. It was shit.

wiffleballtony > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
10/20/2016 at 17:43

If you have a family and want a PPO at my company, the yearly premiums are $21,000. That doesn’t include copay.