What's a cheap option y'all unemployed ex-students go with?

I need the catastrophic more than anything. (It ain't no big thang--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx46dbsRs10&feature=related)

So what's up?

KISS ME DEADLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

11/7/2009 12:02:43 AM

I thought blue cross was like the only thing.

11/7/2009 12:09:29 AM

if you want healthcare, go to washington D.C. and protest against the protestors

11/7/2009 12:20:18 AM

No joke, folks.

What did you use after college without a job?

What's the standard? What's the smart standard???

11/7/2009 12:24:31 AM

It depends entirely on what your anticipated health costs are.

With BCBS, there are a ton of options. You can pay a lower premium per month but get a higher deductible for everything except basic preventive care (annual physicals). You can pay an even lower premium per month and get higher coinsurance for after you meet the deductible.

Personally, I have almost the lowest premium individual plan you can get. It has a very high deductible (around 2500, I believe) that you have to meet for anything except doctor visits. Coinsurance after that point is 70%, meaning I'm responsible for 30% of the bill. I think technically I could have gotten a lower premium, but it would have been an even higher deductible. For most young, healthy people, you can get along fine with something like I have. If you're one of those people that has a lot of bullshit wrong with your body or you get hurt/sick all the time, you're probably going to want to pay a higher premium for more consistent coverage.

[Edited on November 7, 2009 at 3:58 AM. Reason : ]

11/7/2009 3:58:38 AM

I just spent all week researching this.

There's BCBS and Cigna.

I found BCBS HSA plans to be the cheapest while offering decent coverage; however, b/c my husband and I wanted to make sure we were covered if we had an accident (the pregnant kind of accident) we were going to add a maternity rider. By adding the maternity rider, it made the costs jump. So, we decided against an HSA and added the maternity rider to the BCBS Advantage B plan.

If you go online, you can get free rate quotes and compare the coverages side by side. Check out the actual pamphlets of the coverage though b/c it gives much more information on the limitations and exclusions.

But, from my research I think you'll find the BCBS HSA plan w/ a high deductible is going to be your cheapest way to go.

[Edited on November 7, 2009 at 6:25 AM. Reason : ]

11/7/2009 6:22:34 AM

are both you and your husband unemployed? assuming it's only for a short time - isn't it cheaper to wait it out until your cobra option expires (30-60 days) and then sign up for health insurance?

11/7/2009 7:50:11 AM

unitedhealthone.com

UHC was my primary for a while and when I changed jobs that provided a nice temporary option as well. Never had any problems with them overall and the prices are reasonable.

11/7/2009 9:42:23 AM

aetna, too

11/7/2009 9:50:15 AM

seriously...you should just wait until the government makes you get health insurance

then you can get it's plan and hope you don't contract some horrible disease (like pregnancy)

11/7/2009 10:00:53 AM

I got insurance through a company called Medcost, which was sponsored by the university for recent graduates without health insurance at the time, so it was much cheaper than BCBS or anything I found at the time. I think there is a time limit for how long you can be insured but I was working as a contractor and I just needed something until I was hired on by company I was working at. I would look into them.

11/7/2009 12:54:41 PM

I'm unemployed but I'm not sure if my experience applies to your situation, but I ended up getting health, dental, and vision insurance through my fiance's job as a domestic partner. It's the same rates the company offers for married people but since we own a house together but aren't married we qualified for domestic partnership :-) Might be something to look into if you're in the same situation.

11/7/2009 1:15:20 PM

PM sent

11/7/2009 7:55:32 PM

I did BCBSNC when I graduated. It costs me $102.00 a month and I have a $25 deductible for doctor's visits.

The lowest they had was 53$ a month which was pretty much emergency only.

11/7/2009 8:10:44 PM

So there are pretty much only two viable options in NC.

The new thing they are trying to pass will hopefully create more options. I do not see how having only two main players in NC is very competitive at all. Maybe the costs will even be lower.

11/7/2009 8:44:36 PM

With the self-pay you can get cheap premiums, but the deductibles can be outrageous.

11/7/2009 8:58:02 PM

So what exactly is the point of a super high deductible policy??? To keep you from going completely bankrupt?

I mean if you end up in the ER and are liable for thousands of dollars that you dont have...
a) you owe thousands of dollars you did not budget for
b) if you cannot pay it, you paid for insurance all that time and still fuc*ed your credit
c) if you are able to pay it, you paid insurance all that time and still got in a horrible bind

It just seems like a high deductible policy, is basically a bankruptcy prevention policy. You are still screwed financially if something happens.

11/7/2009 9:18:37 PM

Well, a high deductible can generally be a couple thousand dollars (I haven't seen many over $5k). If push comes to shove, I can come up with that. But if it's tens of thousands, I can't, and that's when the insurance would kick in.

So, for me, who hasn't been to anything other than an annual doctors visit in many many years, I don't see paying a few hundred dollars a month to get a low deductible. It just doesn't work out financially for me. It's been cheaper for me to pay $60 a month and take the bet that I won't ever need to dip into the deductible. But if I get cancer, or something equally as expensive, I've got a safety net.

[Edited on November 7, 2009 at 9:41 PM. Reason : ]

11/7/2009 9:23:26 PM

Cancer? A kid costs $20,000.

It's bankruptcy insurance.

11/7/2009 11:14:34 PM

yeah but an abortion is only ~$350

[Edited on November 7, 2009 at 11:25 PM. Reason : up to $900]

11/7/2009 11:23:20 PM

My wife used Wellpath and Golden Key for her and her brother when they were between being covered by work. They were both pretty cheap. I think ~$50 a month or something like that. It might be crappy, I don't know. But I thought I'd throw those in the mix.

11/7/2009 11:25:37 PM

^^^ 20k isn't bankruptcy, it's a car payment.

^ Wellpath is an absolute shithole of a company. You're better off saving half your payment in a savings account and spending the other half on lottery tickets, at least then you would have a chance of getting your medical bills paid.

11/7/2009 11:43:34 PM

Quote :

"seriously...you should just wait until the government makes you get health insurance then you can get it's plan and hope you don't contract some horrible disease (like pregnancy)"

What he said - I would consider pregnancy a disease, except that if you get pregnant it'll be all good under the public option.

11/8/2009 12:29:24 AM

Has anyone ever used Humana or Humana-One (one of those is correct)? My husband and I are looking for insurance right now, and I've recently seen them advertised on tv. They're quite a bit cheaper than BCBS, but I really don't know a whole lot about them.

11/8/2009 9:55:22 AM

Quote :

"are both you and your husband unemployed? assuming it's only for a short time - isn't it cheaper to wait it out until your cobra option expires (30-60 days) and then sign up for health insurance?"

No, he's not unemployed. And no, it's not cheaper and it certainly is cheaper for me to go alone than be added to his policy. You would think it would be, but it wasn't. Like I said, I did research all week.

11/8/2009 10:08:15 AM

^^ Overall I've heard they're so-so as far as service goes. The big thing that makes them so cheap is they have really low (compared to other companies) lifetime maximums. I think their plans start at 3 million lifetime max.

11/8/2009 12:08:39 PM

^^yea it's retarded like that where i work too..all the ppl with kids and shit get policies on their own and it's way cheaper that way

11/8/2009 12:33:28 PM

Please do not wait for the government to do anything.

11/8/2009 3:24:50 PM

Thanks for all the advice, guys!

It definitely helped relieve some needless stress.

11/8/2009 9:47:00 PM

Quote :

"BCBS"

11/9/2009 10:20:24 AM

I've got some BCBS month-to-month plan. It's $75 a month and covers major medical or whatever. let me konw if you have any other questions.

11/9/2009 4:40:22 PM

Yes, can you give me more details on your plan? I'm paying about $170 a month and I need it to be lots cheaper. I just want major medical, so I don't go bankrupt if I get cancer or something.

11/10/2009 2:28:16 PM

GIT A JERB! no really, get to work

11/10/2009 2:37:08 PM

I would rather get the money (that the employer pays out for benefits) in my check. People see their per pay period premiums taken out and think hey, that's way cheaper than the premium I'd have to pay in an individual plan. Well, no, not really. The employer pays way more for benefits than the employee, you just never see that money. That's part of the reason I think employer-provided healthcare is a bad idea. It would be better for people to get the money, and they could spend the money how they want. They'd actually research insurance companies and figure out which plan is best for them, or which plan is most cost-effective.

11/10/2009 2:44:08 PM

instead now we are gonna get the grubberment to do it for everyone

11/10/2009 3:47:43 PM

^^this may be a good scenario for you now or for someone in good health...but you may sing a different tune when/if you are 60 years old with a recent heart attack, high blood pressure, etc.

but i see your point

[Edited on November 10, 2009 at 3:52 PM. Reason : ]

11/10/2009 3:52:00 PM

BUMP

7/8/2010 2:05:50 PM

THANKS

does anyone have individual insurance right now (ie not through an employer)

and if so through what company? and if you don't mind saying AROUND how much you pay and maybe whether or not it includes dental/RX coverage/Office visit copays and what not.

i'm deciding between BCBS ($$$$$), CIGNA and UnitedHealthOne (which i've had before - well Golden Rule - and didn't like but its the cheapest)

7/8/2010 2:30:40 PM

what didn't you like about GoldenRule? We just got a quote with them.

7/8/2010 2:32:14 PM

the health care reform package included a prevision, as i understand it, to allow young adults to stay on their parents health insurance until 26 which should help with some of those between school & job issues (don't know when it goes into effect though, probably not time for most everyone here, but at least this problem wont exist as much in the future)

7/8/2010 2:40:27 PM

^^ yea haha i am probably going to use them again cause they are cheap BUT i didn't like the customer service

EVERYTIME i went to the doctor someone would call me

and be like "why were you at the doctor. what was wrong? what do you mean your stomach hurt?"

and i'd be like "ummmm i don't think you're allowed to ask me all these questions"

they just like really invaded my privacy so i felt like if something REALLY BAD happened (i mean i went to the doctor, my in network primary care doctor, for and upset stomach) it would be a battle to get them to cover it. and i've had really bad cramps all my life and never had a break in insurance and they tried to say it was a preexisting condition. which it wasn't and i won the fight. i mean it was fine, just doing battle with them got old. and i was scared that if i went to the hospital or something serious happened like they're fighting w/ me over primary care visits, what would they do then?!

comparing THAT coverage to the BCBS (my dad's employer plan) that i've been under...i've never had them call and be like "why were you getting blood work done? what do you MEAN you were anemic" and i know the SECOND i do that goldenrule will probably call me and be like "RAWRRRRR"

its just the people/customer service not the coverage.

i am probably going with a UnitedHealthOne plan (which united and golden rule are all the same peeps) so hopefully they don't hate me this time

^ yea. that was nice but i am getting kicked off cause of age sooooo blah. oh and the fact that my dad no longer wants to support me haha. but he will still be paying my insurance until i get a job. at which time hopefully i'll get different insurance.

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 2:44 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 2:43:08 PM

been happy with bcbs i paid about 80/mo but now with new jerb by work pays for it

while with bcbs i only used it twice- two prescriptions for medications prescribed by my dentist......... but of course i never had any injuries or actually saw a doctor for anythin

7/8/2010 4:45:01 PM

i don't get how your plan was $80/month

did you just have basic coverage and have to pay stuff like prescriptions out of pocket?

7/8/2010 5:12:13 PM

I have BCBS Advantage Plan B (see above posts) with a Maternity Coverage (just in case). I pay $270 per month (the maternity rider is what makes this so high...I can't recall what it is before that was added). My primary copay is $25, specialist/urgent care $50, ER $150 and RXX deductible $150...after than $10/$35/$50 or 25% depending on the drug.

This was as close to the coverage I had with my employer minus all the great eye care & dental. I haven't had an eye appt under my new coverage yet (luckily I was still covered under my employer at my last visit), so that should be fun come October/November.

Have you looked in to the HSA plan? That was pretty cheap when I last looked, and it probably still is.

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 5:32 PM. Reason : MR = $$$$$$$$$]

7/8/2010 5:31:26 PM

My husband and I have Aetna that we buy on our own, its like 115 per month for both of us, covers one physical a year and hospital only after a 3000 deductible. So, just emergencies only basically so you don't go a million dollars in debt.

7/8/2010 5:34:36 PM

^^ you left out the biggie, the hospital deductible

$84 per month, 26 yo male, in good standing, good vision, no regular Rx's. $3,500 deductible (max $3,000 co ins.), $150 ER, $200 Rx deductible: after that, $10, $35, $50, 25% for Rx's. $25, $50, $50 for prim/spec/uc. I've been to the doctor twice in 4 years. As a male, don't be fat or a hypochondriac and health ins. in your 20's isn't the worst thing in the world if you don't have pre existing conditions. If something awful happens it's going to cost me $6,500 plus Rx's and visits which amounts to another couple hundred bucks, that's what you need to focus on because they'll take everything you own (as in stuff that's in your name) if you go to the hospital without insurance.

The deductible for the hospital is what you need to look at and see what you can afford and what you anticipate based on your history, everything else is pennies compared to that.


[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 5:49 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 5:40:51 PM

yea i've totally looked at the emergencies only plans. i think i'm going with the united healthcare one plan (plus?). it is $141 a month w/ dental. $119 w/o

$35 copay for primary care and specialist. the deductible is high $5000 so hopefully nothing happens (KNOCK ON WOOD) but i'm hoping not to be unemployed forever?

and i get a discount card for vision (which isn't covered but its one of those programs where the card gets you 60% off eye exam and contacts with their network providers)

the main thing i wanted was for my current doctor to be in the network. i don't care about my dentist (sorry dentist). and that i had low copay for prescriptions. and that i could add dental since i haven't had dental in like 2 years

but yea i just have to have the doctor visits allowed (to get bloodwork to check my deficiencies haha) and because i have 3 prescriptions so i want prescription coverage. *SIGH* insurance.

7/8/2010 5:43:00 PM

Quote :

"you left out the biggie, the hospital deductible"

i just pulled out my health insurance card and gave it a gander since it was right here
you mean I gotta go allllll the way to the filing cabinet (which is behind me...so give me a minute cause I'm lazy atm) to pull that out and find out? GAH!

one sec kadwackle...but only for youuuuu

hospital deduc is 5k with a coinsurance max of 3k

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 5:51 PM. Reason : hosp deduc]

7/8/2010 5:47:39 PM

^ THANK YOU!

that sounds like the plan i signed up for. or applied for i should say. 3000 max coins and 5000 ded

no RX ded, no ER ded (well its $100 but waived if you are admitted and i am not planning on going to the er if i'm not dying, so) and then $35 copay for primary care OR specialists

RX are on a tiered scale but mine fall into the $15 copay range HOWEVER the generic i get is like $4 at rite aid w/o insurance.

and i added primary dental which is 2 teeth cleanings a year and has a scale for other stuff (like 80% of cavity fillings paid and what not). so it is $141 a month which is $100 cheaper than the BCBS i was going to sign up for. of course this has no vision and no option to add vision so. yay? cause i wear contacts. thank god i just ordered a bunch though and got new glasses while under my other insurance.

hopefully it will be an ok plan. and hopefully its just temporary. i'd like to be employed this time next year haha.

its confusing cause when i graduated from college my mom picked out the plan (she worked at an insurance agency) and i just paid it every month. i didn't really look at the details she just told me it was a good one haha. now i'm trying to figure it out myself. but its reversed cause since i'm poor my dad is spotting me until i find a job. thank god.

[Edited on July 8, 2010 at 5:58 PM. Reason : .]

7/8/2010 5:54:41 PM

Quote :

"$84 per month, 26 yo male, in good standing, good vision, no regular Rx's. $3,500 deductible (max $3,000 co ins.), $150 ER, $200 Rx deductible: after that, $10, $35, $50, 25% for Rx's. $25, $50, $50 for prim/spec/uc. I've been to the doctor twice in 4 years. As a male, don't be fat or a hypochondriac and health ins. in your 20's isn't the worst thing in the world if you don't have pre existing conditions."

i wasn't alone. i knew that if i went to the hospital i'd be broke, but it was better than nothing. thank god i have full coverage no out of pocket insurance from work now..........

7/8/2010 7:49:22 PM