Health Insurance Plan Price

[rjundi]

My wife & I got a real surprise with our family health insurance plan at her work.

Instead of the typical price increase/less benefits they dropped our biweekly family premium from $105 to $35 every two weeks as a part time employee(20hrs).

We are floored as we expected a huge increase.

They want more members in it apparently.

 

[Drew99GT]

Wow, I'd go buy a powerball ticket!!!

 

[wkcars]

But did the benefits change...higher deductibles, copays, doctor/care provider selection, etc.?

 

[daves87rs]

Wow!

 

[JeremyInMT]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
My wife & I got a real surprise with our family health insurance plan at her work.

Instead of the typical price increase/less benefits they dropped our biweekly family premium from $105 to $35 every two weeks as a part time employee(20hrs).

We are floored as we expected a huge increase.

They want more members in it apparently.


That doesn't really tell the full story. If the price changes, could the benefits have changed as well?

 

[JHZR2]

+1. Then again, companies cut back on compensation, and this may be an alternate way to compensate that is favorable in another way.

 

[kb01]

Originally Posted By: wkcars
But did the benefits change...higher deductibles, copays, doctor/care provider selection, etc.?


I'm wondering the same thing. Also, how did the employer's subsidy change in the process?

I'm absolutely dreading renewal this year and can feel my blood pressure going up just thinking about it.

 

[CivicFan]

Could be that the insurance company is proactively starting to comply with the health reform law.

 

[JeremyInMT]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Could be that the insurance company is proactively starting to comply with the health reform law.

No, because it would get more expensive. A friend of mine locally said his cost is going up 39% due to the new laws.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Could be that the insurance company is proactively starting to comply with the health reform law.

Oh man, I needed a good laugh. My health insurance premiums went up about 40 bucks a month thanks to Obamneycare.

 

[CivicFan]

Originally Posted By: JeremyInMT
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Could be that the insurance company is proactively starting to comply with the health reform law.

No, because it would get more expensive. A friend of mine locally said his cost is going up 39% due to the new laws.


The new laws should have reduced your cost... Could be your employer increased your portion of the premiums while they could. Before the law goes into effect in 2014, organizations have the opportunity to fleece their customers. Without knowing the financials, it's hard to guess. The expert analysis have continuously shown that once implemented, the health reform will reduce costs and improve quality outcomes. Primary factors:
- larger risk pools;
- meaningful use;
- accountable care organizations;
- medical home concept.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Originally Posted By: JeremyInMT
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Could be that the insurance company is proactively starting to comply with the health reform law.

No, because it would get more expensive. A friend of mine locally said his cost is going up 39% due to the new laws.


The new laws should have reduced your cost... Could be your employer increased your portion of the premiums while they could. Before the law goes into effect in 2014, organizations have the opportunity to fleece their customers. Without knowing the financials, it's hard to guess. The expert analysis have continuously shown that once implemented, the health reform will reduce costs and improve quality outcomes. Primary factors:
- larger risk pools;
- meaningful use;
- accountable care organizations;
- medical home concept.


Right. For a "for profit" entity, any opportunity to have an excuse to fleece consumers and raise prices is one that is taken. Im not saying that the healthcare law is right or wrong, that's not under discussion here. But I think youre on to something in that it is an opportunity for the companies to raise rates, and the sheeple have no choice.

 

[PandaBear]

Did someone with high risk in your work place left and are your workplace relatively small?

 

[JeremyInMT]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Originally Posted By: JeremyInMT
Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Could be that the insurance company is proactively starting to comply with the health reform law.

No, because it would get more expensive. A friend of mine locally said his cost is going up 39% due to the new laws.


The new laws should have reduced your cost... Could be your employer increased your portion of the premiums while they could. Before the law goes into effect in 2014, organizations have the opportunity to fleece their customers. Without knowing the financials, it's hard to guess. The expert analysis have continuously shown that once implemented, the health reform will reduce costs and improve quality outcomes. Primary factors:
- larger risk pools;
- meaningful use;
- accountable care organizations;
- medical home concept.


This is a friend of mine in town. I do not work there.
I think the OMB and CBO disagree with the idea of lower final numbers as well. The fact of the matter is that he's high enough up in the company he knows what he's talking about. It can't really be hidden from him.

 

[rjundi]

Benefits are remaining the same as are copays which are nothing for regular visits. Crazy...She works at this hospital system and the plan is you see their Dr only unless service not offered. They send kids outside to Boston Children's if complicated which is an incredible place.

They want to steer people away from an outside vendor(competing) plan which they raised the premium plan price on but does not limit Dr to their system.

The difference is new ownership from non profit to profit hospital.

Rare these days things like this happen.

 

[JHZR2]

So profit hospital self insuring then?

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
So profit hospital self insuring then?


Yes. Although the non-profit previous owners started this plan.

 

[stockrex]

lucky dogg, we pay nearly $1300/month, ruff ruff ruff, grrr.
most big employers are self insured but use a clearing house to process claims.

 

[Cujet]

My coverage went up this year. $22,300 for wife and I. No covered children.

 

[kb01]

Wow -- $1,300/month and $22,300/year...

I guess I really can't complain too much about my $1,000/month bare bones high deductible policy. Supposedly, the national average is somewhere between $15,000 - $20,000/year, so I guess I'm making out.