keesan
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response 473 of 475:
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Apr 22 04:05 UTC 2009 |
My health insurance premiums are up 50% over last year, because they stopped
offering this plan and anyone who can is switching to something else, which
leaves those of us not able to switch in this group, and much higher premiums
since some of the people who cannot switch are sick. I am not sick and was
told I have near zero chance of recurrence, but no insurance company will
issue me a new policy. Except my agent says BCBS might have just come out
with something relatively cheap because they have to charge the same to
everyone, of all ages, whether or not they have any preexisting condition.
Preexisting conditions are not covered for 6 months. It does not pay for
any drugs, or preventive care unless you go over the deductible, but it is
cheaper than my current $8000 deductible (plus $1000 deductible for drugs)
policy is going to be next year and the deductible is only $3500. Another
agent says BCBS stopped offering this policy April 1. My agent was explaining
something about it and thinks they are starting it again May 1. I hope he
is right.
Some insurance companies want a physical exam, one wanted you to have blood
pressure under 140/90 (ours is 100/65 or less) and cholesterol under 220 (ours
is 40 or 50), another was fussy about weight and height. BCBS wants a medical
history but they cannot charge differentially based on it.
I was told Medicare only costs $53/month but you have to pay 20% of all costs,
or you can get supplemental insurance and pay up to $200/month (if you want
drug coverage and no copay). Something to look forward to. If my policy
keeps going up 50%/year I can switch to a more expensive BCBS (about
$100/month more than the cheaper policy) in a couple of years.
Then there is dental insurance, which pays 80% of preventive care if you pay
premiums equal to about the cost of preventive care, and after the first year
also pays 50% of the cost of fillings up to $1000 including the preventive
care. The agent says most people don't think it is worth the cost.
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keesan
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response 474 of 475:
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Apr 24 22:22 UTC 2009 |
We got the forms for American Community Mutual Insurance and they now have
higher deductibles, up to $7500 after which you pay 40% of up to $20,000 for
$15,500 out of pocket. A $5000 plus 40% ($13000) policy is only $190/month
and pays for nothing at all until it hits $5000, except for accidents if you
get treated within 30 days. (Maybe they figure this is cheaper in the long
run for them). I am not eligible because I have a preexisting condition.
We had a long list of conditions to check off or not for Jim - he has not
had any miscarriages, or embolisms, but he did injure his knee and was tested
for Lyme Disease. You only need to list conditions within the past 10 years
so when I am 63 I can get cheaper health insurance again for a year and a half
before Medicare.
How do sick people come up with $7200/year for BCBS insurance while also
paying their medical bills (the deductible)?
Until April 1 BCBS had a $190/month policy for anyone of any age and medical
condition (but would not pay for preexisting conditions for 6 months). I
should have researched this sooner.
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denise
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response 475 of 475:
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Apr 29 00:24 UTC 2009 |
Good luck on finding something that works for you, Sindi.
Since I've been on disability for several years, I qualify for Medicare.
Along with the basic medicare, I have a supplemental policy through Blue
Cross which reduces my overall cost for appointments and for medication.
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