Health Insurance Cost Research

CiK01

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Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Messages
402
Location
Indiana
Hey all! Way off topic post for a hunting forum, but I diverse group to weigh in. Where would you point a person to for research on Health Care data?

I lost a job earlier this year due to COVID. That job had a pretty incredible total compensation package (salary, health, retirement).

I quickly took a job to close the income gap, but that job taken was more for the "cool factor". The health care and retirement benefits they provide are, compared to the other, pretty rough. I am blessed to have what I have considering, but running the numbers recently made me realize It would be better for me to stay on Cobra from the lost job than to take the health care from the new job. That isn't a great long term plan though.

I am just wondering what data is out there so I can compare for a family of 5. What is average? What is good? What is bad?

Thanks in advance!
 
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Joined
May 13, 2015
Messages
3,711
My wife and I both have health coverage through our employers. We both have HMO's; as such we both have dual coverage. I was recently with Facey Medical Group, and switched to UCLA Medical. Up until recently, I have been in good health, with a couple of exceptions requiring emergency hospitalization. That went well (with Facey). However, recently I began experiencing serious medical issues, along with having Leukocytosis for just over 2 years; with Facey never even mentioning it to me until I began exhibiting serious symptoms. Facey took a treat the symptoms approach. Needless to say, I was exceptionally unhappy. So I switched to UCLA Medical.

UCLA Medicals approach has been very very different, in a very positive manner. Due to the serious nature of my presenting conditions, I was given priority status and seen by specialists within days (Facey took months, literally). Tests, imaging... was scheduled and completed within a week, respective to speciality area.

What I am getting at here is that you should not just be looking at the cost of insurance, as from my personal experience, the provider can make or break you; save your life, or let you die in their extended process. In my case, with Facey, I was seeing doctors that got their education decades in their past. With UCLA I am seeing doctors that are also leaders in research. My experience with UCLA has been well beyond outstanding. Every person has exhibited a genuine concern for my health, from the people on the phone, schedulers, nurses and doctors alike. Unfortunately I can not say the same for Facey. I am extremely fortunate to have made the change to UCLA Medical; and I am very likely here today because of that change.

FYI, the cost of the 2 HMOs (Facey and UCLA) is the same for my employer. Obviously the service I receive(d) is light years apart. So in short, chose wisely.
 
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CiK01

CiK01

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Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Messages
402
Location
Indiana
A little perspective for the question. I have two high risk children and if I averaged the total medical expenses for the last 5 years, it would be right around $15,000 / year.

With the old company, MY total out of pocket expense, with a $15,000 year, would come to around $8,000 with deductible, max out of pocket and premiums combined. With the new company that total out of pocket for ME is $21,000 with deductible, max out of pocket and premiums combined.

I know one is better than the other by $13,000, but I don't know if the one that is "bad" is on par to what the average American family has to manage.
 
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Jan 25, 2020
Messages
494
Self employed here so no benefits through any employer - $1,100/month for myself and my two boys - 9 & 11. This is the cheapest possible insurance I have found in MN. It has the highest deductible which is about $7k per person...
 
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CiK01

CiK01

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Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Messages
402
Location
Indiana
TTT one time. Thanks I’m advance for any and all input.


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Joined
Dec 13, 2020
Messages
54
I got laid off once and was on Cobra before getting my career back on track. Cobra is amazing and you should stay on it as long as you legally can. In fact, if you have any nagging health issues you should address them while you are on Cobra because you will be money ahead vs private.
 
Joined
Aug 4, 2019
Messages
1,197
Location
North Carolina
Have you done any research on the Christian based healthcare sharing programs?
The premiums are substantially lower. (83% lower for me compared to Blue Cross)
I wasn't very familiar with the details but after talking to dozens of people and doing tons of research I decided to go with it.
It may not be for everyone and they do have some prerequisites but it's probably worth an hour of research.
The one I use is: www.chministries.org
 

jmez

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
7,403
Location
Piedmont, SD
Family of 6. All healthy. We pay about $1900 a month. 5k deductible, only have to pay 2 deductibles a year if needed. . Through Blue Cross Blue Shield. We only have one other option in Western SD and it isn't very good.

Ours is an individual plan.

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Trial153

WKR
Joined
Oct 28, 2014
Messages
8,187
Location
NY
Roughly 700 a month. Family of four, no deductibles, copays on visits range from 25 -100 depending on what it's for, almost everything run of the mill is 25 dollars, ERs and out patient stuff is higher. Max out of pocket is 13K total on the whole family.
 
Joined
May 6, 2018
Messages
8,820
Location
Shenandoah Valley
Going to need to talk to people in your state. It varies a lot.

Go to the healthcare . gov site or seek out an insurance professional in your area, tho I'd be careful with them as well. Really need to pick a plan that best suits your needs, but anymore it seems the choices can be pretty limited.
 

Berger024

WKR
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
453
Location
Great Lakes Region
Just remember Health Insurance is a great thing for emergency issues. For true health and wellness, it is lacking in its entirety. Insurance does not cover health and wellness, prescription meds and a whole slue of tests, surgeries and procedures, yes. You should consider anything that promotes health and prolongs or enhances the quality of life, an out-of-pocket expense.
 
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Joined
Mar 15, 2017
Messages
867
Location
PA
I cover my healthy family of 4 through the business at $1700 Month. $5000 individual deductible, $14000 max out of per year.

We still pay through the nose IMO but with a growing family what can you do?

The ACA set us up for this mess.
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2019
Messages
475
Following this........ I'm a Gov. Employee with awesome health insurance thats one kid away from getting out of the government grind. The ACA totally boned us, I was self employed for the first part of my life, and remember reasonable insurance. The outcome of the ACA is you can either make 20k/year and suck on the gov. tit and get your health care, or you can put in 2000 hours a year to be on the system like I do. System seems to be totally designed against independence and the middle class. I feel for you guys that are in the real world paying what your paying. It ain't right.
 

def90

WKR
Joined
Aug 12, 2020
Messages
1,578
Location
Colorado
Hey all! Way off topic post for a hunting forum, but I diverse group to weigh in. Where would you point a person to for research on Health Care data?

I lost a job earlier this year due to COVID. That job had a pretty incredible total compensation package (salary, health, retirement).

I quickly took a job to close the income gap, but that job taken was more for the "cool factor". The health care and retirement benefits they provide are, compared to the other, pretty rough. I am blessed to have what I have considering, but running the numbers recently made me realize It would be better for me to stay on Cobra from the lost job than to take the health care from the new job. That isn't a great long term plan though.

I am just wondering what data is out there so I can compare for a family of 5. What is average? What is good? What is bad?

Thanks in advance!
Every state is going to have different options. Here in Colorado if you are buying insurance on your own you have to go through the state website and it will show you all of the available plans from the approved providers. Thanks Obamacare.
 

FLATHEAD

WKR
Joined
Jun 27, 2021
Messages
2,297
Fed. employee here that would love to retire now @ 55 but cant due to the cost of health insurance.
The system definitely has me by the cajones. I would be using all my retirement just to pay for health insurance.
 

bowhuntercoop

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 28, 2021
Messages
286
Location
South Carolina
Fed. employee here that would love to retire now @ 55 but cant due to the cost of health insurance.
The system definitely has me by the cajones. I would be using all my retirement just to pay for health insurance.
What agency? Our retirement with the bop is pretty good and insurance cost for the entire family post retirement isn’t much more then what I pay working full time. Bunch of my buddies retired or are retiring by the end of the year and full family coverage is worth every penny imo.
 

BadDogPSD

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Joined
Jan 12, 2019
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Location
NV

sasquatch

WKR
Joined
Jul 26, 2015
Messages
867
The ACA was just a “get it passed and change it later deal”

This plan is designed to fail. That way the govt can convince people “you see if you just let us control your insurance itd be affordable”

And sadly most will fall for it and let ACA grow and grow until it’s the only affordable option

Remember people, it’s death by 1000 cuts!


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